Prednisone and Indigestion.

[meggie83]

I have been on steroids of different strengths for over a year.I was diagnosed with Lupus SLE.most times I am controlled with prednisone 3 mg but had to be increased to 10mg three weeks ago.I now have miserable indigestion.Iam also taking Quinoric 400mg in the morning,so am unable to take Omeprasol until the afternoon,there has to be at least four hours between Quinoric and Omeprasol.I halve been reading other posts an realise I'm not on the coated steroids , must see my GP.

[loopy-lou]

I also had very bad indigestion that wouldn't go away. My GP has told me to take 2 Omeprazole instead of one. This has worked for me so perhaps it would be worth going to see your GP for his/her opinion. Also, I am not sure how long you have been on Quinoric but you may be better with Plaquenil. I have the brand on my repeat prescription. I hope you feel better soon.

[meggie83 in reply to loopy-lou]

Thank you, I will do that.

[EOLHPC]

I agree with loopy

When I started on hydroxy, it aggravated my chronic upper GI symptoms badly.....and this happened even though I made sure I got the brand plaquenil - at first the dispensary gave me quinoric (which I think is a generic version of hydroxy), but I insisted they give me Plaquenil because I'd learned on forum that Plaquenil is somewhat easier on your GI tract....and my chronic upper GI conditions were so well documented on my health records that the surgery had to cooperate. Apparently the brands are usually more expensive than the generics.

But, after a month or so of intensive lifestyle management, my upper GI symptoms damped down & my chronic joint & muscle pain were able to benefit a lot from plaquenil

The same pattern of chronic upper GI flare when first taking a new med has continued over the 4 1/2 yrs since my SLE treatment began:

I rely on low dose 4 week 10mg gastro resistant prednisolone tapers to damp down flares, and have to intensively lifestyle manage my gi symptoms (eg antiinflammation diet & supplements + fresh ginger tea sipping 24/7) & take 20mg esomeprazole (proton pump inhibitor) every morning during those 4 weeks

I began daily mycophenolate mofetil (cellcept) and when increasing the dose, I need daily esomeprazole + intensive lifestyle management for several weeks to prevent upper GI symptoms flaring

My impression is that, in my case, this aggravation of my chronic upper GI probs is mainly about my body adapting to processing a new version of medication.

For what it's worth, i''ve checked with my gp, my rheumy, my specialist lupus nurse & pharmacist & they all say there is no need to leave time between any of these meds & esomeprazole....but haha I do anyway, cause I've discovered I tolerate esomeprazole best & it helps most if I take it on an empty stomach with my early morning tea on rising...which is 2 hours before breakfast when I take all my other meds....

One note of caution: in the early 2000s, researchers had to warn the medical community that taking a PPI daily & long term is not good for anyone (eg hastens loss of bone density). Before my lupus was diagnosed in 2010, I'd been on daily PPI esomeprazole (+ domperidone as needed) for 6 years...so I got off that promptly and concentrated on intensive lifestyle, which has stood me in good stead ever since

Sorry I've been so long winded, but this subject is close to my heart!

Take care...hope you'll let us know how you get on with this

xo

[mosaicgranny in reply to EOLHPC]

I have been on PPI's for about 20 years, daily, after having a NIssan Fundoplication for an Hiatus Hernia. I had my bone density checked last week and it was very good. Of course that doesn't mean that I am without other issues, and I agree that new medication starts a flare. I asked my Doctor , also last week about long term use and he said that there was a new medication to be marketed shortly. A bit late for me!!

[EOLHPC in reply to mosaicgranny]

Am vvvv glad of your reply...and am Vvv glad you're doing well! Will look out for the new med! Am pretty sure daily PPI or similar meds will be more or less part of my treatment plan for ever...and your reply encourages me. take care

[overnighthearingloss in reply to EOLHPC]

ppis also reduce nutrient absorption over time. Stomach acid breaks down food and releases nutrients but weakened stomach acid cannot do so as well.

posted in wrong place, darn phone, but still relevant to the thread

[custardpot]

My husband was on prednisone for a lot of years (not for sle) and always had the coated ones, in fact when he went into hospital we insisted he used his own as they used uncoated ones which he could not take.

The coated ones help to stop stomach problems

[Cola2424love in reply to custardpot]

What do da coated prednisone look like am on sum white all look n ones

[madmagz]

Hi I wonder if you have had you medications fully explained and how to take them, the Omeprasol is a gastro-protector and should be taken about half an hour before your breakfast to coat and protect your digestive system then the prednisolone directly after or with your breakfast so that it goes through your system with food and won't harm your digestive tract.

This should make a big difference to the way you feel I know of fellow lupies who have not had their meds fully explained but once they start taking them correctly they tend to get much less gastric discomfort and virtually no indigestion.

I am hoping that this might save you from needing to book yourself another GP appointment, if you are anything like me you are part of the furniture in your surgery.

Good luck I hope this has helped you to some degree

Madmagz x

[MandaM]

Make sure you are protecting your stomach when on Prednisolone tablets, it's very important to avoid ulcers. Also check to see if you are allowed coated Prednisolone pills or not. As I have a kidney transplant I am only allowed uncoated, can't remember the reason why.

[tennissenior]

My hematologist put me on a massive dose of dexomethosone (a steroid) - 10 pills a day for 4 days. He advised me to take Prilosec first thing in the morning, and take the pills with breakfast a few hours later. For the first two days I was fine. The third day, I woke up at 2am, with terrible stomach pains and indigestion. He prescribed the Dex because my platelets had dropped to 32,000. I did finish the 4th day, and the count went to over 100,000 - but it was short lived. In 4 weeks, back to the 40,000's again. He told me this is what I will have to do when they drop - I declined. I was monitored for weeks, and one day, they went to 68,000 on their own. He could not tell me why they go up and down - he kept reminding me that I had Lupus, MDS, etc., and "this will happen." Who wants to hear that? I have labs in the morning....should be interesting. Last week they were dropping again - 56,0000. I can tell by the "dots" and bruises when they start to go down. My guess would be -- high 40's.

[Kate-L]

Hi LoopyLou, I'm also an SLE patient and have taken pred ever since I was diagnosed. If you haven't already done so, you should ask your doctor only to prescribe Prednisolone EC. It means 'enteric coated'. They are more expensive that ordinary pred but they will stop the indigestion, although you will need to take Omeprazol too. If your doctor resists prescribing Prednisolone EC, get your Lupus doctors to call/write/fax and insist you take this. It's worth it and has helped me a great deal. Good luck and I hope you feel well soon.

[molly19]

Yes I get indigestion all the time. Got tested 're a pooh test got infection in stomach. Got treated for reflux. But no change in my indigestion.

[Cola2424love]

Hi i have tired it to but it didnt work for my indestion

[Cola2424love]

The omerprazole