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Prednisolone and Irritable bowel syndrome

Posted , 14 users are following.

barbara73592
barbara73592

Hi Everyone,

I have had PMR for a year now. Started at 30mg and tapered to 7mg. Unfortunately had a bit of a flare so went back to 10mg when I was last good.

Now on 9mg and will cut down again soon.

My question is this,having suffered with IBS for many years and have coped with the tummy upsets associated with it has anyone experienced more bowel pain and very painful wind in the tummy since being on Prednisolone? 

I do take yoghurt , am on Lansoprosole and try to watch my diet so I am baffled as to this turn of events,

Barbara

2 likes, 28 replies

28 Replies

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  • stella-dk
    stella-dk barbara73592

    Posted

    I also have increased stomach problems with pred. I buy empty gel capsules ( you can get them from amazon ) break the tablet in halves and put in the capsules. it does help a lot. And I take Ranitidine.
    • erika59785
      erika59785 stella-dk

      Posted

      I ordered the smaller empty gel capsules from Amazon today.  I hope, it will help.  

       

    • EileenH
      EileenH erika59785

      Posted

      Remember the pred may then take longer to work - it won't be absorbed quickly from the stomach - it will move further down the gut first. Enteric coated (which is the same thing) may take up to 5 hours or more to be absorbed. 

    • erika59785
      erika59785 EileenH

      Posted

      I take 6 1/4 (trying to reduce ever so slowly) prednisone at night --- it will take until morning to work which is okay.
    • Elizamc
      Elizamc stella-dk

      Posted

      Please can you tell me what size is needed for a prednisone tablet?
    • EileenH
      EileenH Elizamc

      Posted

      It depends on the country and the pharmacy to some extent. In the UK prednisolone cames in 1 and 5mg if uncoated, 1, 2.5 and 5 if enteric coated. In the USA prednisone comes in 5mg and 1mg I think as well as 10 and even higher but they are rarely used for PMR. Medrol comes in 4 and 8mg plain tablets. 
  • shirley_24703
    shirley_24703 barbara73592

    Posted

    Hi . Just joined this forum. I have just been diagnosed with poly myalgia and I also have IBS. Thought it important to say lansaprozole makes IBS worse for a lot of people. Took 2 years to find this out. Ranitidine much better.

    Started taking prednisolone and IBS worse so interested to read other people have found the same.

    Shirley

    • barbara73592
      barbara73592 shirley_24703

      Posted

      Yes Shirley,I do believe you are correct. I have some quite painful spasms re IBS ( in fact did not sleep much last night as was having pain)  I think too the pred makes IBS worse. I am on Lansoprosole for reflux problems,but I might ask my doctor about the Ranitidine on my next visit.

      I wonder if it is the fluid retention with the pred that causes so much 'burbulance' and therefore

      spasms. 

      Barbara

    • EileenH
      EileenH shirley_24703

      Posted

      It's something we at the PMR charities say a LOT to people - the PPIs have a reputation for unpleasant side effects but their reps have done a magnificant job of telling the world they are SOOOOO much better than ranitidine. They aren't...

    • EileenH
      EileenH

      Posted

      Oh - and a PS - do post this as a new thread, this is 5 months old and won't be seen by newer members of the group.

  • karenjaninaz
    karenjaninaz barbara73592

    Posted

    I have been on pred for 21/2 yrs and also have IBS . I cannot say the pred made it worse- actually it’s better.  I found lanzoprazole gave me terrible gas where I couldn’t even sleep. I’m not sure we can blame every symptom on pred. The medications to protect our stomach, while taking pred, have their own side effects. I usually take as a preventative famotidine which is a histamine 2 acid blocker like ranitidine. If I get heartburn I take a short course of omeprazole which is a proton pump inhibitor like lanzoprazole without the grassiness. 
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