1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

PMR and Turmeric Curumin

Posted by allinge @allinge, Apr 16 11:30am

I was diagnosed with PMR about 3- 1/2 months ago and I've been on Prednisone for a little over 3 months. My doctor is encouraging me to go down on my daily dosage and now I'm on 5mg a day. I've been there before but I had a flare up and had to go back to 10mg a day. I would love to be free from taking Prednisone as I don't like how I feel. My question is, has anyone taken Turmeric Curcumin as a supplement along with the Prednisone? If so, how many mg do you take?
Thank you.

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dashareich2021 | @dashareich2021 | Apr 18 8:25pm

I’m on only 2 milligram of prednisone now from 15 very slow downsizing …
I’m ok sometimes not great but must get rid of prednisone .. my stomach gets all balloon like my doctor said it is steroids stomach… did anyone had this experience?

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Apr 19 7:08am
In reply to @dashareich2021 "I’m on only 2 milligram of prednisone now from 15 very slow downsizing … I’m ok..." + (show)
@dashareich2021

I’m on only 2 milligram of prednisone now from 15 very slow downsizing …
I’m ok sometimes not great but must get rid of prednisone .. my stomach gets all balloon like my doctor said it is steroids stomach… did anyone had this experience?

Jump to this post

Hello @dashareich2021, Welcome to Connect. My only side effects from prednisone during my 2 occurrences of PMR were weight gain, some fatigue and a puffy face. There are quite a few others who have shared their side effects in another discussion here:
-- Prednisone side effects: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/prednisone-side-effects-5/

Did your doctor offer any suggestions to help with the side effects?

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jabrown0407 | @jabrown0407 | Apr 20 12:00am
In reply to @gmdb "I've Googled it interactions before and did so just then. Nearly all the results I get..." + (show)
@gmdb

I've Googled it interactions before and did so just then. Nearly all the results I get say that there is not interaction between turmeric and prednisone. Dr Megan Milne is the only one I found that says there is an interaction. I don't think there is any actual risk as such. If the turmeric was interfering with the prednisone you would soon know from increased inflammation and pain.

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@gmdb Very interesting - and thanks for sharing. When I google the interaction on my phone I am returned the same results you mention - no real problems showing. When I google the very same question on my PC is when I receive the result I quoted. This tells me that the version of google search my phone is using is different than the version my PC is using. Beyond that I cannot comment on which result set is the most accurate.

When I scrolled down on my Android phone and read links about turmeric and what it does and how it accomplishes what it does it is clearly noted that it can interfere with iron absorption and should be avoided if you are anemic or on iron supplements. Along with my PMR came idiopathic anemia, which the prednisone seems to help. I do not take iron, but I watch my hemoglobin when I am fatigued and have other signs of anemia.

I certainly can safely be used as a cooking spice it is only when it is taken as a supplement in large doses that there might be a concern.

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Howdy! | @kereno | Apr 20 10:50am

I may have mentioned this in another post but my naturopath took me off Turmeric-Curcumin supplements when I started prednisone for a PMR flare. She referred to a database (sorry, I don’t have the link) that details the counter action between various drugs and nutritional supplements.

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1 reply
allinge | @allinge | Apr 20 6:03pm
In reply to @kereno "I may have mentioned this in another post but my naturopath took me off Turmeric-Curcumin supplements..." + (show)
@kereno

I may have mentioned this in another post but my naturopath took me off Turmeric-Curcumin supplements when I started prednisone for a PMR flare. She referred to a database (sorry, I don’t have the link) that details the counter action between various drugs and nutritional supplements.

Jump to this post

Thanks for the info! I only took one pill and then decided I didn't want to continue until I speak with my doctor.

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gmdb | @gmdb | Apr 20 6:43pm
In reply to @jabrown0407 "@gmdb Very interesting - and thanks for sharing. When I google the interaction on my phone..." + (show)
@jabrown0407

@gmdb Very interesting - and thanks for sharing. When I google the interaction on my phone I am returned the same results you mention - no real problems showing. When I google the very same question on my PC is when I receive the result I quoted. This tells me that the version of google search my phone is using is different than the version my PC is using. Beyond that I cannot comment on which result set is the most accurate.

When I scrolled down on my Android phone and read links about turmeric and what it does and how it accomplishes what it does it is clearly noted that it can interfere with iron absorption and should be avoided if you are anemic or on iron supplements. Along with my PMR came idiopathic anemia, which the prednisone seems to help. I do not take iron, but I watch my hemoglobin when I am fatigued and have other signs of anemia.

I certainly can safely be used as a cooking spice it is only when it is taken as a supplement in large doses that there might be a concern.

Jump to this post

Yes, it gets very complicated. I do find that Dr Milne knows a lot and the discussion of CYP450 enzyme being blocked by turmeric opens a whole new level of knowledge. And grapefruit is particularly bad. This page had a lot of infor on interactions with (mostly) other medications, that I don't think I have seen elsewhere: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2007/0801/p391.html

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