Irritable Bowel

[ChrisBeeLoop]

Is IBS a common side effect of Prednisolone? I am really struggling to control bowel movements. I have also had three or four really unpleasant bouts of sudden sickness and diahorrea this year. I do eat quite a lot of fruit and have been trying to cut back but keep wondering, is it me or the drugs? Currently hovering around the 5 ½ mg level.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If it were the pred I would expect it to be all the time and have been much worse at higher doses. Pred can lead to diarrhoea in some people but it starts when they start at higher doses or sometimes if they get a different brand of pred with different fillers in the tablet.

Being on pred does make some people more prone to picking up bugs which it does sound as if it could be. Do you feel unwell as well?

The other question is how reliable is your diagnosis of PMR? Gut problems are found in some forms of inflammatory arthritis.

[ChrisBeeLoop in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro. I am very confident in my PMR diagnosis because I am extremely fortunate, so far, in not having any other ailments. My CRP results and response to Pred indicate a correct diagnosis. I suspect it might be a combination of diet and geriatric anal muscles. I am seeing the GP this week and will discuss it with her as well, but it is great to hear from the wider community.