Diarrhoea

[Posie42]

I've been on steroids for 5 months and have had diarrhoea for about 3 months. Is this a side effect?if

[SnazzyD]

Hello, it depends. Can you tell us what dose are you on? Do you have PMR or GCA? If you have, it’ll help those advising to target their advice better if you fill in your profile with your history.

[piglette]

Diarrhea is not a side effect of steroids. However they can increase appetite. I would mention it to your doctor.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not usually - but what other medication were you put on? Omeprazole or something else ending in - prazole perhaps?

[Karendeena in reply to PMRpro]

The 'prazoles' gave me diarrhea, I take famotidine now and much better

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Karendeena]

That's why I asked.

[Blearyeyed]

It is not a direct side effect of steroids but it could be an indirect one . Indirectly, the way steroids may cause a change in your diet and insulin balance , or , they may cause some level of stomach upset , excess stomach acid, or fragility in your stomach wall if your stomach isn't protected , a sign of these side effects can be diarrhea.Do you have any other symptoms like pain or burning in the stomach after taking your steroid?

Are you using anything to protect your stomach when you take your dose , like a prescribed PPI , antacid or natural protection from probiotic yoghurt?

Have you found that your appetite has increased on the steroids?

Have you been eating more especially sugary , high carb , fatty or processed food , snacks and fizzy drinks?

Have you increased eating good foods but ones with a lot of sugar , fibre or dairy ?

Sometimes improvements in your diets can mean you begin to eat a bit too much of a good thing which can cause a laxative effect.

Have you started taking any other medications or supplements in the last four months before the diarrhea began?

The answers to these questions could be the reason for your diarrhea.

If you make adjustments to these things it could clear up the diarrhea.

However , if you diarrhea persists longer than a few months , gets worse , or is accompanied by pain , swelling or bloating and you can't it is worth having it checked by your GP.

[Broseley]

Sometimes diarrhoea becomes chronic because your gut flora has been knocked out due to antibiotics or an infection or sometimes other drugs you might be intolerant to. It's worth trying pre and pro biotics. Up your fibre intake too with plenty of green vegetables. As a long time sufferer I can recommend from experience. I think the gut becomes hypersensitive in some people. Try abstaining from any alcohol for the couple of weeks before Christmas. See if that helps.

[perceptual63]

Steroids have had the opposite effect on me since I started them and have to take a daily stool softener. I was told it was an unusual side effect, but of course I'm rarely a usual type. 🤪

[micpenn222 in reply to perceptual63]

Yes, I am also getting constipation and thought I was the only one.

[cranberryt]

I ended up with severe diarrhea after about a year on steroids… though I attribute it more to the, “if you have an autoimmune, you are more likely to get another autoimmune” fact. After much testing, I was determined to have developed both celiac and microscopic colitis. Do I would say do see a doctor and get tested. I had a colonoscopy, endiscopy and some blood tests to diagnose my issues. It’s now under control with additional medication.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cranberryt]

There are a few people on the forum who have turned out to be coeliac.