Medications

[Citation]

I’ve recently been diagnosed with PMR and now on 20mg prednisone. A good friend directed to this form and told me to ask questions as the information on this site is very informative. I am wondering if there is a list of medications one should avoid while taking this drug. If anyone can help me I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.

[piglette]

If you want to know contra indicative medicines go to the Drug website which is very informative. Also you should avoid black liquorice. There are some supplements that should be avoided particularly some Chinese ones. Again look at Google.

[Citation in reply to piglette]

Thanks.

[benhemp in reply to piglette]

Why black licorice? (As you might guess, I like it and have some now and then!)

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to benhemp]

From nhs site -

“”Taking steroid tablets with other medicines, food or alcohol

Some medicines interfere with the way steroid tablets work. Tell your doctor if you take any other medicines, including herbal remedies and supplements, before starting steroid tablets.

If you're already taking steroid tablets, ask your doctor or a pharmacist for advice before taking any other medicines, remedies or supplements.

You can usually drink alcohol while taking steroid tablets, but do not drink too much as this may irritate your stomach.

You can also eat most foods while taking steroid tablets. Do not eat liquorice while taking prednisolone, however, as this can increase the amount of the medicine in your body.“

[benhemp in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for the quick reply!

[Citation in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks.

[piglette in reply to benhemp]

I like liquorice too. That’s life!!

[Thelmarina in reply to piglette]

Me too! None for over three years now 😟 - still I can have gin 😀

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Thelmarina]

I'd probably be safer with liquorice - my a.fib doesn't like gin

[piglette in reply to Thelmarina]

I am not a gin lover, I think it may go back to when I was three years old and gate crashed my parents party and probably drank some gin and orange which I thought was orange alone!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

I'd think that may have tasted like orange juice that has gone off to a 3 year old!

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I think I was sick afterwards which is what I remember. A sort of Brave New World.

[HeronNS]

Two very simple things which the doctors and pharmacists often forget to tell us: do not take prednisone and nsaids concurrently as both are hard on the stomach. And if you take calcium supplements they shouldn't be taken at the same time as pred as they interfere with each other.

[CricketMonkey in reply to HeronNS]

Interesting: no-one had ever mentioned not taking calcium at the same time as pred: I don’t most days anyway as I take the pred with breakfast, which usually involves whole grains or cereals such that I need to wait the two hours anyway.

[HeronNS in reply to CricketMonkey]

If I remember correctly (it's a whle since I looked it up) calcium interferes with absorption of pred, potentially lowering its effectiveness, and pred actually does something to the way calcium is metabolised which is why they tell us to be careful to do what we can to maintain bone density while on pred.

[Citation in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you.

[Alchemy8 in reply to HeronNS]

I thought I had read this somewhere and had been taking caclium supplements for months wth the pred at breakfast. Now have dropped to taking them at lunch and dinner. Thank you!

[MrsNails]

Morning Citation

You’ve been given the obvious ones, Calcium (not at the same time) NSAIDS (only on advice from a Doctor) Liquorice (Don’t Eat)

My best advice is always get your Medication from the same Pharmacy & ask the Pharmacist to cross check all your Medication to advise on the optimum time to take your Meds.

Best Wishes

MrsN

[Citation in reply to MrsNails]

Talking with Pharmacist today. Thank you for your help.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I suppose it depends how much you need something else and generally most things are OK with a bit of tweaking. So between the doctor prescribing something and the pharmacist dispensing it you should be covered. It doesn't always follow though and it pays to mention what you take to both as well as check them yourself using reputable sites you can find via google. The data sheet that comes in a medication pack (or via google) is usually accurate and reliable.

A real no-no when on corticosteroids though is the group of antibiotics called quinolones - their names all end in -oxacin:

ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

levofloxacin (Levaquin/Quixin)

gatifloxacin (Tequin)

moxifloxacin (Avelox)

ofloxacin (Ocuflox/Floxin/Floxacin)

norfloxacin (Noroxin)

They increase the risk of developing achilles tendonitis which brings with it a high risk of rupture of the tendon.

Remember that the more medications you take, the more complex the interactions become so it is a case of as much as required but as little as possible. It also includes supplements - also not always a case of more is better! And as mentioned with calcium - timing of taking may be crucial.

[Citation in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. This is awesome.