Over the counter meds

[aladymo]

Can you take Tylenol while on prednisone?

[1Purplecrow]

Hi, short answer...yes. Tylenol is acetaminophen in the US. Paracetamol in Uk, etc.

the greatest risk with Tylenol is over use and possible liver damage from abuse.

Use it carefully, and read the package inserts, being careful not to exceed the recommended daily dosage.

Kind regards, Jerri

[SheffieldJane]

I do, for pains that are not to do with PMR. There don’t seem to be contra- indications. As 1Purplecrow advises, bear your liver burden in mind and take it sparingly.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes - if it does you any good! Never does anything for me for anything! And as already said - watch the dose, especially if you decide to take cold/flu remedies along with it. It all mounts up.

[aladymo]

It was for a headache. Went to bed instead.

[aladymo]

Does everyone feel better immediately after prednisone? I have been on 5 days now, and there is improvement but by no means am I pain free. I have not been feeling well for 6 months , diagnosed with PMR last week. Patience is not one of my virtues :(. I was doing yoga 3x week and walking 10,000 steps a day. I’m not doing either as of now. Also feeling a little “down in the dumps” probably feeling sorry for myself 😱

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to aladymo]

By no means, no. They look for a 70% improvement overall - in my case that was 100% improvement in stiffness in a few hours but the hip and hand/foot pain was barely dented and took more than a few months to go altogether. And the hip pain returns with a flare. It is probably quite unusual to be entirely pain free, some people are NEVER painfree.

The "depressive mood" is also a part of the PMR - as the inflammation reduces so will the down in the dumps part.

And sorry - but if you don't learn anything else with successul management of PMR it is likely to be patience And acceptance. That helps even more.

[aladymo in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I needed to hear that. 👍

[1Purplecrow in reply to aladymo]

Hello...please...allow yourself 15 minutes to feel sorry for yourself...then get on with it.. you were spectacularly active pre-PMR, and you will be so again, but for now...you need a bit of time to begin to heal.

PMR does not appear to be an acute illness...but in fact, it can be quite severe. There is no plaster cast or long surgical scar to prove its significance... only your day to day experience of its effect.

As PMRpro has said...PMR is not life treatening...but it is life changing. The pain, the prednisone, the illness, all take a toll on your body and on your quality of life.

So give yourself a bit of time for the pred to do its magic...and trust that you begin to feel better soon.

Kind regards, Jerri

[aladymo in reply to 1Purplecrow]

Just got back from masssge. Feeling better and will just go with the flow. I guess thisPMR just threw me for a loop, your comments are so positive and I thank you ✔️

[aladymo in reply to aladymo]

I am feeling better and was even able to clean my kitchen yesterday with very little pain in my arms! I have numbness in my foot ( it’s very pale - heat brings it back ) and I’m not sure if that’s PMR or a vascular disease? I also wondered who you would see to check if you have GCA!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to aladymo]

If you have a pale numb foot - has your GP checked the pulses in your ankle?

But that isn't likely to be due to GCA - if you had symptoms that suggested GCA you would go to your GP first of all. Then your rheumy.

[aladymo in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. Going to Opthamologist this week ( maybe he would see GCA). Will call GP today. Day by day 👍