Just prednisone?

[Zeddly]

Just wondering if I should be taking something else with the prednisone? Supplements perhaps for some the of the side affects?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You should have been given calcium and vit D supplements. Possibly K2 or adding fermented foods to your diet. But really - it is less what you add to your diet as what you leave out that helps the side effects!

What side effects were you thinking of?

[Zeddly in reply to PMRpro]

mostly the bone loss that I have heard about. I do eat cheese and yogurt...just didn't want to not be doing something.

[piglette]

As PMRPro says you need Vit D and calcium for the side effects of pred. Eating a healthy diet like we all should is enough unless you are found to be deficient in a particular vitamin or mineral. A lot of supplements are just a good way of boosting the suppliers bank balance.

[HeronNS]

Yes, definitely Vitamin D and Vitamin K2. Calcium supplements also a good idea as pred interferes somewhat with our metabolism of calcium so a little extra, even with a good diet, is important. Vitamin D is necessary for us to absorb calcium, whether from food or supplements, and Vitamin K2 (not K1) makes sure that calcium goes into the bones and avoids calcification of blood vessels and kidney problems which can sometimes occur with calcium supplementation. Some of us find we need an occasional boost of magnesium as well, to keep magnesium in balance with calcium, but it is quite plentiful in a varied healthy diet.

Don't take calcium at the same time as pred, and also don't take a single dose higher than about 400 mg., give or take 100 mg., as the body can't absorb more than that at one time. So pred for breakfast and calcium at later meals. I take one calcium dose near bedtime (with a little milk and yoghurt) and it seems to help me sleep better.

[ConventCassie]

For pain control- I took Tylenol & a glass of wine. Ocassionally.