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How much calcium for prednisone taper???

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Posted 5/19/2011 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Im tapering from 60mgs, at 25 Im getting severe hand cramps and low grade fevers 99.0 to 100 tops) in the morning after getting out of bed. After noon, or a long walk the temp is normal again. hmm.

Im tapering 5 mgs at a time. Seems 25 mgs is the start of more difficulties. Up until 25 mgs the prednisone worked like magic, but at 25 mgs I can feel my bowel getting a little squarely. I was in the hospital a week with a sever flair, and almost dident pull through, but the pred pulled me right out of the pit. Now at the 25 mgs, Im beginning to wonder if its going to be a problem getting off this drug.

My question is how much calcium should I take a day? The calcium seems to be keeping the hand cramps at bay.
Posted 5/21/2011 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I've done some research about it. I've been on Predn for month (now second day on 15mgs) and I was taking calcium with vit. D even before Predn. In Feb, on my phisical, my blood work came back with quite insuffecency of vit. D. So calcium and D - here I go :-)
When starting Predn, I asked my GI about that supplement and he hadn't asked about amount, kind etc. He just said that it is ok with Predn.... So I take OTC, market-brand. But today I found something like that:
http://www.seattlecca.org/osteoporosis-nutrition-%20guidelines.cfm
So, according to this info,maybe I should switch to calcium citrate (the one I have is carbonate), and just lower to one and a half daily dose as it shows it is 1200mgs of calciumin daily dose and 1000U.I. of Vit. D.

maybe it helps :-)
Posted 5/21/2011 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
I was taking 100% of the daily recommended. I am not sure if we should be taking an extra high dose because of prednisone. I did get my bone density checked and it was okay but that was a while ago. I'd almost like to get it tested again to see if there was damage since the test. I've been off pred for a while but I was on it for a long time shakehead

Have you asked your GI about getting your bone density checked?

Posted 5/21/2011 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Here is something more about the dose.
http://bombay.directrouter.com/~rheuminf/images/stories/File/Medication%20Information%20Sheets/PREDNISONE_INFORMATION_SHEET.pdf
Posted 5/21/2011 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
I increase the dosage of calcium, D, mag etc by an extra 50% when I'm on pred; Chormium is also a very important supplement when on pred.
Posted 5/21/2011 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Calcium supplements don't actually help unless you're exercising though. They can actually hurt you unless you're exercising as well, and if you take too much!

http://www.alsearsmd.com/how-to-keep-steel-hard-bones-without-calcium-pills/
Posted 5/21/2011 10:24 PM (GMT 0)

runawaybride3 said...
Calcium supplements don't actually help unless you're exercising though. They can actually hurt you unless you're exercising as well, and if you take too much!

http://www.alsearsmd.com/how-to-keep-steel-hard-bones-without-calcium-pills/


Excersice is important for overall health. This md likes DEHA which is a controversial supplement and is helpful but advised only for short term use (see below) and also states most/many junk foods are high in calcium, can't say I've seen this much on junk food labels but I don't eat much junk food. There are studies that say calcium is not good for bone health and just as many others that say it is. I try to have a healthy balanced diet and take good supplements without over doing it. If certain meds are known to deplete certain vitamins/minerals I make sure I counter it with supplements.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/331.html
Posted 5/22/2011 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Right, but there is no valid scientific study that indicates that calcium supplements on their own help at all with bone health. Some of them indicate that they do help if in conjunction with resistance exercises. Otherwise, you're just hosing down steel plates with carbon and hoping they'll toughen up :)
Posted 5/22/2011 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
As I indicated earlier, there appears to be just as many medical opinions indicating calcium
w/D etc is helpful to support bone health as there apparently is not. Most Americans simply do not get the recommended amount of calcium/D to keep their bones healthy.
Posted 5/22/2011 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think there are, but sometimes the companies that make the supplements conduct their own studies that show supplements on their own help with bone health. Obviously, they are neither valid nor scientific in my book. But if you have any links to the studies you referred to, that would be helpful.
Posted 5/22/2011 4:26 PM (GMT 0)

Godslyric said...
Im tapering from 60mgs, at 25 Im getting severe hand cramps and low grade fevers 99.0 to 100 tops) in the morning after getting out of bed. After noon, or a long walk the temp is normal again. hmm.

Im tapering 5 mgs at a time. Seems 25 mgs is the start of more difficulties. Up until 25 mgs the prednisone worked like magic, but at 25 mgs I can feel my bowel getting a little squarely. I was in the hospital a week with a sever flair, and almost dident pull through, but the pred pulled me right out of the pit. Now at the 25 mgs, Im beginning to wonder if its going to be a problem getting off this drug.

My question is how much calcium should I take a day? The calcium seems to be keeping the hand cramps at bay.

The only time I took calcium supplements I was tapering off high dose prednisone and took a stroke which the doctors said was from prednisone and dehydration.

In my research I found that calcium plays a role in clot reinforcement and although increased dietary calcium is good supplementation might be bad.

www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-checkup/post/calcium-boosts-risk-of-heart-attack-stroke-for-women-study-finds/2011/04/19/AFKcJK5D_blog.html

"Calcium may also make it more likely that blood clots will form, they said."

www.suite101.com/content/calcium-supplements-may-increase-risk-of-heart-attack-and-stroke-a267754
Posted 5/22/2011 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
runawaybride3 said...
I don't think there are, but sometimes the companies that make the supplements conduct their own studies that show supplements on their own help with bone health. Obviously, they are neither valid nor scientific in my book. But if you have any links to the studies you referred to, that would be helpful.
______________________________________________________________________________

As I stated previously:  The human body does not produce calcium on its own therefore supplementation is needed especially since most Americans don't eat enough calcium rich foods in their diets and therefore require supplementation. Calcium w/D etc along with exercise is needed to support overall health and certainly bone health and to avoid osteoporosis. Here is a link from the CDC along with others which explains all this. Not going to continue this banter, if you do not want to take calcium, please don't.


More info from: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/vitamins/calcium.html

"Calcium is a mineral needed by the body for healthy bones, teeth, and proper function of the heart, muscles, and nerves. The body cannot produce calcium" source: cdc.gov



More info from: The National Oteoporosis Foundation

"Calcium is a mineral that is necessary for life, yet many Americans do not get the amount of calcium they need every day. Calcium is important to build stronger, denser bones early in life and to keep bones strong and healthy later in life.

about 99 percent of the calcium in our bodies is in our bones and teeth. In addition to building bones and keeping them healthy, calcium helps blood clot, nerves send messages, muscles contract and other body functions.

Each day, you lose calcium through your skin, nails, hair, sweat, urine and feces. Our bodies cannot produce calcium. That’s why it’s important to try to get enough calcium through the foods we eat. When we don’t get enough calcium for our body’s needs, calcium is taken from our bones."

http://www.nof.org/aboutosteoporosis/prevention/calcium



More info from: NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Nutrition/calcium_supp.asp

"Calcium supplements are available in a bewildering array of combinations with vitamins and other minerals. Calcium supplements often come in combination with vitamin D, which is necessary for the absorption of calcium. However, calcium and vitamin D do not need to be taken together or in the same preparation to be absorbed by the body. Minerals such as magnesium and phosphorus also are important but usually are obtained through food or multivitamins. Most experts recommend that nutrients come from a balanced diet, with multivitamins used to supplement dietary deficiencies.

Getting enough calcium—whether through your diet or with the help of supplements—will help to protect the health of your bones. However, this is only one of the steps you need to take for bone health. Exercise, a healthy lifestyle, and, for some people, medication are also important."
Posted 5/23/2011 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
bbc - I think you misunderstood me.

You said that you take calcium supplements when on prednisone. I pointed out that that is useless to take calcium supplements without resistance exercises. I did not say that no one should take calcium supplements! :)

But in your last post above, you say that exercise is necessary with the supplements, so we are in agreement. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Posted 5/23/2011 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
No worries.

My point was/is if you take a med that depletes a vitamin or mineral it needs to be replenished and if you are not getting it through diet then supplementation is needed.

Enough said...moving on.
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