Homeopathy and vitamins

[Carrollee]

Hi guys. Are there any vitamins etc that should be avoided on prednisolone and what about homeopathic stuff? I have homeopathic drops and several vitamins nobody asked or said to avoid any of them! Ta muchly cc

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Basically the best person to check with is your pharmacist - not the counter staff at the chemist by the way. This applies not only to supplements but also any OTC medications of any sort - and also prescription drugs too. I've been given an antibiotic by a doctor that causes achilles tendon inflammation when taken with pred and she also wrote the pred prescription! It is a precaution you should take with ANY pairing of medications.

There are some supplements that should be avoided with pred - one that springs to mind is echinacea, but any that claim to modify the immune system in any way are probably not a good idea. You should be on a calcium and vit D combined supplement but don't increase you calcium supplement intake above that - and don't take the calcium tablets within 3 hours of your pred, they interfere with one another.

Mainstream medicine would say that homeopathic remedies would be fine as they are so diluted as to have nothing in them - I won't get into that argument here except to say that people have found arnica (in cream and globule form) does help pred bruising.

[Parijm in reply to PMRpro]

I would have used echinacea, so seeing the above has alerted me. Also I wasn't aware since nothing said or mentioned on the medication info that there needs to be a 3 hour delay taking the calcium after pred. I have not taken them together but it's usually 30 mins gap. I will raise this with my GP and also the pharmacist since I am slightly irritated to discover this is the case. As ever, thanks for so many guidelines.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Parijm]

Some pharmacists mention it - GPs have been known to say it makes no difference. I know I've seen it as a recommendation but can't find it.

We've said on the forums for 4 or 5 years now: pred for breakfast, calcium for lunch and dinner. You shouldn't take both tablets at the same time for optimum absorption - the body tends only to absorb up to about 800mg at a time to keep the blood level fairly stable. Too high or too low is bad for you!

[piglette in reply to Parijm]

My pred has a typewritten label on it not to take vit D at the same time but to wait two hours.

[notnice in reply to PMRpro]

Hi I take my calcium two hours before my pred would this be ok

Sue

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to notnice]

Two hours BEFORE pred? Do you not take your pred first thing in the morning? Two hours is probably OK but 3 would be better.

I take my calcium lunchtime and early evening, pred is late evening for me since I take a different sort at nigh which releases overnight. It is also best to take the calcium and vit D with a small amount of fat which helps the transport from the gut - so along with a meal of some sort is ideal. And in 2 separate lots as I explained above.

[notnice in reply to PMRpro]

Hi I also take omeprazole and take that at 6.00 am with the calcium tab, then have breakfast at about 8.00am when I take my pred. Then I take the other calcium tab at 8.00 pm when I have my omeprazol again plus I have gavoscon before going to bed.

Sue

[Parijm in reply to PMRpro]

Sounds like an ideal plan. Breakfast and Prednisolone, Lunch take Calcium, and Dinner take 2nd Calcium. Often I find a calcichew in a pocket, forgotten and not taken. Also PMR Pro you talk of max absorption and it seems pointless to take medication if it's not doing any good, or inhibiting the benefit of another medication. I understand!

[notnice in reply to PMRpro]

Hi I take my calcium two hours before my pred would this be ok.

Sue

[Carrollee in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. Went to the homeopath/acupuncturist yesterday he has other patients with pmr. He is going to check what he gives me and make sure is ok with pred. The vitamins are just basic stuff, vit c, garlic, rose hip, omega three and have just bought vit D3 as the only thing I was offered was alendronic acid and don't fancy it! I hope to up my calcium by diet and walking now I am a bit better. It's allergy time so am trying MSM (sulphur). It's all new to me but grateful for all the sage advice, will speak to pharmacist. Ta muchly cc

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Carrollee]

Makes a refreshing change to find one who accepts mainstream medicine is also necessary! Consider calcium too - pred makes you excrete calcium faster so you do need lots extra and increasing the amount you eat will probably not help the pred-associated weight gain problem!

[notnice]

Sorry this should be for PMRprp

[Charlie1boy]

This is just to thank everyone for their replies yesterday.

I was taking echinacea each morning, but that has now stopped! Also, I didn't know about taking calcium at a different time from preds, so I have correct ted this too.

Thank goodness for this forum!