Antibiotics

[kathleen18]

Is it all right to take antibiotics while on steroids?

[SheffieldJane]

I haven't heard any contraindications. In fact, we may need them more with a compromised immune system because infection can get out of hand. As ever we have to take care of gut health by taking a pro- biotic too.

[Marilyn1959 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hi Jane, is Omeprazole for the gut? I have been prescribed it but haven't taken it since I haven't had problems with gut. Is it advisable to take it anyway? Please advise.

[Hidden in reply to Marilyn1959]

Hi...have just finished course of antibiotics. You can/should take a probiotucs.. .yoghurt or something...two hours after you take abx. Helps keep good flora up supposedly. The prazoles are usually used to control acid as I understand it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Probably a better idea to take the course of abx and THEN take a course of high dose probiotics. The abx will kill the probiotic bacteria too - rather a waste.

[HeronNS in reply to Marilyn1959]

Have heard omeprazole is also implicted in leading to osteoporosis. I know it seems to be prescribed for long term use but apparently that is not advised. It was intended to treat short term problems.

[Rugger in reply to Marilyn1959]

Marilyn, Omeprazole is a PPI - proton pump inhibitor. You will find much discussion on the forum about PPIs! Reports have come out this year about links with higher incidence of stomach cancer and other nasties.

I take gastro-resistant pred and avoid the need to take something else to "protect my stomach" with something which may harm it!

What a carry on!

[Marilyn1959 in reply to Rugger]

Thanks Rugger. I haven't been taking it though it was prescribed, since it wasn't explained why I was prescribed it and I don't have any stomach probs at the moment. Seems like, inadvertently, I made a wise choice. Am seeing doc next week and will ask if I can be prescribed gastro resistant pred. Thanks again.

[sondya in reply to Marilyn1959]

* Omeprazole reduces the amount of acid produced in your stomach.

* It is used to treat a number of stomach-related conditions caused by too much acid, such as indigestion, reflux, and ulcers.

It can also prevent ulcers from forming - which could be a side-effect of prednisone.

I've been on it once I was put on steroids and was told as soon as the prednisone is stopped, so will the omneprazole.

[kathleen18 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you I will take the risk!

[SheffieldJane in reply to kathleen18]

We all got swept away from your simple query about antibiotics and Pred. Make it an educated risk and look up the side effects/contraindications of the one you are prescribed. Always remind your doctor that you are on steroids, they are only human. I hope, whatever it is, gets better soon.

[Soraya_PMR]

Flouroquinolone antibiotics are contra-indicated. They end in -oxacin. I think Ciprofloxacin is the commonest.

pharmacytimes.com/publicati...

[SheffieldJane in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Well you live and learn Soraya. What a horrible sounding drug. What is it prescribed for?

One would hope that the prescribing doctor would be up on this but you can't assume. I discovered that my blood pressure med. was not to be taken by people with Aortic Stenosis ( which I am being tested for on Thursday). I phoned the GP practice and was just told to stop taking it, straight away. I learned yesterday that it says in my notes that the drug was stopped upon Rheumatologist advice. She doesn't even know. Is this a covering backs excercise?

[Soraya_PMR in reply to SheffieldJane]

They are broad spectrum antibiotics used for bacterial infections. Often for hospital acquired infections. Like all AB’s they have their place, unless of course you happen to be allergic, or have a clinical reason that they shouldn’t be taken, such as being on steroids 😉

I can’t answer your question re back-covering! I’m just going to hope you DON’T have aortic stenosis, then it’s all ok 👌🏼

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

It's the entire group of quinolones, see my post.

And I found recently that the antiarrythmic I take should not be used in Sick Sinus Syndrome unless the patient has a pacemaker. I have SSS and don't have a pacemaker. Hum...

[Soraya_PMR in reply to PMRpro]

Ah yes, I see what I wrote could be misinterpreted. I meant cipro is the most commonly prescribed, not the most common cause of problems. Quite right, all the -oxacins should be avoided.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Soraya_PMR]

But the -oxacillins are fine!! Why they can't find clearer substance names is beyond me!

[SheffieldJane in reply to Soraya_PMR]

The drug was - Amlodipine.

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

Nightmare drug...

[Routy in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hi Sheffield Jane,should we not be taking Amlodipine???...I've just been prescribed it?thanks,Routy

[SheffieldJane in reply to Routy]

No Routy it was just me because they suspect Aortic Stenosis and that is specifically mentioned in the drug information as a contraindication for Amlodipine. As far as I am aware it is ok. Read the stuff that comes with it though.

[Routy in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks Jane!!!..it's quite depressing all these drugs we have to take to keep going!!..hate it allxx

[SheffieldJane in reply to Routy]

I know Routy. The pain and stiffness of PMR is so awful though and the dangers of GCA so dire that I am reconciled to Pred. It's just all the friends it brings with it I object to. I question everything I'm offered sometimes quite rightly so and they've proved needless, like Alendronic Acid.

[Routy in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks for the reply Jane!!!...I had a tumour removed from my head on March 1st'17,i haven't been feeling well since then.I suspected there was something wrong???..I was a nurse.Well,4weeks ago,i had another seizure in my wetroom and the ambulance took me away to hospital,with suspected bleed on my brain again,i've had 3 so far!..my eardrum opens up and lets the blood out and very kindly closes the hole up again.However,this time they asked the Brain Specialist who was there for a meeting to come see me,and she was lovely,she said "they've damaged a nerve whilst operating and she couldn't ever make me as I was again,rather make me comfortable on Rolls Royce drugs and I would have good and bad days!..how very apt and true!...I realised about 7 weeks ago I had PMR,and I went to my GP and told him about this group,well I printed it out,LOL.I asked to be trialed for a week and after 2days the terrible pain had eased off in my body.Mine isn't showing up in blood tests yet?..I've been referred to The Rheumatoligist last week,a sister at the hospital gave me a slip of paper with a great(her words) consultant whose very up todate with our problems,so we'll see.I'm taking 20mg a day,still a little painful,but coping.I managed to get a lung infection for 5weeks and have had to take 3 lots of antibiots to get rid of it,i've never smoked in my life and when I couldn't breathe,i just thought of the patients with COPD ect.I was at the hospital yesterday to see The cardiologist,as they thought they'd found something amiss!...my ECG was good,but my blood pressure is high,which is unusual for me!!!so they doing further tests on that???Sorry for the long drwn out explanation,but you seem so caring about us all,God Bless you Jane,xxx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Routy]

Pred itself can cause raised BP in some people.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Routy]

What a story Routy! So much trauma and then PMR. I am glad you experienced relief from your symptoms though, it seems fairly miraculous at the time.

My blood pressure is raised for the first time ever, most probably steroid induced. I take Atenolol, which I don't like but I guess I ought to take something.

So far my cardiac tests are not showing anything amiss. I felt quite light headed when the radiologist told me. I hadn't realised that I was so worried.

Keep us posted on your progress.

[yogabonnie in reply to Soraya_PMR]

I am SO glad you told me that. I am given Cipro every year (and told to and do dispose of old ones if I don't need...) in case if diverticulosis infection when I am abroad...I would NEVER have given it a thought. Thanks!!!

[SheffieldJane]

Hi Marilyn, if you can manage without Omeprazole by lining your stomach with yoghurt or something similar I would. Omeprazole can have a bone thinning effect, shouldn't be taken for long periods of time, can have an acid backlash once you try to stop it.

However, Pred does have a caustic effect and I even heard that it can really damage the digestive system. So if you have any pre- existing vulnerabilities I would take it.

Like so much else it is an " add on" that is prescribed with Pred without much separate thought, and it comes with its own attendant problems.

I might take it on the initial doses for GCA but then try to come off it as I got down to the Pred doses. I have had no trouble without it and a possibly unconnected Oesophageal Spasm whilst on it. Keep it as simple as possible is my motto. I want to find my way back to normality one day.

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

I feel very lucky that having taken lanzoprazole daily for 17 years I haven't ended up with osteoporosis. I came off too quickly and got the rebound reflux. Went back on and tapered. I occasionally take it now. Probably once or twice a month...usually cos I have cheated and had my fave cheap white bread toasted with marmite. The bread kills tummy. But having dose of b12 justifies it in my mind. 😉

It's the thrush after antibiotics that is worse.

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Hidden]

Tried ranitidine/Zantac Poopadoop?

Just as good without the side effects.

Lansoprazole and me didn’t get on (think barrage balloon). If I’d taken it for 17 years I’d probably have popped, or been in orbit. ‘‘Twas very windy 😮

[Hidden in reply to Soraya_PMR]

It wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't a part of weight gain....i did pop.

I try and use rantitide. It does work just as well. I will get more after the prescription fir prazole runs out. I think the weight did help keep bones strong lol

[Footfairy-1 in reply to Hidden]

Hi poopadoop

Have you tried Sour Dough Bread? Is much easier to digest. I've tried it from supermarkets but it's not as good as from the bakery shop. It's more expensive but I split loaves and freeze so there's no waste.

[Hidden in reply to Footfairy-1]

Yes. It's actually my favourite kind of bread but these days I limit it due to carbs. Some of polish breads in local shop full of seeds as well. Delish. All my bread I do buy is portioned and frozen. Otherwise it would be eaten....👿

[Marilyn1959 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks Jane. I traded Omeprazole for coated pred at docs this week! At least that's what Doc said, stating coated pred cost more so he would trade off additional cost against cost of Omeprazole. Creative budgeting works for me!

You seem pretty tenacious to me Jane, so I have every confidence you will indeed find your way back to normality.

how did your tests go?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Marilyn1959]

The figures aren't a different as they'd have us believe. Three years ago 30 tabs of enteric coated pred cost the same as 30 tabs of omeprazole, (£1.86). Then you have to add the dispensing fees. 30 tabs of non-coated pred cost £1.31 at the time. The figures were provided by a dispensing pharmacist in a lecture to the Chertsey PMRGCA support group.

[SheffieldJane]

Your toast and Marmite sounds good Poopadoop! I have got the decorators in my kitchen, so I'm hiding upstairs, they've already broken my favourite mug. I haven't had breakfast, just milk with Pred at 3 am. Stress!!!!

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

Oh no. I had new kitchen and dining Room in 2016. Had no central heating that winter 2015/2016. Given I knew having new boiler with building works I literally spent winter in bed with fan heater eating toast for 4 months. They took everything in old offshot kitchen and dining down to bare walls. I decided I had to go with the flow. In the end it was worth it. Old kitchen now downstairs loo and shower room. Kitchen in dining room so much bigger. I hope your decoration looks great!

I suspect mug from gkids? It's Xmas coming if you mention it Santa might be kind!!🎅

[SheffieldJane in reply to Hidden]

Yes the mug was from my son with a quaint collage of pictures on it, beautiful and quirky. I hate having people working on my house. What happens to you when you get older? I remember sharing a friendly beer with a plumber once. Unimaginable now.

[Marcy47 in reply to Hidden]

We are having lounge and kitchen extended right now. The hob is still usable in kitchen, but nothing else in there until plasterers have finished.

We are living in the 3 bedrooms and bathroom, luckily it's a bungalow so no stairs. Eating out every Wednesday, (half-price for over-50's day at local pub) and a lot of microwave meals. Taking my washing over to my sister on Friday!

Xmas is off this year, spending the day with sister, I provide the starter and pudding.

[Hidden in reply to Marcy47]

It is stressful. I haven't eaten a microwaveable meal since lol. I had chips and peas a few times.

I am lucky I always spend Xmas with sister and family. My job is usually Xmas pudding and a cheese board with cheeses beyond cheddar etc.

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hey steady on Jane. I was a house decorator for 10 years. Never broke a mug. Always appreciated a cuppa though!! I know what you mean about the stress! Done all the practical jobs I could in our household to avoid the invasion. Home & Castle etc. Arrh! There's another Neurosis cover blown. ATB

[SheffieldJane]

We once left a bathroom Company to do our bathroom while went to Australia. We returned to a building site and unusable toilet straight off a 23 hour flight. There is still something slightly wrong with every aspect of that bathroom, a reminder of the trauma, in spite of the money they knocked off. It seems that you can't escape the stress.

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

Oh dear. What a nightmare?!#. That would definately get me stressed thereafter when workers come to house. I am really happy with mine....a couple of snaghing things that really i prefer to leave. Not a big fan of absolute percection but like things dome right when you pay fir them. The team on my house didn't want drinks thankfully as I don't really drink tea and coffee these days. Basically they were locked in back of house and I had upstairs...dog had front room.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

It was so much easier in Germany - you stood a crate of beer handy...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

NOT any antibiotics in the quinolone group. Mixing them and steroids, especially methylprednisolone, can lead to achilles tendonitis. Which can have nasty repercussions. I spent 9 months on crutches after my GP did it - my own fault, I didn't check. Never again!

Quinolone antibiotic medications include:

Ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan Ophthalmic and Cipro)

Levofloxacin (Levaquin and QUIXIN Ophthalmic)

Lomefloxacin (Maxaquin)

Moxifloxacin (Avelox)

Norfloxacin (Chibroxin Ophthalmic and Noroxin Oral)

Ofloxacin (Floxin and Ocuflox Ophthalmic)

Sparfloxacin (Zagam)

Trovafloxacin (Trovan)

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Phew. Mine not on list!!

That's all you need when you have something like PMR .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

That's always a positive!!!

[SheffieldJane]

Thank you for taking the trouble to post this PMRPro. I would never have dreamed that link. We have to be so vigilant, I must confess that I wasn't on the extremely rare occasions that I might be prescribed one. That was so careless of your doctor!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

She said "I've heard of this happening but never seen it..." My reply: "You have now!"

[SheffieldJane]

For crying out loud! 😡

[Brandon47]

Yes - I've been on them for 10 days with tooth infection

[SheffieldJane]

What one of those listed by PMRPro!? Brandon!!!

This is the written equivalent of everyone talking at once. 😵