The morning routine of taking Pred
Posted , 11 users are following.
Hi,
I am looking for some help and advice about the best routine of taking Pred.
I remember from some of the posts on this forum that pred is taken first thing with some yoghurt...any other suggestions when doing this first thing and any other useful food options to take with the Pred?
I am also thinking about vitamin supplements and cod liver oil, does the Pred affect the digestion and impact of this if taken some time after pred or because of how pred works does this remove any benefit of the vitamin and cod liver tablets?
0 likes, 14 replies
ptolemy andy34717
Posted
kate50809 andy34717
Posted
I take my pred regularly at 9.30 each morning, Most people take it earlier but I have to take thyroxine which has to be taken first thing and no other drugs for an hour. I get up at 8.30.
Yes, you need to take it with some yogurt or such like to protect your stomach.
It is possible the pred will weaken your bones so best to take a calcium supplement, this needs Vit D3 and VitaminK2 otherwise the calcium won't get absorbed into the bones. These need to be taken with food and a few hours away from pred, so probably with lunch and evening meal. Depending on how much calcium you need you may have to take two doses as the body can only absorb about 400-500mg at a time. How much you need will depend on you diet so you will need to calculate how much calcium you are already getting. Just Google this and you will get a guide as to the calcium contents in various foods.
This is very layman's stuff and someone with more knowledge than me will probably be along shortly.
Talk about a learning curve!! In April this year I had never heard of PMR. Now I reckon I could take an A level in it and its related problems!!
Good Luck
celia14153 andy34717
Posted
Hi Andy, Imthink the first thing we look at is diet because that gives us some sense of control. However, I made the mistake of paying for a consultation with a dietician and wasted my money. She was well intentioned but didn’t take on board my PMG and suggested licorice, for example, which inhibits Pred, (shame as I love it - at least chocolate is ok!). Yoghurt protects the tum and I always take Pred in the morning with full fat Greek style- keep an eye on tummy pangs and pains and don’t be afraid to take Omeprazole if you have to as it protects against excess stomach acid and possible bleeding. Most of us seem to manage with the yoghurt! As for supplements, some go for them and some don’t - the jury is still out and it’s trial and error and what works for you. I took an expensive supplement for eyes for a couple of months and it seemed to make no difference whatsoever so I stopped. So glad you found this Forum as it’s fantastic to share our experiences, you learn so much. Keep asking the questions 😀
andy34717 celia14153
Posted
Mrs_Hobbles celia14153
Posted
Licorice inhibits pred?? Really?? I was advised to take licorice to deal with flashes I was having (either from pred or menopause), and which dealth with them amazingly! Well that's interesting, unfortunately! Now I have to wonder if taking it coincided with getting flares! But yes, at least chocolate is still on the menu!!
jones10939 celia14153
Posted
On OH's info leaflet in the Pred packet simply says to avoid liquorice, no mentionn of inhibiting, neithor on the NHS website.
Liquorice, however, is known to raise blood pressure:- http://wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/2013/09/03/does-licorice-cause-high-blood-pressure/
celia14153 jones10939
Posted
Hi, yes - sorry- inhibit was completely the wrong word. NHS says the following. ‘Don't eat liquorice while taking prednisolone, however, as this can increase the amount of the medicine in your body. ‘ As I said, inhibit was the totally wrong word!
EileenH Mrs_Hobbles
Posted
Licorice doesn't inhibit pred - in fact, the opposite is true. It may reduce the amount of pred excreted and so make any side effects worse (the view they take). To me, that may mean that it makes pred more effective too...
EileenH andy34717
Posted
Personally I don't think supplements make much difference to us other than calcium and vit D for bone protection. You should also have a dexascan by the way. They do line the manufacturers pockets...
Be careful with cod liver oil - you need vit D but it also has a lot of vit A and it is easy to overdose on vit A and it isn't good for you! Vit D alone is a better approach.
A glass of milk is felt to be enough to take your pred with. I used to take it with just water and with low doses of plain pred that was fine - not so good with larger doses but I then used enteric coated pred (only available in the UK). If you find that isn't enough - then in the middle of your breakfast is also a good way to protect the stomach.
EileenH
Posted
PS - some people have taken a sandwich and a glass of water to bed so they needn't get out of bed. It's anything that suits you.
andy34717 EileenH
Posted
I had a restless night last night and was still awake at 2am so took 1 pred then and my remaining 2 this morning and feeling better than I did yesterday...onwards and upwards!
MartiFL andy34717
Posted
It’s so quick and easy (and delicious) to just pull one out of the fridge and re-heat.
I don’t add anything to it. No butter, milk, or sugar. It tastes very good to me and keeps me filled until lunchtime.
I get get up about 7:00. Have several cups of coffee first, then oatmeal.
It’s working for me so far, and I’m not gaining weight (yet!),
D’x April 2018. Started on 10 mg Pred. Currently tapering between 9 and 8.5 mg.
val26097 EileenH
Posted
This forum is so informative and I am so grateful.. Why are drs and consultants reluctant to give information.
EileenH val26097
Posted
Don't think it is anything to do with insulin. It means the pred will be working well before you rget up - and so you will feel better. And it is the sort of time your body would be producing its natural corticosteroid though personally I'm not sure that really matters.