Gastro resistant tablets

Hi, when I was given Prednisolone in August they were the standard tablets and I was given Omeprazole 'to prevent stomach ulcers'.I have read about gastro resistant tablets. Would these be better or would I still need the Omeprazole? Thanks 🙂

[SnazzyD]

I had gastro resistent Pred because I couldn’t tolerate Omeprazole and its relatives and the alternative didn’t work after a while. Changing to enteric coated Pred was a game changer but I still needed some Gaviscon at bedtime. If you do swap, don’t forget you can’t just stop Omeprazole but must tail it off to avoid rebound acidity.

[Hidden in reply to SnazzyD]

Oh thank you, I will remember that.

[Kendrew]

Hi there,I've taken gastro-resistant pred for 5½yrs and refused a PPI until such a time as I have evidence (symptoms) of requiring one. So far I've not needed a PPI!

We're all different though and you must decide what's appropriate for you.

[piglette]

I also had gastro resistant tablets and took nothing else to protect my stomach, although I did take them with plain yogurt.

[Hidden in reply to piglette]

Am I right in thinking the non coated ones are easier to cut as the dosage changes?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

You can't cut the coated ones - if you use some coated, you can make up the dose with plain ones and for some people that is enough to reduce gastric irritation. I used both in the UK and found that making up a total dose with only 2 or 3 plain 1mg tablets was fine but with 4x 1mg tablets I felt this little rodent nibbling away in my tum!! Strange that such a small amount made a difference. So I had 5 and 2.5mg coated ones and never needed more than 2x 1mg plain which was absolutely fine.

[paintpots]

I was given omeprazole when I was first given pred. It took 4 years to clear the pmr and come off pred but 5 years later I seem unable to come off the omeprazole, I have to take a tablet at least weekly. It is difficult to get off it.

[Hidden in reply to paintpots]

😞

[67Blue in reply to paintpots]

Hi I was on Omeprazole daily for over a year after finishing with steroids but then asked to change to a H2 blocker ( only heard of them on this site) and they gave me Famotidine, which I have been able to give up after only about 3 months with very little trouble. But I do use Beconase spray as at last one Dr suggested my sore throat was possibly coming from Hayfever/allergy

[Lagnershan]

I take Omaprazole 10mg/day to reduce acid reflux. That problem started some years ago when I had my gallbladder removed. Now since PMR I take 9mg of Prednisolone and have not had any noticeable side effects. Without the Omaprozole, I have severe acid reflux and yellow diarrhoea.

[Scaredofpred]

Omeprazole caused nausea and was relying on yoghurt for protection. Then thanks to suggestions on the Forum ( always so helpful) I purchased empty capsules- stuff my Pred dose in one every morning, aware they will take a couple of hours more to “ work”. Capsuline,, size 1. Belated thanks to those who passed on that info.

[Hidden in reply to Scaredofpred]

Does that mean you don't need the Omeprazole?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Scaredofpred]

That extra time to get to work also means it is possible to take it before bed so it is working in the early morning if mornings are bad.

[Scaredofpred]

greetings. I can’t take Omeprazole so needed to bypass my stomach which these capsules do, feel confident my stomach is protected.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Scaredofpred]

Don't be too confident though - it removes the local irritation effect but some of the problem is that systemic pred has an effect on the prostaglandins which also have an effect on the gut lining.

[HeronNS]

Depending on your initial dose and your gut health you may not have needed a drug to protect your stomach. It is advisable for high doses of course. The problem with a PPI is it can lead to certain nutritional deficiencies as you may not be absorbing nutrients as effeciently as usual. Calcium is of particular concern because of the effect on the bones. If you feel it is okay for you to come off the PPI you do need to taper off to avoid rebound gastric acid production or, as other have done, substitute another stomach protection and then gradually ease off that as well. Many of us have managed perfectly well simply by taking pred with food.