1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
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PMR and Turmeric Curumin

Posted by allinge @allinge, Apr 16, 2025

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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seniormed | @seniormed | Apr 18, 2025

No reports of interactions and not listed in drug interaction checkers. Both are best taken with food
preferably different times.

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dashareich2021 | @dashareich2021 | Apr 18, 2025

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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John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Apr 19, 2025
In reply to @dashareich2021 "I’m on only 2 milligram of prednisone now from 15 very slow downsizing … I’m ok..." + (show)
Profile picture for dashareich2021 @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?

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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, 2025
In reply to @gmdb "I've Googled it interactions before and did so just then. Nearly all the results I get..." + (show)
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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, 2025

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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allinge | @allinge | Apr 20, 2025
In reply to @kereno "I may have mentioned this in another post but my naturopath took me off Turmeric-Curcumin supplements..." + (show)
Profile picture for Howdy! @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.

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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, 2025
In reply to @jabrown0407 "@gmdb Very interesting - and thanks for sharing. When I google the interaction on my phone..." + (show)
Profile picture for jabrown0407 @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.

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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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bhakta | @bhakta | May 11 6:25pm
In reply to @pmrigca "Surfing the net on PMR alternative treatments, one can go down no end of rabbit holes...." + (show)
Profile picture for pmrigca @pmrigca

Surfing the net on PMR alternative treatments, one can go down no end of rabbit holes.
Lot of snake oil salespeople out there!
Have come to the conclusion, Prednisone and Actemra aside, there are no "magic Vitamins or supplements"
that are "cure alls" , of value in PMR treatment that do not have inherent risks .
Are there not enough risks associated with Prednisone and Actemra?
I believe evidenced based treatments as prescribed by Rheumatologists are the standard of care
and to deviate from good medical science and advice is risky at best and life threatening at worst.
Anecdotally, I believe what has been an effective treatment modality in conjunction with Prednisone and actemra , has been elimination of
processed food and in the main avoiding foods that before being processed had legs and eyes.
I have been taking Vitamin D 800mg /daily and B12.
Both levels on the most recent blood profile were in the normal range.
A worry about Tumeric?
Is the liver not working a bit overtime when one is on Prednisone and Actemra,
so is it wise to put additional stress on this organ?
Be interested to know more?

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@pmrigca Yes ,I followed medical advice but the side from prednisone to be pain free from severe inflammation ends up with bone loss calcium depletion, Potassium loss, high sugar, mental imbalance high blood pressure, and weak immund system. I recommend taking calcium and vitamin D supplements because of the calcium depletion and bone loss caused by prednisone.

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kiragray | @kiragray | May 12 2:14pm
In reply to @pmrigca "Surfing the net on PMR alternative treatments, one can go down no end of rabbit holes...." + (show)
Profile picture for pmrigca @pmrigca

Surfing the net on PMR alternative treatments, one can go down no end of rabbit holes.
Lot of snake oil salespeople out there!
Have come to the conclusion, Prednisone and Actemra aside, there are no "magic Vitamins or supplements"
that are "cure alls" , of value in PMR treatment that do not have inherent risks .
Are there not enough risks associated with Prednisone and Actemra?
I believe evidenced based treatments as prescribed by Rheumatologists are the standard of care
and to deviate from good medical science and advice is risky at best and life threatening at worst.
Anecdotally, I believe what has been an effective treatment modality in conjunction with Prednisone and actemra , has been elimination of
processed food and in the main avoiding foods that before being processed had legs and eyes.
I have been taking Vitamin D 800mg /daily and B12.
Both levels on the most recent blood profile were in the normal range.
A worry about Tumeric?
Is the liver not working a bit overtime when one is on Prednisone and Actemra,
so is it wise to put additional stress on this organ?
Be interested to know more?

Jump to this post

@pmrigca I think anyone with an autoimmune disorder needs to be very open-minded. It is one area where doctors sometimes have to admit “we just don’t know”.
As for the relationship between turmeric and prednisone there are contadictory sources on the web. Thanks for sharing what has worked well for you. I am sure you struggled to get to that point. I asked Chatgpt about natural remissions. “Natural remissions are unpredictable! “ the happy AI bot said. Pretty smart for a robot.

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janiceem | @janiceem | May 13 2:28pm

I've been taking Tumeric for years, both before and after my bout with PMR. I read recently that there are some side effects of taking too much (around 2000 mg), so I lessened my dose to 1000 mg. Here is the link to that study: https://shorephysiciansgroup.com/the-hidden-risk-of-turmeric-and-other-supplements-what-influencers-wont-tell-you/

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