Vitamin D eg
Is it wise to take Immune boosting supplements wh... - PMRGCAuk
Is it wise to take Immune boosting supplements when you’re taking Prednisone?
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You should have been prescribed a VitD/Calcium supplement at outset.
I bought spirulina supplement recently only to subsequently read somewhere that it shouldn't be taken with steroids. As it's supposedly an immune boosting supplement, I'm wondering if it would help on very low pred doses when you want your own immune system to kick in?
I am no expert but had understood that our immune systems are too active and we do not need to boost it. Perhaps it is adrenals that you want to boost at low pred doses?
I have been taking spirulina throughout PMR! For breakfast I have spirulina powder, chia seeds & chopped prunes & figs that have all been soaked overnight in coconut water. I also take spirulina tabs later in the day. It never occurred to me that it shouldn't be taken with pred! I'm on a very low dose of pred now, so I'm sure it won't matter.
Thanks for your comments. Unlike you I'm some way off a very low dose of pred, but plan to ask my rheumy in due course about spirulina - currently consigned to the freezer. If you have been experiencing no adverse effects on the supplement it seems that it is doing no harm and may be doing you some good! Food and supplement interactions don't seem to be mentioned by medics when they prescribe us a drug, and we are left to discover things ourselves. I am also on amlodipine for high BP, and fortunately at the outset read a warning about grapefruit juice. I confess I do sneak in the odd tiny amount (40ml) but not every day, and yes it does make a difference.
Sadly I just found that out about Dilitizide and I used to LOVE my GF juice. Or Grapefruits. I didn’t see much difference in my BP. But I struggle with the Pred with the BP meds.
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The primary problem in autoimmune disease is an overactive immune system and you are given immunosuppressant medication to manage them (that includes pred) - so why would want to boost your immune system? Most so-called immune-boosting supplements are warned against alongside pred (echinacea for example).
Vit D is a different matter - if you are deficient then it is needed but to ensure calcium absorption is adequate to avoid loss of bone density and as DL says you should have been given a calcium/vit D supplement at the same time as the pred.
Understand. Vitamin D was my concern and trying to do everything for the bones except other meds. I’m only “low” in it, but 4000 units a day is probably not needed then. You’re so dependable- as always- thanks. Magnesium isn’t one is it? Just because of high BP.
As DL says you should have been prescribed a supplement but not to be taken at the same time as the Pred. I take mine in the evening, Pred in the morning, and vit K2 to ensure the bones absorb the calcium.
No one told me when to take the V D.
My doctor never told me when to take it either. That's another piece of good information I got from this forum.
I split my Pred dose - so have no clue when to take it.
I split mine too when I was on higher dose. If you do early and late dose, take your vitD/calcium in middle of day?
Now that I’m on 2.5 I tried to go to all at am. No energy, so going back to most in evening. Any advice?
Sorry, I haven't reached that level yet but I'm sure the aunties will have good advice. I have read on here about taking pred late at night affects cortisol production? I'm trying the split dose again for now. More at night and the rest in morning. It is such a guessing game and as so many have said, everyone is different and you have to experiment... trial and error 🙄 good luck
(Vitamin D) Ha ha. OK and ?
Umm I don't think I understand your ? I'm easily confused 🤪
This thread is hard to follow- but my general comment about confusion regards Pred is immune suppressing and immune supplementing which someone brot up in a Facebook group as we all agreed here, is self-defeating for the Prednisone. However, I do not supplement I eat foods which I believe are healthy and while perhaps I should skip many healthy things which boost the immune system many of them also are anti-inflammatory. So I am confused about which healthy foods are good while taking Prednisone. For example:
Falling into both catagories are
Nuts
Fibrous vegetables
Berries
Turmeric
Full fat & fermented dairy
The immune boosting only ones I will not give up are sweet potatoes, apples, garlic, ginger, and cinnamon.
Since the purpose of pred is to surppress our overactive immune systems, it would seem to be counter-productive to take a supplement that purports to boost it.
I take D3 with Calcium, Biotin for my hair and nails (it really helps) and a slow absorbing magnesium. I don’t know how much they help overall or not but I’m fairly stable and actually feel pretty good. My current prednisone dose is 6 and that along with synthroid are the only medications I’ve taken for the last 19 months.
So I have taken Tumeric which boosts your immune system but is also has anti inflammatory capabilities.... ??????? shall I stop or continue?
"Immunity is your body's natural defense against disease causing bacteria and virus. ... According to a research published in the journal PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), curcumin, a compound found in turmeric is known to have anti-inflammatory properties that helps boost immunity."
Elderberry is the new rage at the school where I teach to keep kids healthy. I haven't looked into it yet figuring it was a no-go with PMR. Thought?
I was diagnosed with Hyperparathyroidism which gives you too much Calcium in your blood, so Dr took me off Calcium/Vit D supplement. I am taking Vit K2 instead which helps your bones absorb calcium. Seems to be working, blood tests for Calcium show only slightly raised levels.
My Internist prescribed it.