Hi fellow sufferers
I’ve had PMR for 3 years now and the other day I had symptoms of a stomach ulcer. GP has increased my Omeprazole and done a blood test but I’m confused. If I’m still taking 6mg of Prednisolone each day which aggravates the stomach, even though I take it with food, how will my stomach ever get better?
Does anyone understand this side of things?
Fran🤔
Hello,
The trouble is you can’t stop the Pred just like that. Are they testing for Helicobacter pylori infection? May not be the Pred as the main suspect.
Hi SnazzyD
Thanks for this. As I've had the blood tests I guess I'll know when they come back. This has helped me to understand it a bit better.
It depends if they’ve requested it or not. If you’re told everything is ok end of story, it’s worth asking if it was done. Quite often in the UK it is done by a poo sample but it can be done with a blood test that looks for antibodies to it.
Just another thought, have you been stopping and starting
Jut read your post. Have you tried having Yeo Valley live yoghurt a short while before eating breakfast. I was having real problems with a urine infection a few weeks ago which wouldn't clear up with about 5 Antibiotic treatments and, rightly or wrongly, as I was on Omeprazole I decided to stop that and took the Yeo instead and Wow my infection cleared and has been for the past 4/5 weeks thankfully. I now have 5/6 dessert spoons of the Yeo (only this make as it is a live one) every morning before breakfast and the Preds. I hope this may help. Good luck Dorothy
Other makes of live yoghurt are available 😂 I tried the yeo zero percent Greek live yoghurt. It tasted salty which could be residual effects of recent cold. Dog liked them...(yes i kniw dogs don't do dairy).
In had been on lanzaprozole for 17 years and when I stopped it initially I had terrible rebound reflux. Had to taper it to stop reflux.
Enteric coated pred much better. Hope you find solution 🌻
Thank you Dorothy. Funny, someone else mentioned love yoghurt to me also do I will give it a try.
Just a question - are your Pred tablets enteric-coated? Apparently some people (and GPs) don't know that you can now get 1mg tablets enteric coated, which has made a huge difference to my stomach as I drop the dose.
Where you given the PPi when you started on pred and just took it?
Ask your GP to replace the 'Omna' with Ranitidine. This was previously called Zantac and if you need a PPI, this is the one I, personnally would choose.
Omeprazole+side effects: Common side effects may include:
fever;
cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat;
stomach pain, gas;
nausea, vomiting, mild diarrhea; or headache.
This link gives more information: healthline.com/health/omepr...
I wish that everyone would look at the side effects on the paper that comes with your package. Then decide if you need a PPI.
I never took them when I had GCA. Yes I ran into a problem but another GCA/PMR patient passed this tip on to me and I took their advice and it worked.
Stomach upsets incluing acid reflux:
One lemon, unwaxed place in microwave for 1 minute = more juice.
Divide by three and take before or after a meal, with the same amount of water.
Do not ask me how it works, a micro-biologist did explain to me..............but I just cannot remember.
5 years with GCA and no problems with stomach at all.
Thanks jinasc I will try this🙂
The omeprazole stops acid production and maybe you weren't on enough - or even you are one of 30% or so of patients for whom it doesn't work.
As has already been said, I would ask your GP to prescribe enteric coated pred which takes any irritant pred effect out of the equation.
However - when you say "symptoms of an ulcer" what do you mean?
I’ve had pain high in my stomach just under my ribs. I’ve been feeling unusually hungry and a bit windy if you know what I mean. The pain was really sever on Sunday night and has calmed down now but I know it’s still there.
I hope your doctor will keep an eye on it and do other tests to be sure that is what it is. Hope it improves before xmas!!!!
Thank you so much.
I would just like to repeat the advice about gastro-resistant (enteric coated) prednisolone. I was first diagnosed with a stomach ulcer at the age of 18 and have had problems with recurrent stomach ulcers, gastritis etc ever since. The uncoated pred was making me worse despite omeprazole, yoghurt etc. Thanks to this forum I found out about gastro-resistant tablets and the difference is amazing. It also means I can take some of them late at night so that I wake up with far less pain and stiffness than when I was taking them on waking. My GPs and Rheumy knew about the stomach ulcers and doubled the dose of omeprazole because of the increasing stomach pain, but that didn't help much. It sounds obvious now, but it didn't occur to the doctors that what I really needed was the pred to be digested lower down so that it didn't irritate my stomach.
I don't post much, but I read the forum every day and I have learnt so much from it. A big thank you to everyone.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Like you I don’t post much on this forum but it has been a lifeline to me throughout my journey. Getting PMR was such a shock to me as I was fit and healthy and one of the young ones at 53. Your comments Bj2016 make so much sense to me. I now feel ready for my next conversation with the GP. 🙂
Here's the link for 1mg pred
medicines.org.uk/emc/medici...
because there are few pharmacists and even fewer doctors who know 1mg exists! 2.5 and 5 have been around for years.
There is a type of ulcer that can be cured with a long time dose of antibiotic. I'm guessing that was never discussed or were you ever tested for that?
H. Pylori
Hi Amcoffee
I think I’ve just been tested for that as I’ve got a consultation with my GP on Thursday about it. So I shall see. Thank you.
Hi, I have been on Prednisone for two years (3 flairs) and also take Ibuprofen 800 mg for another issue, so I am at risk for an ulcer-- or so says my regular doctor-- and he prescribed Omeprazole.
I am hesitate to take Omeprazole, and only do so when I start to have symptoms such as clearing my throat, etc. that happens if I eat too much of the wrong foods that cause too much acid in the stomac.
However, since I started with these medicationss I have been taking a product from Metagenics Lab called Glutagenics which is a powerful gastointestinal lining support. It contains L-Glutamine, Aloe, and Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice. It is a powder and comes in a large jar. I take a scoop every morning mixed in liquid and the jar lasts a long time. It is non-gmo, gluten free and vegan. I also take other products from this same lab related to my MTHFR gene mutation. So far, no stomach problems at all.
Care should be exercised taking licorice when you are on pred
umm.edu/health/medical/altm...
although since it may INCREASE the effects - maybe it would make a tasty steroid sparer!
Always the choice of two evils. I knew I would get some opposing comments. Everything seems to be bad for PMR but one has to be concerned with their stomach as well. The person involved has to determine this.
Wasn't an opposing comment - it was a report of something that has been discussed a few times on the forum before. As I pointed out - maybe it is a benefit. But the risk is I suppose that side effects may be potentiated as well.
Hi, I have read many posts in this forum and read many, many articles on the Internet, plus reading many books on inflammatory diseases . I like this forum because one can hear about alternative treatments, do their own research, and make up their own mind . They at least get information on what has helped others. Here is some information that helped me make a decision on taking small powdered amounts of licorice to help prevent stomach ulcers while taking Prednisone.
. Licorice is taken by mouth for various digestive system complaints including stomach ulcers, heartburn, colic, and ongoing inflammation of the lining of the stomach
Whole licorice is an effective treatment of an inflammatory disorder such as PMR. It is considered as one of the top 3 herbs to cure polymyalgia naturally. It comes as a root or an extract of a plant. Licorice has a sweet taste due to its glycyrrhizin content. It is not only an essential part of a cuisine but is also medicinal in nature. Root capsules are also available and can be taken at a dosage of 5 to 6 grams a day. A concentrated extract can be taken at 250-500 mg per day. The intake of licorice capsules can lower reliance of patient to Prednisone or steroid drugs.
LICORICE: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings - WebMD
webmd.com/vitamins-suppleme...?...
Licorice contains glycyrrhizic acid, which can cause complications when eaten in large quantities. ...Licorice is taken by mouth for various digestive system complaints including stomach ulcers, heartburn, colic, and ongoing inflammation of the lining of the stomach (chronic gastritis).
Liquorice apparently is the one most important thing that shouldn't mix with Prednisolone and it makes withdrawal symptoms much worse.
Black licorice is an old fashioned treat that can be harmful if you eat too much. If you're 40 or older, eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for two weeks could cause an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia). However the amount in powdered remedies is not anywhere near 2 ounces per day.
My husband is a scientist who worked at the Brain Institute at UCLA and he helps me in managing my PMR.
Thank you Robinre. Where do you normally get your stock from?
My best friend was newly being treated for an ulcer. After a very painful attack after Thanksgiving, she had a CAT scan. Turned out it’s her gallbladder.
Possible ulcerated oesophagus! 
Coated tongue and mouth ulcers
Mouth ulcers with GCA and prednisone?
Lanzoperole, upset stomach anyone?
Stomach irritation most of time. 
