New Prednisolone

[tgca]

I have been prescribed the 5mg coated preds having been on the uncoated ones for nearly 2 years. I believe that I can now stop taking omeprazole...advice please... it would be good to drop one form of Meds!

[SheffieldJane]

Can I ask if you got ill effects from omeprazole?

During my reducing of Prednisalone I am making increased use of 1 mg tablets and have experienced heartburn and alarmly an oesophageal spasm. I believe 1 mg tablets are not coated. So I was considering omeprazole or similar. This problem coincides with the Img tablets, I have been taking multiples of 5 mg for a few months. I was put off the Omeprazol by the listed side effects. Thanks.

[alexgranma13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hi. All I had with Omeporozol was almost instant diarrhoea. I can take ranitadine with no problems

All pred should be coated in my opinion as they all cost pennies anyways. Good luck take care of yourself

Christine

[SheffieldJane in reply to alexgranma13]

Thanks alexgranma13. Best wishes Jane

[tgca in reply to SheffieldJane]

I haven't had any side effects from omeprazole. I am taking 2x5 mgs of coated preds now but when I drop by a half next time, I am hanging on to the uncoated 1mgs as, on this site, it was suggested that uncoated 1mgs are easier to cut in half!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Theoretically yes - but don't stop the omeprazole suddenly as that will lead to an overproduction of acid and possible gastric problems. Reduce it over a few weeks as you would pred, half the dose first and so on. You could use gaviscon if you have any problems.

The enteric coated are fine - but they take longer to work, up to 5 hours or even more for some people. And reducing requires some convolutions although there are 2.5mg pills (brown) which every doctor knows about and now even 1mg (yellow) but they are very recent and not everyone is aware of them.

[tgca in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMR pro and everyone else. I have no problems with omeprazole but, before I read PMR's advice about not stoping dead, I did stop 2 days ago.. so far, without problems.. but hastily swallowed one today. They are in capsule form so hard to divide but will sort something out. The coated preds seem to be fine but then I'm lucky and don't need to get rid of pain (GCA) quickly

[TooSore]

It's interesting that I've always taken uncoated pills and was not even aware they came coated until finding this wonderful place. I was never offered anything for my stomach! Initially at the higher doses I had some heart burn at night that I blamed on the months of naproxen I took while waiting for a diagnosis. I found if I was careful about what I ate and didn't eat late I was fine with the exception of a week when I had a cold. I used tums when I needed to. I didn't have any issues as my dose decreased. I do take my prednisone with Breakfast though. My first rhuemetologist wasn't very good at listening or asking questions and by the time I switched I was low enough that it wasn't an issue. I wonder if it's a difference between the two forms or if it's just because I didn't fuss.

I do wish they'd make the uncoated ones in different colors or shapes or something. The 1 mg and the 2.5 mg look so similar you need a magnifying glass to tell them apart if you need to. (Like accidentally putting two days pills in the same compartment in the pill organizer)

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to TooSore]

I do each dose of whatever separately when filling the dosette box - but I know what you mean!

[mzz70-70]

I take Ranitidine along side the Pred, no problems with them at all and would certainly want to take something to prevent stomach problems. I also take Alendronic Acid, one tablet a week to prevent thinning of the bones.

[piglette]

I have always taken coated pred and no stomach protectors and have been fine. As PMRPro says take it slowly getting off the PPI. Perhaps talk to your pharmacist. I have had a rheumie who said I should take a PPI with the coated version, but judging by the quality of some rheumies that was par for the course and I ignored her.

[tgca]

Thanks all... pharmacist it is...