GCA - Omeprazole - Prednisolone

Posted , 10 users are following.

I was diagnosed with GCA on 11 March and have been on Prednisolone ever since - now at 15mg daily and also on 75mg Aspirin daily.  My GP put me on 20mg Omeprazole daily and  developed horrendous side effects within a few days.  I was on it for 98 days.  At one visit to my GP when I was describing my symptoms he suggested I double the Omeprazole dose to see if it helped.  I took myself off Omeprazole and have been off it for 21 days.  Within 2 weeks my bowel incontinence, diarrhoea, abundance of extreme foul-smelling gas and heavy night sweats had disappeared.  I stil have trembling hands, dizziness and headaches.  I am now worried that I am not taking anything to protect my stomach from the effects of Prednisolone.  Does anyone know how protect your stomach naturally from Prednisolone without taking a PPI?  I have been prescribed Ranitidine but too scared to take it after the effects of Omeprazole.  Also, does anyone know how long it takes for Omeprazole to leave your system?

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  • Posted

    Fandango, I had exactly the same experience with side effects from Omeprazole and another PPI, Lansoprazole, proved problematic too.  Like you I was concerned about the effects of the steroids on my stomach without any protection.  In fact, when my rheumy told me to stop the Omeprazole and Lansoprazole immediately, I mentioned my fear of the steroids burning my stomach.  He replied that he'd never seen a case of it yet, so I hoped I wasn't going to be the first one, came home, decided to take a small carton of 'live' yoghurt daily with my breakfast and before taking the steroids.  Yoghurt is known to line the stomach with its good bacterial (also excellent after taking a course of antibiotics).  My diarrhoea stopped immediately on stopping the PPIs and starting the daily yoghurt, and I never had another problem stomach-wise throughout 5-6 years of steroid treatment in spite of a high starting dose of 40mgs.  I also took a teaspoonful of high quality Manuka honey daily and a glass of warm water containing a few squeezes of lemon juice first thing in the morning - both good for the esophagus among other things.  No need to be concerned about the lemon juice being acidic as it turns alkaline in the body.

    Be wary of the headaches that they are not being caused by rising inflammation of GCA.  If you are someone who had raised blood tests markers of inflammation at diagnosis (ESR & CRP), then do get those repeated to ensure that they are stable and that the inflammation is well under control.  Certainly not a good idea to reduce the steroid dose any further until the headaches subside.

    Hope that helps, and good luck.

    • Posted

      PS - I did take coated steroids rather than uncoated ones throughout, so, as Anniecurd has suggested, do consider switching to coated if you aren't already taking them - they are absorbed in a different part of the stomach to the uncoated ones, therefore offering further protection.

    • Posted

      Thank you for your advice.  I am taking yoghurt and will start on the Manuka Honey and the lemon juice.  I will also ask GP for coated Pred.  I have had ongoing headaches throughout all the treatment although since coming off Omeprazole they are less frequent. I too landed in A & E when I started off on 60mg Pred - they told me to drop to 40mg. I have ESR and CRP checked every 3 weeks.  Hope you are well & thanks again.

    • Posted

      Fandango, thank you for your good wishes - I have been in remission from both GCA and PMR for four years now.  This is in absolutely no way wishing to gloat but rather in the hope of giving you a boost by letting you know that there is llight and life at the end of the tunnel - hope it's a smooth 'journey' down the track for you now minus the PPIs and once on coated Pred. 

  • Posted

    Hi Fandango

    I too had similar digestive problems with 2 types of PPI. IT became so problematic that I couldn't leave the house. I didn't experience trembling hands or shakes. 

    On another forum people,suggested using probiotic yogurt to help protect the stomach and I Have been doing this daily for about a year now. 

    I believe ranitidine is the original "stomach protector" which works differently to the newer PPI's and doesn't have the same side effects.

    Hope you feel more confident about leaving the house soon!

    Linda

     

    • Posted

      You are quite right, Ranitidine's old name was Zantac.

      Zantac was given to people who had dudeonal and gastric ulcers, 9 times out of 10, taking Zantac cured both types of ulcers.

      If you are prescribed either of the 'Proles'  read the leaflet that comes with them in the box,  One well known and common side effect it aches and pains  (just like PMR).   Their is one Consultant (cardiac guy) who absolutely refuses to ever prescribe either of the 'proles'.

      Nearly like Celtic, when first prescribed for GCA, it was Pred, aspirin, PPI, Calichew and also AA.   I refused the AA,   

      I had a bone density scan 6 months  later - result 97%, then repeat scans every two years.  No change.

      6 months down the line  - pseudo gout  - caused by Calcium Crystals.

      I then decided  - OK why and what do I need the Aspirin etc for  - told that aspirin was to thin the blood, 

      Told the others were 'just in cases, said No thanks if this or that happens, we deal with it if and when it arises.   I then only took, Pred, Aspirin and my HRT tablet.  5 years down the line, remission.

      It is a very personal decision, but like Celtic,  I too yeo valley pro-biotic organic yoghurt which contains L.Acidoplous plus a teaspoonful of Manuka Hone (UMF on lablel).  Also if I had a stomach problem, 1 lemon - in microwave for 1 minute, divide juice into three, add a little water and drank it before main meals.  No problem.

      Many Tips and Tricks gathered over the years from patients, were eventually incorporated into a little booklet called 'Living with PMR & GCA'  to date over 700 copies have been sold.

      Did I have a problem, yes -

       

    • Posted

      Thank you for replying.  I am taking yoghurt and I will ask GP for coated Prednisolone.  The bowel problem has gone - the dizziness and trembling persist but hoping they will go soon.
    • Posted

      Oops, last sentence was the beginning to another reply  - sorry.
    • Posted

      One thing Fandango, the coated pred only comes in 5mg and 2.5mg tablets. You may need uncoated 1mg ones, although some people manage just with the coated and the slow reduction method.
    • Posted

      I would add, you cannot coat enteric coated tablets of any sort and that includes pred. wink

  • Posted

    I never had a problem with my stomach on Prednisone but I always have it with food. I take it with my coffee (so I do not taste the bitterness of it )and immediately start eating my bagel in the morning. Or take it with yochert and put a banana in it.

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