Does Pred cause Diarrhoea

[456again]

does Pred cause diarrhoea, am on 3.5mgs a day

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not so much pred but, at this dose, the LACK of pred if the adrenal function is still lagging behind. Poor adrenal function can lead to diarrhoea and other symptoms. Were you OK at 4mg?

[456again in reply to PMRpro]

I had had it before, then died down, but recently on strong painkillers for broken arm where they said I might get constipated, things all ok, was a bit constipated but haven’t taken the painkillers for last couple weeks, then da before yesterday felt unwell and the D started but yesterday with a vengeance so much that I’ve cancelled an outing for coming Sunday, just in case, but today I am fine and feel ok. I’m on 3.5 since 25 august, then went down the half as the usual plan. Well, it seems from replies that I may just have had a bug! Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 456again]

It could be either then - the first time the body caught up after a few days. This time it could be either - I've found adrenal effects can take a couple of weeks to appear and then settle again. But this time - could equally be a bug. They happen.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Not a common affect -and would have expected it to be worse at higher doses-not start now.

Could be adrenal insufficiency as you are so low- do you have any other signs that adrenals are struggling?

[456again in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for quick response. I’m not sure about adrenals workings. Maybe this was a bug, yesterday and day before and nothing to do with the pmr and Pred as I am ok today.

[456again in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanx, I do think we try to blame everything on pred!

[agingfeminist]

if the diarrhoea continues please goto your doctor and have it checked out

[456again in reply to agingfeminist]

Thanks, it's was 2 days, stopped now but I will ask Dr next appt.

[cranberryt]

If it’s persistent, it could be another auto immune condition like colitis or celiac. I developed both after having PMR for a year or so. If it doesn’t go away, definitely get it checked out by a doctor.

[Pandora2]

Five weeks ago I began an epic gut problem, I went to GP who prescribed Buscopan and ordered a stool sample test. Test was negative for infections and Buscopan ineffective. Nausea and diarrhoea persisted so revisited GP, this time peppermint capsules and several bloods and a postal stool test, I discovered one blood test was a cancer antigen test. Thankfully all tests were once again negative. To cut a long story short I saw a trainee GP on my third visit who prescribed Mabevarine which helped a little and things started to settle down. I was booked to visit a friend in N Ireland so decided to go but tummy problems started again whilst there. I increased my Pred to 5mg from the 4.5 I had reduced to two weeks earlier and was OK for the return flight. I visited three clinicians and no one spotted adrenal insufficiency. Just realised the awful back pain I have been experiencing throughout is probably part of the same problem, I still have that , should I increase my Pred again?Thank god for this forum. X

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pandora2]

Um, not sure about the back pain - I have back pain but it isn't adrenals related. The only way to find out is to try an increase! They do seem to have followed the pathway!

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Pandora2 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMR pro…..I think I will try an extra 5mg as the back pain is really awful. I’ll report back X

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pandora2]

Trouble is, at some point you have to wade through it, But if lack of corticosteroid is making life that difficult - you have to work something out.

[Pandora2 in reply to PMRpro]

I do see your point pro. However I had lost half a stone which I didn’t need to lose before realising it could be the adrenals. I’ll hold off the increase for another couple of days and be very careful of future reductions. X

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pandora2]

Oh no, not suggesting you DON'T try. Weight loss is also typical of poor adrenal function. More pred is likely to sort it out if it is that. But you do have a pretty parlous set of GPs there so identifying how to get round it all isn't going to be easy. If the PMR is still going on, an endocrinologist is not necessarily going to be much use either. They will want to switch to hydrocortisone and that isn't a lot of use for PMR management.

[Pandora2 in reply to PMRpro]

In that case maybe I should try the additional 5mg for a few days ? I certainly don’t want the rest of the symptoms back, terrible nausea, dizziness, serious fatigue etc. it’s a minefield isn’t it ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pandora2]

Was it just at the 4.5mg it started or had it already appeared at 5mg? I felt OK at 5mg for quite a while and then it seemed to catch up with me. Even just 1mg more has really made a noticeable difference so I wonder if it is worth trying just a couple of mg first?

[Pandora2 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I was okay at 5mg my problem started about 10 days into 4.5mg. Thank you for your ongoing interest , really appreciated X

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pandora2]

Really does sound like me - except I haven't been anything like as bad as you have been. Bit jealous in a way - I could do with losing that much weight!!!!!! Not that it was a good way to do it!

[Pandora2 in reply to PMRpro]

No I was one of the lucky ones who lost weight on starting with Pred. Apart from the back pain I think things have largely settled down now so maybe an extra 2mg may do the trick as you suggest, don’t want to take a mallet to crack a nut so to speak. Oh and a couple of pounds have crept back on now so don’t be too jealous ha!ha!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pandora2]

You lose a lot of fluid with the runs - and that is easy to put back ...

[Pandora2 in reply to PMRpro]

😱Thanks I’ll remember that next time I boast about losing weight 😜🤫

[gingerraspiller]

I’m in a similar situation….started at 40 mg one year ago. Have had diarrhea off and on. Had to give up caffeine completely - it triggers diarrhea immediately now. I got down to 3 mg and have had a terrible time with diarrhea! Dr ran complete set of labs to make sure something else isn’t going on - all clear there. So I’m taking organic-nothing-else-added psyllium husks daily and seems to be helping. I have also stopped all my supplements (apparently CalciumMagnesium can cause diarrhea) until it is under control. Then I will add back 1 at a time.

Good luck!

[456again in reply to gingerraspiller]

Oh, I’m a coffee addict, but haven’t been able to face it this week and no diarrhoea past couple days! May try wine instead,

[HeronNS in reply to 456again]

"Drink a little wine for thy stomach's sake." St Paul. 🍷

[456again in reply to HeronNS]

🥂well it is the weekend

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 456again]

I think that may rank alongside this advisory issued by the FCDO on the 5th September for THIS week:

"According to the FCDO, severe weather conditions including rain, high winds and possible flooding are expected to hit the south of Italy in the coming days, particularly in Calabria and Sicily.

Its advice reads: "Heavy rainfall is common throughout Italy in winter, which can cause local flooding. Monitor local media, weather reports and follow the advice of local authorities in affected areas."

Since when was the first week of September WINTER in the Med?

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

We haven't even reached the autumnal equinox!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

Well quite!!! It is fairly obvious that the current UK gubmint has a strange view of geography. Now we must add something else - but not sure what!!!!

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

All of us suffered some sort of time-shifing during the covid lockdown, and now I think the strange weather has confused us completely. It's been so weird here it's like we didn't have a proper summer. In fact the last couple of days were the most like normal summer that we've had this year.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to HeronNS]

In days of yore, you wouldn’t have wanted to drink the water, it would probably have killed you. 😳

[HeronNS in reply to DorsetLady]

I remember when we travelled aound Europe with a Eurail pass with Fodor's Europe on $5 and $10 a day (yes, you could do that in 1973 before the oil boycott and rampant inflation, a year later and we couldn't have) having a meal and ordering a salad. Noticed a few little (fruit?) flies on it, so I liberally poured extra vinegar all over it and ate it. Probably wouldn't do that now!

[Ullswater]

I started on 60mg for GCA 4.5 years ago and have managed to taper to 2.5 mg. However, despite medications , I have had daily diarrhoea, which has definitely impacted on my life, once resulting in hospital admission dueto dehydration. So i make no morning appointments and early walking my dog is an anxious time. I walk in woods with loo roll / dog poo bags at hand..sorry to be so graphic ! I've talked to my GP, have been given other peptic meds,had hospital checks, but nothing has changed much for the better over the years .

I have read that this isn't a ' normal ' side effect, but in the absence of alternative causes, I believe it should be one included in the extensive list of 'possible 'side effects of prednisolone .