Deglycyrrhizinated licorice and acid reflux

[Mstiles]

I’m in the US and see an integrative health MD who oversees supplements and some tests, in addition to a GP and rheumatologist. Have PMR/GCA. I haven’t tried coated pred—(change of doctors, pandemic problems, long story). Have had acid reflux for months, waking me at nite, etc and been taking loads of Tums, the easiest solution. A recent test showed calcium levels above range,

My integrative health doctor suggested getting off the tums and taking this form of licorice which has been formulated without the part that interferes with pred. She also said follow up with the GP about the high calcium level. I took the dose of chewable tablets last night after supper and had no reflux. I slept.

Has anyone had experience with this form of licorice or read anything about it?

[piglette]

Did you mean that you have not tried coated pred not uncoated pred? It is uncoated that seems to cause the stomach problems. Rayos is available in the US which is coated but pricey.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

It's coated - but it still releases in the stomach, just 4 hours later.

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I am sorry, I did not think I had given the impression that it did not release in the stomach. My bad English.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

My point was that the stomach is effectively still exposed to plain pred.

[Mstiles]

Fixed my post, Yes, sorry. Have not tried coated pred

[HeronNS]

Is your high calcium related to your consumption of Tums (calcium carbonate)?

[Mstiles in reply to HeronNS]

My integrative doctor said it could be and I should follow up with my GP

[Viv54]

Hi, i dont know the answer to your question, but i do know that in the tablet leaflet ,it tells you to avoid Licorice ! Hope this helps !

[Jan_Noack]

try slippery elm powder, dissolve in hot water and add cold to make a warm water mix.. to it as ut tastes not so good I add some orange flavoured slippery elm mix( I can get the name if interested but I foge5t where I got it from..I'm in Oz). I still use Gaviscon sometimes..all better than tums and all with no calcium and no aluminium. Seems to be helping but not el9iminating mine. I wish I could get the coated pred too.

[Karenjaninaz in reply to Jan_Noack]

Ive used slippery elm in the past, capsule form, before pred, and it worked the best because it coats .

[strawclutching]

I've tried the deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) tablets, and they didn't help my reflux at all, but some people swear by them. My GP eventually agreed to give me the coated Pred along with the max dose of Omeprazole which I was grateful for at the time as my insides were pretty raw. 6 months later the Omeprazole has caused a myriad of gut issues. Tums are much safer as they just neutralise the acid, without blocking it altogether, but if you overdo them they will increase your calcium levels.I'm hoping to start a reducing plan for the Omeprazole, but I'll need a referral to the gastro team first. Good luck if you're looking for an alternative to the Tums. I may be graduating onto them soon myself. Reflux can be difficult to cope with. I speak from experience.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to strawclutching]

Would the GP not let you try an H2 antagonist? Famotidine or cimetidine. If you start on them they suppress the acid and let you reduce the PPI. They are a different mechanism so the adverse effects are different

[strawclutching in reply to PMRpro]

I did suggest famotidine to one of the GP's a few months ago and she said they couldn't get hold of it for some reason. I didn't know about cimetidine. I need a firm plan before I go ahead as the last time I tried reducing - at the GP's instructions it caused unbearable rebound reflux. But that time 40 mgs was dropped from my daily dose and not replaced with anything. I had to go back to the max dose and it took around 12 weeks for things to settle and heal inside.

[Karenjaninaz in reply to strawclutching]

You will see reduced wind and bloating. You might think that’s candida but I doubt it.

Frankly, I wonder about this candida stuff- maybe if its after long term antibiotics. It can only be proved by a stool culture. Otherwise its guessing.

[strawclutching in reply to Karenjaninaz]

Because I'm diabetic and therefore provide any bugs or bacteria with a sugar rich environment, I'm more prone to infections. The Prednisolone has reduced my immune system even further, and in the last 6 months I've had 3 UTI's, a fungal scalp condition, oral thrush, sinusitis and ringing in the ears which have all been linked to candida overgrowth. My last UTI took 3 lots of antibiotics (which I'm still taking)- still making me feel unwell after nearly 5 weeks. The bacteria this time was Klebsiella, which I've never had before and it attacks those with poor immune systems who are elderly. At 67 I hadn't regarded myself as 'elderly' but there's nothing like a stream of constant infections to give you a kick into reality. These infections slow my tapering down even further, and I don't want to take my second Covid jab until this UTI has cleared and I feel well enough - if that ever happens.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to strawclutching]

For goodness sake - it is RANITIDINE you can't get. Of course, there may have been a run on the famotidine as a result. And you NEVER just stop a PPI ...

[strawclutching in reply to PMRpro]

When my GP told me to drop the 40mgs evening Omeprazole, I was still taking the 40mgs morning dose. She said it should last 24 hours, but it didn't. Not for me anyway. I think she felt so guilty after, she agreed to prescribe the enteric coated Pred. It may have been better to drop to 20mgs twice a day or even 30 if 10mgs of Omeprazole are obtainable. I had such a bad experience I'm genuinely scared to start the process over.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to strawclutching]

It would - yes ...

[Karenjaninaz in reply to strawclutching]

All Ppis make me “windy”.

[strawclutching in reply to Karenjaninaz]

I'm always full of gas and bloated. My rate of transit has become very slow, and I suspect I have candida in the gut, as I have all the symptoms.

[Karenjaninaz]

Regarding high blood calcium- definitely check with your GP because it can come from a parathyroid , benign adenoma.

[Mstiles]

I found this on DGL safety:

healthcenter.ucsc.edu/pharm...

[CathyMeg]

Have been in the anti inflammatory diet since diagnosed. Mainly Amy Myers for 6 months and now Autoimmune Protocol Diet. (Mickey Prescott). Taking Supplements and 20 MG’s Nexium. Forgot it few times and no problems but Drs say should stay on it until under 7mgs Prednisolone. Had a flare after a cold and gone back up on Pred but still gut is good and haven’t increased the Nexium.

[Mstiles in reply to CathyMeg]

I haven’t heard of these two people, I’ll check them out. Thank you.