Diarrhoea

[Caradomben]

Does anyone suffer from episodes of diarrhoea with prednisolone ? I been getting it every few days .

[Jampad]

Yes, I have episodes of diarrhoea. I did think it was caused by the lansoprazole so the doctor changed that to omeprazole. Now I don`t take either so imagine it must be the steroids causing it

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It would be unusual with pred but what other medications are you on?

[Caradomben in reply to PMRpro]

I am also on omeprazole , adcal d3 and other heart medications (Apixaban.bisoprolol and flecainide ) which I have been in for a few years .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Caradomben]

I would be more inclined to look at the omeprazole - about 1 in 3 have intolerable adverse affects due to that which force them to discontinue it, diarrhoea being one. As Snazzy says, if you are in the UK gastric coated pred is an obvious option. Stopping omeprazole may require a short time of tapering or replacing with ranitidine - stopping it suddenly is not advised as that may result in rebound production of the acid.

[SnazzyD]

On high doses of Pred to about 10mg I would get loose motions every morning and this reduced with dose. The anti acid meds made it like that all the time so I stopped them by tailing off and got coated Pred instead.

[Cavken]

Unfortunately Yes last night after the first time of taking the prednisoline

[Loopy65]

Hi .. I also have IBS which makes everything a little more ‘fragile’! When I started the Pred (also December) it was bad but doubled my lanzoprazole and also I assume you’re having something to eat with it. At the start I was taking my lanzoprazole and buscopan (anti spasmodic for the IBS) and leaving it 15mins before taking the Pred. It seems to have done the trick. Also, over time my body appears to be getting used to the Pred as I can now take all meds at the same time.

Hope you can get it sorted out.

[cranberryt]

I struggled with it in the higher doses. I used 2TBSP of psyllium husk (no sugar added) a day until I got it under control.

[ChinaWuntoo]

May I resurrect this thread?

Since 3rd May I had severe diarrhoea for three weeks. After talking to a pharmacist and my GP we decided that this was due to the weekly Risedronate (which I had stopped after only two doses about mid-way through the three weeks). Just before the end of the three weeks I stopped taking Lansoprazole because I couldn't believe that Risedronate stayed in the system for so long (after only two doses). The diarrhoea stopped. The GP changed the Risedronate to Alendronic Acid - I had taken that before without any side effects. All was well for four or five days and I started back on Lansoprazole (having been off it for about 8 days). Immediately the diarrhoea has started again. So I'm left wondering what on earth is going on.

My question is: is it safe to stop and start Lansoprazole in order to see whether that is the culprit?

My next question, thinking long-term, is: what is the proper relationship between the patient, the GP and the Consultant? I have an appointment with the Consultant in September; can I approach him via his secretary meanwhile? What is the etiquette (in UK).

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ChinaWuntoo]

PPIs are well known for their gastric effects. I think lansoprazole is regarded as better than omeprazole but for some people none of them suit.

It is never a good idea to change 2 things at the same time - it is too confusing.

You can't really resurrect a thread on this forum just because of the way it works - only the people who participated originally and/or followed the thread will be notified. Since this thread was created some 1000 people have joined the forum, none of them will see it. It is always better to start a new thread.

Can't help with your other question other than to say it isn't that easy to have a relationship with most consultants in the NHS. You may see them once - or you may not - but after that your appointments will be sporadic in many cases and often you will see another member of the team. In the case of PMR the most likely relationship is to be with a GP - so it probably pays to investigate more than one in the practice in most cases. I stuck with the one I usually saw because we got on well - but his abilities in the realms of PMR were decidely lacking!

[ChinaWuntoo]

Many thanks PMRpro.

Yes, I got confused and made a mistake.

I think my experience with my GP is similar to yours; nice man, we get on but he's awful with paperwork and I'm not sure what he knows about PMR. I think I said somewhere that my PMR was actually diagnosed whilst my GP was on holiday or away or something, although he did agree with the diagnosis later. Unfortunately the GP who suspected PMR was a locum and the GP who actually made the diagnosis then went off to have a baby. And not back yet otherwise I'd ask to see her.

I'll work it out. I have an appointment with the Consultant and hopefully that can be face-to-face so I will be able to fully discuss things and see his lips when he speaks (I hate the telephone - it's my age!).

Thanks again.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ChinaWuntoo]

Same problem in my practice - the one who recognised it as PMR when the consultant was being a bit of a prat and simply ignoring what I told him was only part time anyway and had been on maty leave at least twice so I never asked to see her. But that once was worth it really!