which asperin or painkiller is OK to take on pred.

[izzyart]

I am starting my 4th month with PMR and back up to 20mg after another flare-up ... there are times when I really need a painkiller and wonder which one is best to not conflict with pred. thanks for your advice.

izzyart

[DianeA1]

I have been told to use Motrin.

[jinasc in reply to DianeA1]

Diane A1

Motrin is a NSAID and Pred and NSAIDs do not go together.

[Rusty8 in reply to jinasc]

Sorry to have to say this I don’t know for sure where you are or wether it would make a difference but I am in the uk and I think I am nearly on all of them lol no on serious note I take longtec shortec paracetamol

Pregabalin and I’m sure at least one of them is a nsaid I know doc isint to happy about them and I sure aren’t happy about taking any of them but I have to do something about everything that is going on with me and have been told there is nothing else they can do but PLEASE GO AND SEE A DOCTOR FIRST

[jinasc]

izzyart

My guess is that you were an active person and have been suddenly hit with PMR and have not yet had time to learn to adjust.

PMR means that the oxygen supply to your muscles is impaired and if you try to carry on the way you did before the diagnosis then you are putting a strain on those muscles. So if you are standing ironing ..............then you need to learn to sit down when ironing and when you feel tired, stop and rest and give your body a chance to catch up.

When you say their are 'times' when you need to use a painkiller it is because of a general pain or a specific pain, ie headache etc or is it because you have been more active, perhaps you are trying to do what you did before you were diagnosed?

Try treating yourself, (as another Lady said) like a Precious Princess and see if those 'times' reduce.

[izzyart in reply to jinasc]

I think you are exactly right...I remember to 'slow down' it seems, only when I am feeling the pain but have always been very active and usually able to do twelve things at once...and yes it is when I have a headache in the early morning when the pred starts to wear off, otherwise the 20mg works wonders!

[Hidden]

I take paracetamol if required as l have other issues, run it past your Pharmacist first for confirmation but I’ve had other strong pain Meds while l’ve had PMR for other issues post operatively.

Strangely Pred works on some pain & not others, then as you reduce you might find an old injury or ‘war wound’ make themselves known again!

If you have a headache a simple painkiller can help but always check with your Pharmacist!

Mrs N

[izzyart in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, but what is a "simple painkiller"?

[Hidden in reply to izzyart]

A ‘Simple Painkiller’ is for example Paracetamol as opposed to Co-Codamol which has more than one ingredient ie Paracetamol & Codeine.

Hope that helps?

Mrs N x

[izzyart in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the quick reply, that is called tylanol in the U.S. and is over the counter.

I will get some.

[Hidden in reply to izzyart]

You can double check with your Pharmacist to confirm, there are times we have to take other Meds along side our Pred for various reasons.

I always recommend you use the same Pharmacist so it’s always easy to cross check any new Meds.

Best Wishes

Mrs N x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Interesting Mrs Nails have reduced to 9.5 now have my old back muscle and neckpain back must search out the wheat bag!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes, you wake up one morning & an old familiar pain has reoccurred! The Pred reduces all inflammation so you do get relief from other long standing issues.

Good Luck finding the Wheat Pack! 🍀

Hope your back & neck settle down soon.

Mrs N x

[piglette]

What do you need painkillers for? Pred is the only thing that really helps PMR, do you have other problems?

[izzyart in reply to piglette]

Piglette,

Often in the early morning when the pred wears off, I get a headache. It makes it impossible to sleep so I am up sometimes at 3, 4 AM after just a few hours sleeping and wish I could take something to just make it possible to get another couple hours in.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to izzyart]

Then try splitting the dose of pred you take. Try 2/3 in the morning and the rest later - maybe even 3/4 and 1/4. The antiinflammatory effect of pred doesn't always last a full 24 hours - splitting the dose will extend it.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If it is for a headache then probably paracetamol is safest although a single dose of ibuprofen is OK. But you shouldn't use NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs) on a regular basis with pred unless your doctor approves AND you are taking some form of stomach protection to reduce stomach acid. They are not sweeties even when you are not on pred - one lady was told to take ibuprofen for her PMR symptoms and after 3 doses ended up in A&E with a gastric bleed.

Never take more than the dose they state - and be careful about mixing paracetamol tablets with cold remedies and the like as they also contain paracetamol. There is not a lot of difference between the maximum recommended dose and the amount that can damage your liver.

However - if it is for PMR pain, then you may need more pred. Painkillers rarely work for PMR.

[izzyart]

thanks.

[ClarkB]

I was told Paracetamol. I also have high blood pressure, and was advised to take it for that too.

[ClarkB]

....Paracetamol for headaches/aches and pains- not for the blood pressure, but safe to use with my medication.

[PMR2011]

Hi Izzyart, if you have had more than one flare in the first 4 months with PMR I am wondering how fast you are tapering the Pred? You may want to search tapering plans on this site. With initial therapy you want to clear out the built up inflammation then slowly taper to find the lowest dose which controls the symptoms. Then need to wait until the disease runs it’s course, which may be several years. And, as others have said, it’s time to pamper yourself!

[izzyart]

yes, my rheumy had me taper from 20 to 15 twice and I think it was too much. In 2 weeks he wants me to start injecting a chemo? drug ( I forgot the name) to help with the tapering...that scares me.

In the meantime, I will be pampering myself in Paris for a 10 day art trip.

[HeronNS in reply to izzyart]

As tapering from 20 to 15 in one go is a 25% reduction, no wonder you had problems. Generally speaking at the moderate to low levels for PMR treatment it seems no more than 10% at a time is much easier to tolerate - hence the slow taper methods PMRpro suggested you look at. I hope your doctor is open to your trying this rather than adding another medication.

Have a wonderful time in Paris!

[piglette in reply to izzyart]

Was the drug suggested Methotrexate? I have managed to avoid it so far. My rheumie tried to get me to reduce from 20mg to 15mg and from my point of view it was a total disaster. I felt like death warmed up. Pampering yourself in Paris sounds a much better cure. Bon voyage.