1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Polymyalgia Rheumatica and GCA

I have read that you should not take Probiotics if you are taking Prednisone

Posted , 21 users are following.

Mrs_CJ
Mrs_CJ

Yesterday I decided to try taking a probiotic.  I have had an unsettled stomach since starting prednisone plus recently I realized that I have silent acid reflux.

Last night I read the entire label of the probiotic and discovered that it says you should not take it if you are "...undergoing long-term corticosteroid treatment."

Then I did some on-line searching about this and many sites say the same.  The reasoning is that it is believed that probiotics increase your immune system.  This is just the opposite of what we need as we are taking prednisone to quiet down our immune system.

I assume yogurts are ok because their bacterias are a natural effect of the fermentation process in making the yogurt.  From reading the forum I know that many people take yogurt with their prednisone. 

Personally I cannot eat dairy and am having trouble finding an unsweeted non-dairy product (prednisone is affecting my ability to digest simple sugars), but there are still some stores I can check out....but I digress.

 

1 like, 50 replies

50 Replies

Next
  • artfingers
    artfingers Mrs_CJ

    Posted

    Oh oh, I too am taking a probiotic.  I'll be VERY interested to see what folks have to say on this. Thank you for bringing it up!
  • EileenH
    EileenH Mrs_CJ

    Posted

    I found this:

    "The biggest concern in the use of probiotics is in individuals who already have serious illnesses. Studies have found that probiotics can produce a life threatening disease called lactobacillus septicaemia in individuals with weakened immune systems or severe sicknesses."

    I imagine that the major problem is in people with severely compromised immune systems, so people on high doses. Especially since I found references from several people with gastroenterology disorders who have been told to take probiotics alongside their pred.

    By the way - is it the pred itself or the gastric effect that is messing up your digestion? Would injections of pred help? It is mentioned in the most recent recommendations and there is a lady on the forum who is on injections.

     

    • loknarr
      loknarr EileenH

      Posted

      I am on hydrocortisone and it messed up my whole intestinal tract and now I am on injections, but the doctors want to force me back on pills where it all started, I want off the hydrocortisone altogether. The injections have helped my stomach start to heal, but the docs want me on the proton pump inhibitors, which can cause fatal heart arrythmias.
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga EileenH

      Posted

      This is very interesting!  So glad I've just been eating small amounts of naturally fermented foods, thanks to my innate suspicion of pills.   

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga

      Posted

      Just noticed how old this thread is.  Wish I could now delete my comments!

       

    • EileenH
      EileenH loknarr

      Posted

      Then why not try ranitidine/Zantac? Does the same job as a PPI with different side effects. Though you DO have to bear in mind that they list ALL the side effects and it may be a rare one. On the other hand - damaged gastric mucosa can cause a bleed which could also be fatal.

      Let's face it, you wouldn't take ANY pills if you read the small print of the data sheets and sometimes they are justified to save your life or make it worth living. Doctors rarely give patients a prescription for something where the disadvatages outweigh the benefits.

      It all depends WHY you are on HC. If it is for adrenal insufficiency there isn't a lot of choice - if your body doesn't produce the body's natural corticosteroid, cortisol, it must be replaced or you will die. Much the same way as thyroxine and insulin are used for hypothyroidism or diabetes. It is a balancing act.

    • EileenH
      EileenH Anhaga

      Posted

      If you really want to delete them - click on report, select other and write a note asking the moderator to do it for you.
  • pam21073
    pam21073 Mrs_CJ

    Posted

    Hi the doctor put me on 80 mg of protonix for my ulcers and reflux and the doctor also told me to take probiotics. I am also interested in what you find out about drug interactions.
    • sue37207
      sue37207 pam21073

      Posted

      Pam thank you for posting. I am on 40mg of pantoprazole and am also on probiotics. Must check with my doctor again to make sure.
    • sue37207
      sue37207 pam21073

      Posted

      Thank you for your post. Did the doctor say when to take the probiotic? 
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga sue37207

      Posted

      I though probiotics wiere things like high fibre foods?
    • EileenH
      EileenH Anhaga

      Posted

      That's PREbiotics:

      "Probiotics are “good” bacteria that help keep your digestive system healthy by controlling growth of harmful bacteria. Prebiotics are carbohydrates that cannot be digested by the human body. They are food for probiotics."

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga EileenH

      Posted

      Duh, of course.  Yoghurt is a probiotic.  redface
  • Oregonjohn-UK
    Oregonjohn-UK Mrs_CJ

    Posted

    Oh dear CJ, we won't be able to eat/drink anything before long.  I'm sticking to my bread, cheese and water - oh I have a problem there as well - never mind there always a small glass of red wine?rolleyes
  • steve_1
    steve_1 Mrs_CJ

    Posted

    I was told by my doctor when I was first diagnosed with PMR and prescribed preds that acid reflux can be a problem as can excess acid production and was advised that a ppi (proton pump inhibitor)might be in order, Omeprazol(?) being one such.
    • Nancy_O
      Nancy_O steve_1

      Posted

      I have been on omaprezole along with my prednisone for 10 months now. I had acid reflux quite bad after starting prednisone. Eventually my stomach has settled down, but I am staying on it. Works for me.
Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.