Pneumonia vaccine?
Posted , 11 users are following.
I was dx with pmr beg April, 20mg prednisolone. Now down to 8mg with no symptoms apart from a stiff neck first thing but it's gone by mid morning. I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I have had bouts of depression but now I feel fine.
Some questions
How long should I stay at 8mg before reducing to 7.5 (I've been on 8mg 2 weeks)
I have been offered the pneumonia vaccination but I am worried that the prednisolone is depressing my immune system so should I have it?
Last question, someone told me that I shouldn't eat liquorice, is that right?
Thank you to everyone who takes part in this pmr forum. it is so supportive
0 likes, 12 replies
barb3389 susan41679
Posted
I would stay at least 3 weeks on each of your doses now. Reducing by .5 mg at a time is a good idea. I wasn’t told to do that the 1st prednisone round, then when I had to go back on it, I did reduce by .5 when I got to the lower mg.
I also wasn’t told by Rheumatologist to reduce by .5. I got this information from reading all the online experiences of people. I think it makes a lot of sense - I was on prednisone the 2nd time for a year. Based on experiences I read here I had what seems to be a mild version of PMR.
Anhaga susan41679
Posted
I think at this level you should consider staying at each taper for four weeks, or switch to the "dead slow nearly stop taper method. I used this and would drop a second .5 mg halfway through the taper until I got to about 5 mg when I dropped .5 mg each month, eventually six weeks at really small doses.
Pneumonia vaccine should be okay. It will protect you from the much more dangerous possibility of catching pneumonia!
I, too, believe I should not eat liquorice but I thought it had something to do with stroke and family history, not PMR/pred. Maybe our chances of stroke or other cardiovascular accident are higher and liquorice not a good idea in that case?
Anhaga
Posted
Silver49 Anhaga
Posted
I thought it was because it can cause palpitations if one eats a certain amount of it but I may be wrong. I already drink decaf tea and coffee for that reason so don't risk eating much liquorice. I'm sure someone will be along to advise.
EileenH susan41679
Posted
Liquorice isn't a good mix with pred - it can make pred side effects worse because it stops the body excreting it. I suppose you could regard it as a potential seroid sparer????
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/steroid-tablets/
I would think twice about the pneumonia vaccine - but I have never had it suggested!
This
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4481118/
suggests there aren't problems as such but the response to the vaccine may be poor. By a dose of 8mg it shouldn't be too much of a waste though.
At this stage slower is better - your adrenal glands have to stage a graduated return to work from here on and going slowly makes that easier.
amkoffee EileenH
Posted
No, no, no say it's not soooo, Eileen! I love black licorice and I just ordered some the other day and got it in the mail today.
EileenH amkoffee
Posted
Try it - as I say, it could be a potential steroid sparer! Works both ways!
You know how doctors push methotrexate as a steroid sparer? The main effect it had for me was introducing steroid side effects I'd never had with Lodotra/Rayos (had had them with Medrol though) and worsening others! Which wasn't really the idea I thought ...
ptolemy amkoffee
Posted
The NHS website says Don't eat liquorice while taking prednisolone as this can increase the amount of the medicine in your body.
celia14153 susan41679
Posted
Anhaga susan41679
Posted
Thanks to Eileen's post I (belatedly, after the horse has escaped) looked up interaction between pred and the pneumonia vaccine (the internet came up with the one with 23 strains) and it is contraindicated. However the immunization schedule for my jurisdiction does not list prednisone as a contraindication.
Our doctor even told my husband when he received the "other" pneumonia shot that she could justify giving it to me also (it is not provided routinely) as I was on pred. I haven't taken her up on it. I do not have the same rather dire history of lung infections hubby has.
jones10939 susan41679
Posted
The advice not to eat liquorice is on the patient information leaflet by Alliance Pharrmaceuticals, available via medicines.org.uk.
I remember reading sometime ago that liquorice can raise blood pressure - or maybe it was on the radio.
Anhaga jones10939
Posted
I've avoided liquorice even when it was recommended for something or other (adrenals???) not just because I hate the taste but also because of a family history of brain haemorrhage. It has been implicated in some sorts of vascular problems.