Ive had PMR for 4 years now and I’m currently taking 4/3.5 mg Prednisolone using the dead slow taper.
On a routine visit my Doctor advised and prescribed Ranatidine to protect my stomach. I am reluctant to take this as I have no symptoms of stomach problems. I always take my pred after a big bowl of porridge and live yoghurt! Should I take the ranatidine as precautionary or carry on taking pred on a full stomach? What experience have other on here had?
Thanks in advance! X
I have never been prescribed a PPI but like you always take my Pred with breakfast. I have never had a problem.
I take my pred on an empty stomach with no problem....yet.
I started off taking prescribed omeprazole which definitely gave me indigestion. Yogurt (as suggested on this forum) disagrees with me. So initially I took the pred with a rice cake. Then when I went low carb, and realising the rice cake was worth 15g carb, and I was forcing myself to eat it when I was not hungry at all, I stopped it.
So after six months I have just been taking pred without eating.
I of course would be prepared to change this if I got adverse symptoms.
In your case I wouldn’t change what is working. Porridge works for you, so I would suggest you do not need the ranitidine.
Sorry I meant to mention in my spiel above I have been on pred for four years.
If I was you, I would stick with the regime that works for me. I have thankfully, refused a lot of unnecessary meds during my 4 years of PMR. Each medication comes with its own burden on the system. I prefer to keep things as simple as possible.
That’s exactly my gut instinct. Thanks for the comment.
There was a post on here a few days ago about the cascade effect of meds. I remember when I took naproxen, an absolutely amazing teatment for migraine. But it began to bother my stomach so my doctor prescribed something else to have with it, I forget what. I think at that point I decided enough was enough and reverted to my customary aspirin overdoses. Fortunately I don't get the killer migraines any more, or so rarely years go by, just "normal" type headaches and even not so many of those. Occasionally when one is being quizzed about medications one is on, in a medical setting of course, there is surprise expressed that I only have one prescription (pred) as I guess most people over 70 are expected to be on multiple meds.
Why suddenly decide to do it now when you have had no problems at higher doses? Kneejerk reaction prescribing!
At least it was ranitidine and not a PPI - they can have their own joys!
Thanks for the advice! My gut instinct stopped me but just wanted to get other people’s experiences just in case I was missing something. X
If you haven't had any stomach or digestive issues using your porridge of yoghurt then you can carry on as you are. It's been prescribed " just in case" as often occurs. You can keep the Ranitidine on stand by if you find things do occur and start trying it out then.
Add me to those who just take with food. Never any problems.
By the way, my GP has stopped prescribing Ranitidine as there is an association with cancer, I believe, so it is back to Lanzoprazole for me, unfortunately.
The association of ranitidine and cancer is a problem with contamination of supplies to the manufacturers from a certain source - the same chemical that was found in some other medications some months ago. It has led to a shortage in some countries. I think the chemical is something similar to what is found in bacon and well cooked meats but don't quote me on that as I haven't checked!
Yes , it doesn't mean that there is a link between Ranitidine , the drug, and Cancer , just that some brands had a contamination issue ( like some other drugs from the same Pharma sources ) and so their is a shortage of Ranitidine.
It is still possible to get it , and it doesn't mean that you should have to change to PPI drug for stomach relief , just that there may be a delay getting hold of it at the Chemist in some Countries and Regions. If you prefer Ranitidine and don't wish to change to a PPI , or have had side effects on PPI in the past , it's worth requesting that you still get the drug that you are happy with.
It seems a bit irresponsible to me for a GP to make blank statements like that without giving accurate details on what they are talking about , it could cause patients undue Stress and unnecessary anxiety.
Hi,
I don’t know if you live in the UK but GPs here have been advised to change patients medication with regard to Ranitidine to an alternative, because of possible contamination and links to cancer. See link below:
dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...
I have had PMR and GCA for about 9 years or more and can’t drop below 10mg of Prednisolone. Hence my stomach needs help. I am now taking Cimetidine which does the job. Hope this helps.
Best wishes.
It is only certain "brands" that have shown contamination. If you go to a proper pharmacy they will have removed contaminated brands.
Hi, thanks for your reply. I’ve just spoken with Boots to be told that Ranitidine is still not available. My GP says it will take quite some time before they can obtain safe versions.
I just got a repeat supply from Boots but it's from a different manufacturer from the ones I've been happily throwing down my throat until now. I now find that the ones I'm currently still taking, from the older supply, are specifically mentioned on the government website recall list so now I'm going to take them back to the pharmacist and also check that the new batch is ok. Yet another medical project to add to the fun.
My Doctor has just told me Ranitidine is not available at the moment in the UK and the internet says it has been withdrawn in the USA
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