Silent Acid Reflux is a possible side effect of taking prednisone

I have a fancy bed that raises up at the head and the foot.  This is not a great idea because you can't sleep on your side without an awkward twist in your torso.  A better idea is to lift the whole bed so that the bed is still flat.  So do not use bed wedges or get a fancy bed, just add some lumber under the head.

I'm guessing mine started at high dose of Prednisone. 15 mg

I had tightness in chest for 3-5 hours in afternoon.  Doctors didn't care. I read on one site, this can be symptom of Pred, chest tightness.  But it never said why NOR that is was of could lead to acid reflux. So I ignored it.

Like you, never heart burn feelings, no stomach pain, no gas, no odd taste, nothing.  But the pill stuck in throat feeling started.  Then stayed. 

Then...dentist told me I had lots of plaque. I never have that. They asked if I have dry mouth.  I said I didn't think I did.

Weeks later, my mouth got dry at night, tongue sticky.  Then mouth turned red, sore, swollen. Soon, few white bumps.  I diagnosed it as Thrush.  Took anti fungal for 7 days. That worked.

but lost tastebuds for months!!!!!!!  This really was depressing.

Had endoscopy as per rheumy.  They just said mild silent acid reflux.  Did NOT give me any resolution!!!!  

I asked Primary doctor for ENT referal.  He did the throat scope, no big deal, but saw lots of inflammation!  Said, it was acid reflux.

I said it was the Prednisone.  He laughed and said, no, he gives Prednisone to people with inflammation in throat.  Ugh.

I refuse PPIs due to worse symptoms they can cause.  Actually I took Prilosec for 14 days as per Primary doctor, but they didn't work.

My symptoms changed to gurgling in my throat even after I drink water.

I rarely eat acid foods now. No tomatoes, no lemon, no citrus, barely any wine on occasions, no carbonation drinks, ... No Apple cider vinegar which I tried. It burns throat too much.

The ONLY thing that is now helping is I started Rayos 6 days ago, and the gurgle or flutter or spasm feeling is much, much less. I'm on Rayos 6 mg. 

I'm worried because my PMR pains are a tad worse in my shoulders, so I will not be able to increase my Rayos as easily as the Prednisone. So fingers crossed I don't flare worse. 

Yes...doctors NEED to listen to us and tell people of possible acid reflux, silent AF!  Thanks for posting, I hope we can help others!!

All of the above, plus more, byrning going diwn when eating, even bland foods. I used to be able to eat hot spicy foods even before bed, know that's overall not good, but even so wouldn't be bothered in the least. And, now when I think about it, all started since prednisone. I just accepted it as, "oh another age related inconvience". Thanks for bringing this subject up, I'll certainly talk to my PMR specialist when I see him in March, to get his opinion.

Re LPR (Acid Reflux): I've been on ped for 8 months for PMR. I began at 60mg and I'm down to 11.5 with flare-up. From the beginning my rheumi prescribed 40 mg of Pantoprazole to be taken with my pred to counteract possible LPR. I have had had no apparent LPR symptoms.

I was almost automatically prescribed pariet (rabeprazole) alongside pred. I started a seperate topic on this forum wondering if the pariet dose can be reduced as the pred is reduced.

I wanted to share what I have been trying in case it works for someone else having reflux issues.

I have recently been trying yogurt and have been having significant improvement to my reflux symptoms.  I have a sensitivity to all dairy (cow, goat, etc.) so I have been eating coconut milk yogurt with live cultures.

I've experimented with when to have the yogurt and prednisone at breakfast and I have the best results if I eat yogurt first thing followed by my pred and then with 1 glass of water (my pharmacist told me to be sure to drink a glass of water with the pred).  Then I have my other breakfast foods followed by a second glass of water.

I read that water and apples help dilute the acid so I make sure I drink plenty of water with meals and I have some slices of apple with my lunch and dinner.

Improvements I'm having:  calmer stomach, less coughing, less throat-clearing, voice is less hoarse, less mucus in my throat. 

A surprising and so welcome change is that my energy and brain fog are better.  I know these aren't on the list of reflux symptoms but I'm assuming the high stomach acid has been creating other nutritional issues and when the acid decreases so do these problems.

Thank you very much for you reply and concern.  I actually have an hiatal hernia and that keeps the acid coming up.  I've been lucky not to have damaged my esophagus over the years.  I did have an esophageal spasm two nights after the first does of fosamax so I've adjusted things and seem to be able to tolerate it.  I sleep more elevated after the fosamax, and add mylanta as needed to coat the esophagus.  

I had a fancy bed once, but it ws bad for my back. LOL>

I also am having GERD from prednisone.  Just started 2 weeks ago, 20 mg for a 5 days, 10mg for 5 and now on 5mg till I get RA flares under control and can taper off.  I have had GERD and hiatal hernia issues starting in 2014 when I first got on pred for RA.  Last 3 years no GERD and no pred for maybe 5-6 years. I picked up some meds today and asked about if pred could be causing gerd and headache.  He said the pred was hard on digestive tract and take it with breakfast.  I have no doubt the pred is responsible for my gerd symptoms and just hope it has not flared up the hiatal hernia which I think had fixed itself for last few years.  Pred is a real "love/hate" type drug for me, so many side effects, but it does put the damper on the RA when nothing else seems to work.  First post here, just did an internet search on pred and gerd to see what I could find out and this was first hit.  I am going to try and get off the pred in next 2 weeks, a month is enough with all the negative side effects.