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Do I take all 6 prednisone pills at once on the first day?

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 21, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

If my prescription says take 6 x 10mg pills on the first day do I take all 6 at once?

It's best to take prednisone as a single dose once a day straight after breakfast. For example if your dose is 30mg daily, it's usual to take 6 tablets (6 x 5mg) all at the same time after breakfast.

Prednisone is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid or steroid. It is used to treat a wide range of conditions including allergies, blood disorders, skin diseases, infections, certain cancers and to prevent organ rejection after a transplant.

It helps by reducing inflammation. It also damps down your immune system, which can help autoimmune conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, where your immune system attacks its own tissues.

Read next

What is considered a high dose of prednisone?

The starting dose of prednisone may be between 5 mg to 60 mg per day. A dose above 40 mg per day may be considered a high dose. However, everybody responds differently to prednisone, so what might be a high dose depends on the person and the condition. Continue reading

What's a good prednisone taper schedule?

The best prednisone taper will depend upon how long you have been taking the medicine, your dose, and why you are being treated. If you've been treated with a high dose of prednisone, or taken it for more than a few weeks, you will need to slowly stop your medicine, usually over a period of days, weeks or months. Your healthcare provider will determine your prednisone tapering schedule. Continue reading

How long can you take prednisone safely?

There is no set limit on how long you can safely take prednisone. It depends on the dose of prednisone and the condition being treated. It may be prescribed short term or long term. The dosage will be adjusted or stopped based on your response or lack of response to the medication. Continue reading

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