PMR: anyone have problems with diarrhea

Posted by gingerraspiller @gingerraspiller, Aug 19, 2023

Diagnosed in June 2022. Have tapered from 40 mg to 3 mg. Taking supplements: multivitamin, magnesium + calcium, vit D, fish oils, turmeric, pycogenol.
Gave up coffee and caffeine a couple years ago because it gave me loose stool/diarrhea. Drinking 1 cup decaf per day but these last few months I’m having problems again - I often take 2 loperamide tablets daily to keep diarrhea under control.
Anyone else have this issue? What did you determine was cause? Could it be supplements? Planning to talk to my doctor but wondering if others with PMR have had this issue. Thx

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I was to the point of having loose stools after every single time I ate anything. Benefiber 3 x day absolutely stopped this problem for me.

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@bunnybear

I was to the point of having loose stools after every single time I ate anything. Benefiber 3 x day absolutely stopped this problem for me.

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Thank you - I’ll start today!

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I found it does not have any positive effect unless I take the full 3 x day doses.

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@gingerraspiller

Thank you - I’ll start today!

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You may want to check the full ingredients list to make sure none of the ingredients cause you problems.
Benefibre Ingredients:
Wheat dextrin, sorbitol, corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, dextrates, citric acid, natural and artificial flavor (soy), magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, red 40 lake, yellow 6 lake, blue 1 lake. Gluten-free (less than 20 ppm gluten)

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@megz

You may want to check the full ingredients list to make sure none of the ingredients cause you problems.
Benefibre Ingredients:
Wheat dextrin, sorbitol, corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, dextrates, citric acid, natural and artificial flavor (soy), magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, red 40 lake, yellow 6 lake, blue 1 lake. Gluten-free (less than 20 ppm gluten)

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Thank you. I can't tolerate aspartame! Since the primary ingredient is Psyllium husks - I think I will check out our food coop and look for an organic Psyllium husk option.
Thank you!

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@gingerraspiller

Thank you. I can't tolerate aspartame! Since the primary ingredient is Psyllium husks - I think I will check out our food coop and look for an organic Psyllium husk option.
Thank you!

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Yes, aspartame. You really have to search to find the full ingredients lists sometimes. They only want you to know about the main ingredient, not all the chemical additives. The primary ingredient of Benefiber is wheat dextrin. I avoid wheat because it's high in oxalates and lectins. Psyllium husks are high in oxalates but not lectins. You would know if it's okay for you. Good luck!

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Yes but I have too many factors to suggest one cause including stress. I go to pepto when it flares.
When my sister asked me years ago didn't I just hate being constipated and I replied I never had been, she called me the B word hahaha.

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Magnesium can cause diarrhea. They say magnesium glycinate causes less diarrhea. Also check the ingredients in your other supplements to see if they might also contribute to diarrhea.

I was taking a calcium citrate supplement for many years until I could no longer tolerate it due to increased cramping and new onset diarrhea. I find I can tolerate calcium carbonate much better that's added into Lactaid skim milk that I drink. So, depending what type of calcium you take and it's ingredients you might want to look at that as well.

But try eliminating both your magnesium and calcium supplements at once then try reintroducing each separately to see what triggers your diarrhea.

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Thank you very much for that suggestions. I just checked my bottle - it is calcium carbonate combined with magnesium in a 2 to 1 ratior.
I will eliminate calcium carbonate magnesium supplement for a bit and see how it goes.

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Hi @gingerraspiller, I had PMR, then GCA, undiagnosed for about a year. During that time, I had one episode of diarrhea a day. It continued while I was on prednisone, from a dosage of 40 mg per day to 1 mg every other day. I've been off prednisone for about ten months and I no longer have diarrhea. My mother-in-law also had GCA and I remember she had diarrhea when she was taking prednisone.

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