Cinnamon

[Riversnan]

Hello, I had been reading about cinnamon and how it helps to reduce weight and especially stomach fat, which has been a problem since I started taking the steroids.

I have tried dieting and have just started a sugar free regime last week, after ordering and receiving the supplements today, I have been doing some research.

Putting the cart before the horse, so to speak, I think I may have made a mistake as I read that people on steroids shouldn't take cinnamon as it can cause kidney damage.

I have supplements of Ceylon cinnamon which is supposed to be the purest.

Has anyone taken any of these and are they said to be a no no for us people on steroids.

I wouldappreciate any comments.

Many Thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

i can't find anything in the usual drug checkers - doesn't mean there isn't an interaction though. Where did you read it?

[Riversnan in reply to PMRpro]

Please forgive me, I was getting confused on going back over my history pages I found I had made a mistake, it was statins it shouldn't be taken with.

I have over reacted and there wasn't anything to connect steroids and cinnamon. If it does what it says in conjunction with honey and a diet, it may be a good thing.

So sorry to have bothered you.

Many thanks PMPpro

[Megams in reply to Riversnan]

Hi Riversnan

I have a shaker full of cinnamon powder and another with ginger powder - I combine the two in my porridge, smoothies and stir fries every day - I know both are beneficial however can't say it has helped my tum even though I follow absolute low carb diet.

Wouldn't be without either, they are a flavorsome duo all the same.

Good luck

[Riversnan in reply to Megams]

Thank you for your reply Megan's, I doubt it will help mine either but it's worth a try. I think the steroids are ruling the fat stuff.

I don't seem to be able to lose anything but I will keep trying.

It's a small price to pay to be pain free and still have a life so I am not complaining..

[Brantuk]

One warning I've received is that statins shouldn't be combined with grape juice due to adverse effects. In fact it is a warning on my prescription and on the label of the pills box containing my statins. The other thing I was advised is not to combine corticosteroids with aspirin - but paracetomol is ok for pain issues. I haven't heard anything about cinnamon.

[Riversnan in reply to Brantuk]

Thank you for your reply this is such a helpful group.

[MARION7 in reply to Brantuk]

Hi Brantuk, Can I ask who advised you not to combine aspirin and steroids please? I have just been prescribed aspirin at the first signs, for my newly diagnosed migraines. I take pred.

Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MARION7]

Steroids and any NSAIDs do not mix well and normally patients are told not to take them together on a regular basis. Both of them can lead to gastric irritation and even bleeding - and both of them tend to make bruising/bleeding worse. There has in the past been a recommendation to give low dose aspirin to GCA patients. Despite this also being available in a gastro resistant version it has now been decided it probably isn't worth the added risk as there is no good evidence it helps avoid anything.

Are they SURE these are migraines? You say newly diagnosed - are they new onset as well?

[MARION7 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you.

I'm not sure that are migraines, they are... This started last October. My whole head hurts, my face hurts and is tender & sensitive, my neck is painful; but I have had a couple of sickly horrid headaches which does sound like migraines.

A neurologist advised soluble aspirin 900 mgs as soon pain gets bad, but should avoid using regularly. If inadequate try a triptan.

I just don't know what to think any more.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MARION7]

Do you have a diagnosis of PMR or of GCA? If it is PMR and you also have this headache consistently - they should be considering it might be GCA.

[MARION7 in reply to PMRpro]

I have GCA and PMR, diagnosed april 2015. I'm taking 8.5 pred at the moment

[MARION7 in reply to PMRpro]

B.T.W my blood tests are normal...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MARION7]

For some people the blood tests show nothing if they are still on pred. Or do you mean they have never been raised?

It was just a thought - and I really would keep an eye on it.

[MARION7 in reply to PMRpro]

My ESR & CRP were very high at the beginning, I was started on 60 mgs of pred. Neurologist says bloods are normal so it cannot be GCA. I gather fFrom posts on this site, one can have a "flare" even though tests are low.

I will keep a watch, if the pain continues I think I will increase my dose.

Thank you ...

[30048 in reply to MARION7]

Marion. I also had high numbers when I first was diagnosed with GCA (104) but when I had a flare two years later my numbers were good . My sed rate was 3 ... my doctor did not believe I was having a flare and I almost lost my eyesight. When I researched it ( John's Hopkins ) I found that some people do not have raised markers if they have been on prednisone for awhile. After much carrying on he did acknowledge he had missed the boat. So....be careful ...you always have to rely on your symptoms first. Usually the blood catches up but by then it could be too late. Just a caution.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 30048]

I'm glad you got through it OK - but I'm also very glad to hear of a real live example of what I keep saying! My argument is usually if I know it from my reading - why doesn't a rheumatologist?

Johns Hopkins and Mayo have such good resources!

[MARION7 in reply to 30048]

Thank you for this 30048. I will...

[karools16 in reply to MARION7]

MARION7. That is exactly how I felt, when diagnosed 10 years ago, for GCA. They are the symptoms. My Neuro put me on a strict regime of Pred, starting dose 60mg, and that's what gave me relief. Am still on Pred...3mg daily.

Aspirin will not help if you do have GCA.

Hope you get help soon.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Brantuk]

GrapeFRUIT juice - not grape juice!

[Whittlesey in reply to Brantuk]

Hi Brantuk, wondering if you have a source or a reference for the 'no' to cortersteroids and aspirin?

I have GCA, now PMR, taking methyl prednisone and aspirin ( formerly cartoid dissect ion).

My Dr.s have never said there's a problem.

Would appreciate any reference to this you might have.

Much appreciated.

[Brantuk in reply to Whittlesey]

"Hi Brantuk, wondering if you have a source or a reference for the 'no' to cortersteroids and aspirin?"

Hi Whittlesey - it's not something I deduced from research so can't give a reference - it's just something my Rheumatologist told me - to not take aspirin whilst on prednisalone due to possible stomach upset or (worst case) damage.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Whittlesey]

It has generally been accepted that the use of low dose aspirin together with pred represents an acceptable risk but in a lecture given by Dasgupta about the latest recommendations for GCA he said this was now felt to be debatable and the guidance was to be withdrawn.

This is a study done in dogs - and the risks there are significant.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/174...

However - I don't know if the effect in dogs transfers to humans - it's the same with most animal studies!

The NHS says

"Combining NSAIDs and corticosteroids can increase your risk of developing stomach ulcers and internal bleeding. If you need to take both medications, you may be given an additional medication called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to reduce the risk of stomach ulcers."

nhs.uk/Conditions/Corticost...

Aspirin is, of course, an NSAID.

[Apple2]

Glad you have brought this up BECAUSE I have been sprinkling cinnamon on my porridge for the past 6 weeks!!

Thanks

Bette

[Riversnan in reply to Apple2]

Well it seems it's ok for me to take, I had got. My statins and steroids mixed up but as I don't take statins it's ok.

[Apple2 in reply to Riversnan]

Yes, but I have been on statins for over 20 years after a quadruple by-pass.

So I WILL not be taking cinnamon on my porridge

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Apple2]

Quite right!

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Though I suspect it is using supplements that is the problem rather than the small amounts you would use in cooking. The FDA wants a warning put on statin packs.

It doesn't matter what a supplement is, natural or otherwise, it doesn't make it safe to mix with other medications. If it is powerful enough to achieve something, it is also powerful enough to cause trouble.

[Riversnan]

If you look on the internet and put in statins and cinnamon you will find the information I did. If this has helped you I am so pleased.

Good luck

[Brantuk]

Hi Mation7 - it was my rheumy who advised - and PMRpro pretty much covers it in her post above. And yes - grapefruit juice not grape juice - my bad - thanks for the correction PMRpro.

[vivi13]

Hi I am on steroids since june 2016 i put two and half stones the doctor told me that it will settle down . No way I cannot see this happening I don t know about cinnamon can do to help. I think sugar and salt and carb should get reduced. I know that this week end I am going to do some research they must be something and changes need to be done to lose some weight. I hope so I feel so bad. Good luck to you I will post mail if I find something useful. VIVI

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to vivi13]

Salt will make a difference to fluid retention - which happens with pred and also registers on the scales!

If you cut carbs you automatically cut sugar - and cutting both helps lose weight with pred since pred changes the way our bodies process sugar and increases the likelihood of fat being deposited in the expected places. Cut carbs - and you reduce that.

[Riversnan in reply to PMRpro]

That's good advice thank you, I will cut out salt too, but I love my food highly seasoned....ok extra pepper and herbs.

Many thanks for all your help

Riversnan

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Riversnan]

You can have all the seasoning you like - just not salt!

[Riversnan]

Hi VIVI

I have read that cinnamon is an appetite suppressant and that is the main reason I am taking it. I have only taken it for 2days so far but I am on a sugar free regime and eating as healthily as I can. Trying to cut out carbs too.

There is also an article in a diet book I bought that recommends glutamine as an appetite suppressant.

Maybe you could look it up and see if you think either may help you.

I will post on here again in a couple of weeks and let you know how I am doing on the cinnamon.

Riversnan

[Riversnan]

Why do you say that, I would like an explanation, I have not been advertising, I have nothing to advertise.

I do belong on this site I have Polymyalgia and have found this site a great support and source of information.

You have really upset me and I would like an apology from you on your attitude please.

I thought this site was for all with polymyalgia to get information and support from people with the same illness.

I am completely lost as to why you have attacked me like this.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Riversnan]

I've just explained over on the other thread you started. There was a post on here that WAS advertising, a link to some drinks website put up by someone who had just registered that day. I reported it to HU and they have referred it to Kate. Because this forum doesn't show who a response is to, and the post concerned has been deleted by someone, it appears it is to you. It isn't meant to be.

[Polywotsit PMRGCAuk team member in reply to Riversnan]

I am so sorry Riversnan - that reply was addressed to the Ceiba Drinks person who was doing blatant advertising. I did the post on my phone and so I really thought that I was replying to their reply! So I have now deleted the mistaken reply that went to you with my apologies. I also sent a private message to ceiba drinks and asked them to leave the forum. Kate