Painkillers

[Kma123]

Hi, sorry for my second post in as many days! What painkillers are safe to take with prednisolone please? I'm assuming paracetamol but wasn't sure if anything else was OK to take? I suffer with a lot of migraines (after effects of having a blood clot on my brain several years ago) and the best thing I find to manage them is dispersable asprin but not sure if I can take that? If not I'll have to get onto the doctors to prescribe something but they only ever want to prescribe amitriptyline to try and prevent them (which it doesn't).

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Aspirin is a NSAID - and usually not recommended because alongside Pred they can cause stomach issues…. But do check with GP, may be okay if you are taking a PPI like Omeprazole for example.. or only take them rarely with food or yogurt [something to coat stomach].

Paracetamol is not usually a problem.

…and never apologise for asking a question, it’s why we are here…

[Kma123 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you so much. I think I'll try and get a telephone call with the doctor and see what he says. He only re-prescribed Naproxen and Omeprazole last week and I just received a text on Monday regarding the prednisolone but it didnt say to stop taking the naproxen and omeprazole which I think he should have said (although I have stopped taking those at the moment ).

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Taken with food and possibly a PPI, aspirin is probably not going to do any harm if it is just occasional use rather than a full dose day after day. My rheumy has put me on 1x600mg ibuprofen daily for otherwise difficult back pain, Most pharmacists and some doctors would have a fit though!

There is no limit to how often you can ask something - though preferably not the same question over and over again

[Kma123 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you, really appreciate how kind everyone is!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kma123]

No point not being kind - it's a whole new world for you. You need a virtual hug of some kind.

[Kma123 in reply to PMRpro]

That is most definitely what I need!

[Kendrew in reply to Kma123]

Sending hugs as requested. 🤗

[Kma123 in reply to Kendrew]

Aww thank you so much 😊

[autumnlass in reply to Kma123]

Hug! xx

[Koalajane]

another virtual hug from me and good luck on your PMR journey

[Kma123 in reply to Koalajane]

Thank you, it's really appreciated!

[Bcol]

Many hugs from here as well. Co-Codamol is perfectly OK with Pred but it doesn't suit everyone and may give you constipation. The lower dose version 8/500 you can get OTC, the higher doses are prescription only.

[Poshdog]

🫂 we all need these xx

[Thelmarina]

🤗🤗🤗

[Janet57]

a hug from me too - and no question is a silly one

[Whatawonderfullife]

A hug from me too. They’re lovely here 😊

[Boomerang4]

One alternative is codeine phosphate , which I take when I have fare ups, but obviously it is addictive if you are not careful. Ask your doctor first.

[Hacey]

Big hug here too.

[Pixix]

Hugs…& I take time release Tramadol, 200mg, twice daily, & morphine time release, for other issues. I was taking them with 15mg steroids at the start of PMR. May not help your migraines, though, I think there’s specialised drugs for that…Mum suffered a lot, but can’t remember names now! S x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

The triptans???

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Ah ha! For Mum, no, they were around ‘in her day’! But for my neighbour friend, yes, definitely! Thanks. Sumatriptan, or similar name. She gets dreadfully sick with them, & needs to take a tablet immediately she gets any symptom! But they help. Thanks for assisting my brain cells! S x

[Louisepenygraig]

I take zolmitriptan or paracetamol and codeine when I have a migraine

[Boss302Fan]

There is an App called Drugs.com that’s available for iPhone & iPad but don’t know about Android devices. It’s excellent and I use it religiously for monitoring for potential drug interactions. You can create a list of drugs and run an evaluation, adding and removing meds at leisure.

apps.apple.com/us/app/drugs...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Boss302Fan]

UK info in FAQs - although no link to App - but sure there is one - Kma123 is in UK -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Boss302Fan in reply to DorsetLady]

Just a word for those living outside the UK, if you have access to a VPN just set the location on the VPN for the UK and engage it and you’ll have access.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Boss302Fan]

But none of them take polypharmacy into account - multiple medications are likely to change the dynamics.

[Brooklyn747]

I take either one naproxen or 2 osteo panadol maybe once or twice a week when the background niggles get too annoying 😒. I'm on such a small dose of prednisone now, just reckon a top up required occasionally, and these do work really well for a whole day. Good luck 👍