Teeth sensitivity, welling and PPi's

[Jbobby]

Questions:

1) Does anyone have acute sensitivity to cold in teeth after being on Pred? Ive been on Pred for 6 months and now down to 20mg. Also taking, occasionally , Aledronate. Is this caused by Pred and will it reduce with dose reduction?

2)Likewise, does swelling and bloating in face diminish with reduced dose? Is it still evident at low doses? In fact does it ever go away and face return to 'normal'?

3) Dyou think its always necessary to take PPI's with Pred, (if youre not using Gastro Resistant ones)? Or can you buffer just as well with eating yoghurt etc before taking Pred?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

hi

Q1. there are related posts on sensitive teeth -so yes it is a common occurrence-have a look -either on right hand side of your screen -or scroll down below current posts -depends whether on iPhone, iPad or laptop

Q2. Moon face does recede as you lower Pred -and it does return to normal -but cutting carbs may help as well.

Q3. Not everyone requires PPIs - just make sure you take food, or as many do with spoonful of good quality yogurt) .

[Jbobby in reply to DorsetLady]

Many thanks Dorset Lady, on all counts. . I’ll look at related posts on teeth.

[piglette]

I had real sensitivity in my teeth when I first started pred. I bought Sensodyne toothpaste. It improved quite quickly as I reduced. Probably around 12.5mg.

[Jbobby in reply to piglette]

Thank you piglette. Actually I already use Sensodyne toothpaste but then I’ve been on - and am still on - quite high dose so perhaps it will improve as I get towards 12.5. Good to know it improves anyway.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I have never taken a PPI - and have used 4 different versions of corticosteroid over a period of 14 year and my stomach seems fine! My rheumy - described to me by the top PMr rheumy in the Uk as about the best in the world of PMR - only wants me to use a PPI if Iam needing ibuprofen for more than the odd dose.

The face question very much depends on the person - with prednisone and prednisolone I had no fat face but I did with methyl pred. I have chubby cheeks - but I am overweight, really need to try harder!!! Cutting carbs, possibly drastically my help speed the process.

You will see from the Related Posts that sensitive teeth is a common problem,

[Jbobby in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro. That’s very interesting re your 14 years experience. I’d rather not be taking. PPIs as they also have side effects and as far as I understand it….and you have to be careful coming off them . I also feel they inhibit absorbtion of sone of the ‘good’ things we need to be taking in too - vits, minerals etc. In fact an osteopath I saw confirmed that for me.

I occasionally take enteric coated aspirin, and even more occasionally I take ibuprofen, and always top up with yoghurt etc. when I do.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jbobby]

They certainly do - various nutrients are affected. In the event of needing something there are always the H2 antagonists, different mechanism, different and generally fewer adverse effects.

[Jbobby in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro. I thought so....I'm also taking intermittently (not every week as suggested as I got heartburn at one point) Alendronate acid orally. Wd H2 antagonists interfere with that?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jbobby]

According to this:

nhsdorset.nhs.uk/Downloads/...

"Concurrent H2RA use had no effect on alendronate effectiveness and there was no difference in alendronate effectiveness for corticosteroid users vs. non-users."

[Jbobby in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro... this is all helpful info. Much appreciated.

[Flivoless]

My teeth did become a tad sensitive when I started Pred but it did reduce as I tapered but that could be because they are all gradually falling out. Moon face does return to normal - my Wife says that's a pity in my case.

[Jbobby in reply to Flivoless]

OK. Thank you Flivoless...

[Joseph14612 in reply to Flivoless]

😂😂

[Sharitone]

My fat face disappeared at about 15mg, now it's positively scrawny. Teeth were horribly sensitive and also improved somewhat at the same dose, but I have to say, they are still very sensitive to hot, even now after 3 months of finishing pred.

[Jbobby in reply to Sharitone]

Thats interesting Sharitone. Oddly, mine don't seem to be sensitive to hot so much as cold. Anyway, encouraging to know yours improved to cold at a lower dose. And face!

Glad you've finished Pred... congratulations! I wonder how you feel being off it and if there are any side effects/withdrawal symptoms still, apart for teeth sensitivity to hot....🤔

[Missus835]

1. No to sensitive teeth. No more than usual. 2. Moonface and neck out of control, but I believe it will go as my Pred is lowered. Carbs are low now. 3. I take PPIs and did before I was diagnosed with PMR. Taking 2X per day now as I have GERD. I also use Ibuprofen for the current back issues, which are not PMR related and Prednisone does not touch that pain.

[Jbobby in reply to Missus835]

Thank you Missus835. That’s interesting. I’m sorry to hear of your back pain.. That’s tough. I hope Ibuprofen helps. Moon face same with me.

[Broseley]

Sensitive teeth - yes! My hygienist told me to brush with normal toothpaste, then at night, liberally rub sensodyne into my gum/teeth margins. Don't rinse. It has helped a lot and I can now eat strawberries from the fridge (I don't eat ice cream anyway).

[Jbobby in reply to Broseley]

Thanks Broseley. I’ll try that.

[Broseley in reply to Jbobby]

The sensodyne was a bit painful on certain teeth for the first few weeks, but only for a few seconds and it's hardly noticeable now.

[VicSat]

Well I count you lucky. I had 9 teeth removed. The dentist said that resulted from the 18 months of Prednisolne.

[Jbobby in reply to VicSat]

…. That’s terrible…. I’m so sorry to hear that. 18 months isn’t that long. I wonder if that’s experience of others. Were you on any other meds too?

[Sharitone]

Yes, I'm glad to be off pred as I've had a number of side effects. However, the reason I could get off is that I had TCZ as a backup, and that brings it's own problems! So not feeling better yet😔. but other people have got better, so there is always room for hope.😀

[Jbobby in reply to Sharitone]

Good luck. I hope things continue to improve for you .