Relapse of GCA

[Jampad]

On Friday I posted that after only a few months off steroids I was again suffering from GCA. The GP gave me 60mg steroids and after only three days I am already feel significantly better. The GP rang today, giving me an appointment to see him on Wednesday to decide how to proceed. I know we will need to discuss a tapering schedule. Will I be able to taper more quickly this time? I am sure we have caught the problem much earlier as my original cpr was 158 and this time it is only 45. Both Lansoprazole and Omeprazole gave me diarrhoea - is there an alternative? Will Greek yogurt help?Any advice?

Edith

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Hopefully as caught early you may be able to reduce more quickly than before, but just make sure the initial dose has really got a grip of things before you start..

Many do use Greek yogurt quite successfully... but there are other options - such as H2 Inhibitors - often mentioned by PMRpro -

patient.info/digestive-heal...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think you have to be clear that you probably haven't got GCA "again" - the disease activity is/was very low as you got to towards zero and possibly even 1mg was enough to keep the resulting inflammation under wraps, Zero was a step too far and over time, the inflammation being produced has built up again to a level that can be felt/measured. If that is the case you should be able to taper easily this time. I do hope so,

[Rugger]

How about asking for gastro-resistant pred tablets? I wash the red colouring (Ponceau 4R) off the 5mg tablets as it made me breathless - a known side-effect of that food colouring! Washing the tablets doesn't affect the drug inside. (No need to tell your GP that's what you might do!🤣)

[Sharitone]

If you get the gastro-resistant pred, and if the acid production is not too bad, then gaviscon will help a bit, though it can cause constipation.

[Viveka]

Put each tablet within a spoonful of any thick live yogurt and have with a decent breakfast. Hope you will be able to taper more quickly once it's under control. X

[Creas]

Hi Jampad, although prescribed Omeprazole, I don't like to take more drugs than necessary so I didn't actually take them (apart from for the first two days till I decided NOT to do as I was told!). Instead I just took the other pills with food. I think Omeprazole is only needed if you take the other pills on an empty stomach. I would take the other pills (Pred) with yoghurt or just with/after any meal then no Omeprazole needed.