Hi, I want to say thank you to all on this site for encouragement and invaluable info, you’re all brilliant 😊
I have a question! I am 63, and 7 years with PMR. Started 15mg, quickly reduced to 10mg and have reduced many times during those years with quite a few flares taking me back up (usually only go to 5 or 7mg depending on severity of flare). I have some pressure from GP to get off Pred but she has generally let me set the pace. I am now down to 3.5mg and have uncomfortable but manageable aches, I recognise the fact that it could be adrenal related and I am currently taking 1 ibuprofen (200mg) a day that strangely gives relief from some aches!! I have been told this is not good and I understand the stomach issues, but I thought I’d also read on here that someone takes pred and ibuprofen? Is this ok at small dose? (Sorry background info seems to have made it a long post!)😬
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lilacwine57
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This is advice regarding interaction between Pred and NSAIDS-
There is a moderate interaction between Ibuprofen and prednisone. It should only used together on the instruction of a Doctor, and needs to be used with caution together especially if you are prone to stomach upset including stomach ulcers and bleeding.
I used Ibruprofen ointment sparing on arthritic joints when on Pred - GP okay with that - but tablets are a different matter. Can be used as a short term measure for managing acute pain, but not on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.
Thank you DorsetLady for your swift reply. I think deep down that was what I was expecting to hear, but maybe hoped there was a ‘not usually, but’ answer to it. 😏Have a good day
I use single doses of ibuprofen - but never on a regular basis because I require a higher dose of pred than you and there is a risk.
Really you should be referred to a rheumatologist - your GP has created some of the problem in insisting you reduce past the dose you need to manage the symptoms. You are never reducing relentlessly to zero, whatever your GP thinks, you are looking for the lowest effective dose. At what dose of pred do you get the same relief as the 200mg ibuprofen gives?
Thanks PMRpro. I did have a lovely rheumatologist early on, but she retired and so I decided to just stick with GP as she seemed to think I had a handle on it! It was during first lockdown in March that she called and asked me to reduce as much as I could (I guess everything was very unknown at that point) anyway, as I’m a bit of a worrier I kept going down as quickly as I could, but keeping an eye on my pain levels too. It was then I found ibuprofen helped stabilise the daily pain and discomfort (I’m going to stop that now!) I think most likely 7mg pred would do a good job, and 5mg give adequate relief. But, I feel so frustrated and defeated when I go back up, as like so many on here I so want to get off them altogether!
My feeling is that I want the best quality of life I can have at any point. I take the dose I need and would love to get to 7mg - that is a dose that is similar to what your body produces and so is associated with few adverse effects. As it is, I have been IRO 15mg for the last nearly 2 years - I am a sole carer and have other problems besides the PMR that seems to require 15mg to keep them under control!!! But after over 11 years of pred, much of it above 10mg I have no identifiable adverse effects.
No-one complains about taking daily pills for other things - and many happily pop NSAIDs and other painkillers with potentially equally risky side effects. Why is everyone so scared of low dose pred? And doctors are amongst the worst.
I tried this for a while to relieve oa hip pain, it was actually prescribed on the basis I took omeprazole. It’s not a good mix with pred, it helped the pain somewhat but I came off it & went onto cocodamol which was much better.3.5 is a low dose but if it’s the pmr starting to wake up you’d be better off upping the pred. To be honest 200mgm ibuprofen daily is a small dose, probably not very effective anyway.
Thank you 123mossie, yes it’s a small dose which oddly makes a difference!!! But hey ho I’ll put on my ‘big girl pants’ and up my pred for a bit 😬 I appreciate your reply.
If you are getting relief from Ibuprofen it may indicate that the aches and pains may not all be PMR. I found with adrenal problems I was incredibly tired rather than getting PMR type pain.
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