What supplements do folk use for PMR ?

[Mikeysaab]

I was wondering what supplements people use with PMR to help both the condition and to counteract the pred side effects? I’m coming up to the first anniversary of diagnosis and have tapered to about 6mg which I can’t get below at the moment. I supplement with Fultium D3 daily and a cod liver oil capsule although I don’t think that helps the PMR per se. I was wondering if a year in I was missing anything?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I take calcium/vit D but nothing else on a regular basis - except magnesium for cramp (or, in my case, atrial fibrillation). Keeping carb intake down has been the most important thing for me - weight manageable and Hba1c perfect.

[Mikeysaab in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro. I’ve seen your many comments on carb control. Something I battle with especially with potatoes which I live but missing the less obvious carbs.

[HeronNS]

I don't take anything specifically for pred although I do take more calcium than I did before diagnosis. I do also take Vitamin K2 which I didn't know about until diagnosed with "low bone mass". It helps calcium do its job by sending it to the bones. But this is something I'd have done anyway, with or without PMR/pred, once I knew about it. As PMRpro says, low carb is the single best thing we can do to counteract the pred side effects of weight gain and blood sugar increase.

[Mikeysaab in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you HeronNS. It’s the carbs again.. I need to heed this ! Although I still haven’t got on top of the carbs , I have lost weight since PMR dx.

[piglette]

I just take vit D and calcium, no other supplements unless recommended by my doctor.

[Mikeysaab in reply to piglette]

Thanks Piglette.

[Nolsie]

Hi Mikeysaab, like you I also just had my 1st pmr anniversary. I was doing ok with the dsns method, although struggled tapering from 6.25mg to 5mg We only get 5mg pred in our country. I went up to 7.5mg for last couple of days, will try to taper again in week's time.

I supplement with MenaCal7 in tablet form and recent blood tests show Vit D levels to be low. Question: is there a difference between the pill and chewable form?

[cherrysteps]

I have PMR and am taking Pred 15mg, I also take vitamin D, B, and Tumeric but was advised not to take magnesium with Pred.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cherrysteps]

Why were you told not to take magnesium with pred? Pred makes us lose more magnesium than usual through the kidneys - which easily leads to depletion in the muscles and then cramps.

[cherrysteps in reply to PMRpro]

I did not understand either, but my doctor said no, also the pharmacist was not sure of the reaction with Pred?

[HeronNS in reply to cherrysteps]

I'm going to speculate here and suggest it's not a blanket ban but simply, like calcium, don't take magnesium with your pred. Take it at another time of day. And also not at the same time as calcium. This is where we need the spread sheet - when to take our various medications and supplements!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cherrysteps]

It may not be a good idea to take them together in as "at the same time of day" and excessive amounts of magnesium would not be a good idea - but you wouldn't anyway as it has a laxative effect!

Kaiserpermanent Healthcare says

"Corticosteroids may increase the body's loss of magnesium. Some doctors recommend that people taking corticosteroids for more than two weeks supplement with 300–400 mg of magnesium per day. Magnesium has also been reported to interfere with the absorption of dexamethasone."

and the manufacturers of Milk of magnesia say

"Talk to your doctor before using prednisone together with any kind of medication that has a laxative effect. Combining these medications, especially over a prolonged period, may increase the risk of dehydration and hypokalemia, or low blood potassium."

Dexamethasone IS a corticosteroid - but we don't take it.

Can't say I'd be greatly impressed by a pharmacist who couldn't check an interaction like that!

[Mikeysaab in reply to PMRpro]

Hi PMRpro- the only supplement that I've been taking is VitD3. No magnesium at all which sounds like I could be lacking. Sounds like I could do with something in this area. I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow so maybe something to ask him about. Thanks.

[HeronNS in reply to Mikeysaab]

You get a lot of magnesium if you eat leafy greens. Magnesium is to plants what iron is to animals.

[HeronNS in reply to Mikeysaab]

healthline.com/nutrition/10...

[Mikeysaab in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you HeronNS that’s really helpful. What a brilliant community this is !