Jbobby

[Jbobby]

diagnosed in Jan this year with PMR and then GCA. Long story but have been up to 70 mg Pred for a week and gradually been coming down. A few Ups and downs along the way. Now at 30mg Pred. Seems ok so far. Found Omparazole + non gastro resistant Pred made me v bloated and uncomfortable and want to reduce medication where possible so reverted to Gastro resistant when got to 30mg. So far this week ok. Minor flashes of pain in head at start of week but seems to have stabilised after a week. Any views on whether ok to take 30mg Gastro resistant (6 x 5mg tabs) is ok without Omaprezole?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi and welcome,

The whole idea of taking GR Pred is to eliminate the need for a PPI [Omeprazole and the like]… and the omeprazole itself make be making you feel bloated.

You say “reverted” to GR when you got to 30mg, so can I ask why you switched from them to plain uncoated ones before.

Did head pains coincide with a reduction in your Pred dose? If so then that’s probably steroid withdrawal - but do monitor it - and may try a smaller reduction next time around .

Might like to look at this as you are relative new -healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Jbobby in reply to DorsetLady]

thanks so much. Yes, I started on Gastro resistant and then went to others coz rheumatologist had a view they sometimes worked better. That hasn’t been my experience.

I will monitor carefully. Mild symptoms recurred just after lowering dose. That Seem to be alleviating now. CRP was 6.5 on last blood test. ESR 15.

Thank you for your rec site. Yes I’m new to this.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Jbobby]

If you do decide to stop Omeprazole, then you probably should discuss with GP - and you need to wean off them over a few weeks rather just stop.

Bloods are okay, but then they should be whilst you’re on the Pred…but it a return of symptoms [hopefully not] which are the most important things to monitor…

Always someone around if you have queries/ worries etc. ..and yes it is a whole new world.

[Jbobby in reply to DorsetLady]

Didn’t know it was necessary to wean off Omaprezole slowly. Ok…..I’ve stopped them for a week now. Perhaps shd go back on for a couple of days..Am feeling ok but take your point.

Thank you for support. Much appreciated.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Jbobby]

if you are already off them without any issues, then probably no need to go back on.

Some get a return of gastric reflux when they stop which is why we say do it more slowly - I didn’t and didn’t have an issue…but we aren’t all the same.

[Jbobby in reply to DorsetLady]

Understood. Many thanks

[SnazzyD]

I didn’t take Omeprazole with coated Pred. The reason was because I couldn’t cope with uncoated plus Omep’ because it upset me so gastro resistant Pred was the solution. I still needed a bit of Gaviscon at bedtime. I will say though that I found the effectiveness of coated Pred was reduced if I took them near to food more heavy than the lightest snack. I knew this because my symptoms started to creep back until I put 2 and 2 together and kept my dosing 2 hours away from food.

[Jbobby]

ah… that’s interesting. Yes, i’ve found that taking them with or too close to food is not quite as effective . Thank you for that. It confirms what I thought…