Enteric coated prednisolone
Posted , 13 users are following.
I had a phone appointment with a GP today (just finished my first month of 15mg pred) and I asked him about enteric coated pred. He said that it's no longer prescribed; apparently research has shown that it offers no further protection to the stomach and it was a 'ruse' by the drug companies to charge more for the drug. Perhaps it's only in Scotland that it's no longer prescribed? Has anyone heard of this?
I feel a bit confused after today's appointment! In a previous phone appointment with the same GP he tried to push the alendronic acid, omeprazole and something else (can't remember!) but I was reluctant to take any of them without looking into it further. Today he didn't try to push any of these. Why the change of heart?! (I'm pleased, but confused!)
The good news is my pred is now down from 15mg to 12.5mg! Heading in the right direction...
0 likes, 66 replies
Guest MhairiP
Posted
Hi. Last year I had a slight issue with reduced (but not bad) renal function and wanted to get off Omeprazole, This was then changed to Ranitidine & at around the same time I requested EC prednisolone (when at 10mg pred level) in order to avoid the need for ranitidine. It worked! I was then able to stop the ranitidine and eventually swapped back to ordinary pred when I was down to 2mgs , in order to use up older pills and guessing at this level pred wasnt going to effect my stomach lining so much. Ask your GP again...I saved costs on not needing Ranitidine pills after all !
ps...I didn't want to take A Acid either...swapped for Acrete D£ !
goodluck
Guest MhairiP
Posted
Hi. Last year I had a slight issue with reduced (but not bad) renal function and wanted to get off Omeprazole, This was then changed to Ranitidine & at around the same time I requested EC prednisolone (when at 10mg pred level) in order to avoid the need for ranitidine. It worked! I was then able to stop the ranitidine and eventually swapped back to ordinary pred when I was down to 2mgs , in order to use up older pills and guessing at this level pred wasnt going to effect my stomach lining so much. Ask your GP again...I saved costs on not needing Ranitidine pills after all !
ps...I didn't want to take A Acid either...swapped for Acrete D£ !
goodluck
MhairiP Guest
Posted
That's interesting. The pred doesn't seem to bother my stomach - the GP wanted me to take the Omeprazole as a preventative measure (pred can cause stomach ulceration, I think). Anyway, I now take pred with an alkaline drink (almond milk) and I eat lots of live food - sauerkraut, yogurt, etc. So hopefully I'm covered!
MhairiP
Posted
Update!
I checked with the pharmacist today, and apparently enteric coated pred is available here (Scotland, Highlands), but she did say it's rarely prescribed. I asked if that was down to GPs' choice in the local practice and she said yes, and possibly to do with cost. With hindsight I should have asked her what the price difference is!
So... technically my GP was correct when he said it's no longer prescribed - but he should have explained why, or I should have asked him why.
Luckily, I seem to be doing ok without it, so it's not really an issue for me at the moment.
Tinapoly1 MhairiP
Posted
I live in America and I asked at CVS pharmacy for enteric coated prednisone since I was having such horrible pain in my esophagus and stomach from the drug but he said they don't make that.. In about 7 to 10 minutes I would have a big acid bubble come up in my mouth & sometimes it had watery blood in it . I finally realized that I needed to eat 1st and sometimes take it half way through my meal so having something above and below the pill would keep the acid down.
ptolemy Tinapoly1
Posted
EileenH Tinapoly1
Posted
What about discussing depot injections?
https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/2015%20PMR%20guidelines.pdf
Recommendation 5
I know a few people, both PMR and GCA who have used injections successfully to avoid gastric problems.
EileenH ptolemy
Posted
lynda62707 EileenH
Posted
Hi Eileen... Just got back from THE BEST VACATION EVER visiting my daughter in Texas! I'm already missing her SO much. However, my upper stomach has been aching/upset the entire week and continues to be doing so. I've been noticing it seems to be much more prevalent after eating, even very small amounts of anything. Any idea's??
EileenH lynda62707
Posted
Are you taking any medication to "protect" your stomach from the effects of pred? Pred can cause stomach problems - and I imagine they would be worse after eating.
Anhaga lynda62707
Posted
A couple of times in my life, although not for a long time, I've had something like you describe. My doctor said it was gastritis, whatever that is, and I found I had to give up drinking tea, for example, for a few days. Coffee was all right. I really can't remember how it got better, but I must have known what to avoid eating/drinking for a few days and I got better. I think anything which irritates the stomach lining could be implicated. Probably alcohol, acidic things like tea, spicy foods, would be bad. But if it doesn't get better in a few days I'd tell the doctor.
BettyE Anhaga
Posted
Itis means inflamed or irritated or something like that, I think???? as in tonsillitis, arthritis or have I guessed wrong
lynda62707 Anhaga
Posted
Thx..
I've already made an appointment w/my gastro but not for about 2 wks😣. It's Always Something...Ughhh!