Prednisone and Ibuprofen

[Dydee]

I have been down to 1mg Pred. for about 3 weeks now. As I tapered my low back pain has gradually gotten worse, too much sitting I'm sure. (Just too easy to do at 82) I was taking Ibuprofen which at least helped me get through the day until I read that you shouldn't take it with Pred. Now that I'm down to 1mg I'm wondering if I could go back to taking it again. I also have a bad case of bursitis in one hip and it's so hard to just to the necessities of life right now. Some pain relief and inflammation reduction would be welcome.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It isn't a good idea to take any NSAIDs long term at all because of their adverse effects on heart, kidneys and GI tract. Mixing them with pred worsen the gastric effects but it is there even without pred. Does paracetamol/Tylenol work?

[Dydee in reply to PMRpro]

Tylenol doesn't work nearly as well as Ibuprofen. Never tried paracetamol. I can barely get around right now so getting pretty desperate.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Dydee]

Tylenol is your name for paracetamol. Yes, I fully get that ibuprofen works better - but paracetamol is safer! Safer than ibuprofen would be to increase the pred dose to 2 or even 3mg - you obviously need the antiinflammatory effect.

[Dydee in reply to PMRpro]

Aw, I never thought of that. Yes, the Ibuprofen works because it IS anti-inflammatory. Thank you so much. I'll try taking 3mg of Pred and see if that does the trick. I always hated taking Ibuprofen because of the dangers but it worked SO well. But my pain is from a chronic condition, other than the bursitis and most likely will struggle with it for the rest of my life.

[AtopicGuy in reply to Dydee]

Your doctor can assess your personal risk of long-term ibuprofen use. It depends on the health of your organs (eg. kidneys). Ibuprofen is usually safe, so long as it's not taken all day, every day.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AtopicGuy]

" Ibuprofen is usually safe, so long as it's not taken all day, every day."

That is disputed - with or without pred it has a bad effect on the heart, kidneys and GI tract. And it doesn't take much.

[AtopicGuy in reply to PMRpro]

It all comes down to dose, duration and one's personal risk. That can only be assessed by a doctor with one's medical history in front of them. Ibuprofen is an OTC (over-the-counter) medicine, rather than a prescription-only one (POM), precisely because it is generally safe.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AtopicGuy]

That is where all the problems arise. I have discussed this in depth with both Pain Clinic experts AND cardiologists as well as an endoscopist, Just because it is is OTC doesn't make it or paracetamol safe.

[Quilterone]

I am going through the same problem as I wean off the prednisone. I take extra strength Tylenol which helps some, but I have trouble standing for more than a few minutes and pain down the front of my legs when walking very far.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Quilterone]

Is that because the PMR inflammation is no longer being controlled? You aren't reducing relentlessly to zero - you are looking for the lowest effective dose.