Can anyone help me please 🙏 I have been prescribed to take once a week ;
Fosavance 70mg calcium tablet
1x 15mg lansoprazole in the morning before I take my daily Prednisolone 17.5mg
Is there any thing natural I can do myself to not have to take the Fosavance or the Lansoprazole, as I want to start reducing my Prednisolone by (.50mg on the 1st February )
I have never taken either other than 4 weeks of the bisphosphonate (Fosovance) before I'd done my homework and found the downsides of it. I waited for my dexascan which showed my bone density was very good and it has barely changed in over 11 years of pred. I did take the calcium and vit D supplement that is fairly standard for everyone.
My mantra is: No dexascan, no Fosavance.
Many of us manage pred without any problems without the lansoprazole - which itself can lead to osteoporosis. Taking it with food helps and many use yoghurt as well - preferably plain with no added sugar!
Thank you once again for quick response. I so much want to start reducing my Prednisolone but am afraid if i stop taking Fosavance and Lansoprazole abruptly it might make my PMR flare up again 😩do you know if you get withdrawal symptoms from Fosavance or Lansoprazole 🤔
It was my Dentist today told me the two tablets above do more harm than good to the body and this is why I ask for any advice you can give me please. I live in (NI) and tomorrow I am going to try and arrange a dexascan. I do take 2000 IU vitamin D a day also. Do I still need to take some form of calcium if I stop the Fosavance.
Thank you
Did you receive my last message 🤔
You can stop the Fosavance immediately if that is what you agree with your doctor - it should have no effect on the PMR. I took 4 tablets and stopped after discussing it with a different GP - initially until I had a dexascan but I have never taken it again because the follow-up dexascans have shown I don't need it. Just calcium and vit D should be the first approach unless you already have low bone density - best is dietary but if you can't manage then a supplement is helpful.
Lansoprazole is a bit different and it depends on how long you have been taking it. If it is only a short time then you can stop. If it is much longer then you need to taper, halving the dose first and then taking less and less over a few weeks to prevent getting rebound acid production.
And since your dentist is so aware of the risks of them, you should discuss whether you may need dental work sooner rather than later just in case it turns out you will need something more than calcium and vit D - it is possible.
Thank you so much , I am going to ask my doctor this afternoon to arrange for me to have a dexascan . 🙏
I take coated pred which works well without Lansoprazole. I also take vit D with calcium daily. I have a Dexascan to check my bone density which is quite good, so no Fosavance for me, although my GP is always going on about me taking a bisphosphonate.
Thank you so much for reply. I am so afraid of doing it wrong and ending up back up to 20mg of Prednisolone. I have decided not to take Lansoprazole from tomorrow and will use yogurt and food instead to take my Prednisolone.
I do take vit D daily can you suggest which calciums tablets I could take daily so I can stop taking the Fosavance 70mg once a week.
Thank you once again 🙏
A lot of people use yogurt which seems to work pretty well. I have combined vitamin D with calcium tablets. My doctor prescribes the tablets. There are various varieties. One thing, you must leave at least two hours between taking them and taking steroids.
I can not thank you enough for this information. I smile as I write this 😊going to make changes tomorrow 🤞🙏
Good luck. If you can manage on less tablets all to the good.
How long have you been taking the PPI, if for a short time you can probably just stop. Are you going to talk to your GP about it all? They can tell you.
Sorry just seen your question ; I have been on both Fosavance and Lansoprazole since 21st November about 9wks in total. What do you think could I just stop both of them 🤔🙏
You don't need to taper off a bisphosphonate.
I was recently put on a high doze of omeprazole for 6 weeks (80mg) and had no problem tapering down to 40 then 20 then 0 in a couple of weeks. I can’t tell you how much better I felt when I stopped taking them! I was on a very low doze of pred at the time which I’m now off completely, and taking them for a gastritis flare. I’ve never taken a bisphosphonate though I’ve been encouraged to on several occasions. I prefer diet and exercise for Osteo issues. I recommend coated pred if you can get them as I’m convinced the uncoated contributed to the gastritis.
Hi Piglette, can I ask why you need to leave two hours between taking Calcium and Vit D, and steroids? I've been having stomach cramps every day just recently and I wonder if it's because I'm taking the supplement about half an hour before the prednisolone. Thanks
Calcium supplements can interact with many prescription medicines, including antibiotics, bisphosphonates, steroids and high blood pressure medications. It seems the calcium affects the absorption of the other drug.
Thanks!
It's considered a good idea to taper off a PPI to avoid rebound acid production. It is a short taper, not like the excruciatingly slow one we use for pred. Someone will know, I've never taken a PPI. Adding the natural stomach protection of a meal with yoghurt is a good idea.
Depending on your DXA scan result you can be quite close to the osteoporosis/osteopenia line and still be successful with completely non-medical ways of improving bone density. Some doctors think it can't be done but there are lots of people who have proven them wrong!
I have no experience of Fosovance my Dexa scans have been good. I get on well with gastric resistant Pred. So no Lansoprazole
I never knew anything about PMR until I got it last November 2020 and my goodness I’m shocked to see the trail of devastation it leaves as it travels through your body and then when we get some relief with Prednisolone we have a long road of trying to get back of the Medication plus the extra tablets the DR through in for luck.
Thank you everyone for your help
I have taken Prednisolone for the past 9 years together with Lansoprazole and fortunately, have never had any problems. My Dexa scan at the end of last year shows my bone density is good so bisphosphonates not required. I do take a fairly high dose of Vitamin D as prescribed by my doctor but have never been told to leave a gap of 2hrs between taking this and the prednisolone. I am constantly learning from this excellent forum but would be grateful for info as to why they can't be taken together.
Hi, it’s not the VitD you need to leave a two hour gap but the combined Calcium & VitD Tablet, it’s the Calcium that’s the issue....
I take my VitD later in the day anyway but just thought l’d explain it’s the calcium that’s the issue.
MrsN
Could I ask Headgirl if you had an earlier bone scan or was that one last year your first?
I declined all meds except for pred and did lots of research about diet and supplements. Suffered no ill effects. Took my final dose of pred, nearly 2 years ago, 25 months after starting at 15 mg (PMR). Have had no recurrence of PMR so far, says she grabbing a large piece of wood and nothing wrong with my bones either.
Still imbibing all the supplements but ignoring all sugars and vast majority of carbs.....so no procecessed food (not that I ate much, anyway) and limited dairy. Had covid last April -unwell for 10 days during which time I fasted and consumed vast quanties of ascorbic acid plus extra vitD3. I also inhaled Lugols Iodine 15% vapours from a salt pipe.
Bit hard-core ..............not for everyone, but it certainly worked for me. It also kicked a diagnosis of T2 into touch.
Thank you so much for reply I did not take anything other than vit D and Prednisolone today. I reduced by 1.25mg 9 days ago I have no pain returning but am nausea and quite shaky inside for last few days don’t know if it’s a side effect that 1.25mg was to much to reduce at one time or if it’s just what to expect each time I reduce. 🙏
Do I have to take prednisolone
Bowel upset on Lansoprazole 
Do I agree to take AA?
Omeprazole - or Lansoprazole
