Predinsone Question

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Question:

.I have cough variant asthma. Recently, current meds (azmacort,serevent) haven’t been enough to stop the cough and shortness of breath without albuterol at least a couple of days per week. Since it is getting colder and cold air seems to be my primary trigger, I wanted to get it under better control. I moved to a different location and have had to find a new doctor. My previous doctor was more willing to add other meds like choledyl or maybe a different inhaled steriod before the systemic steroids, but it seems to be this gentleman’s first, second, and third choice. I guess I’ll try it one more time, but I’d rather try less drastic options first. Thanks a lot. This group is great. I’ve learned so much. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Pred has a lot of awful side-effects, no doubt about it. However, if you are >having frequent exacerbations, it is sometimes the only thing that can break >the cycle. Why does your doctor think you need it? >Chris Owens

Response:

> I’ve only taken prednisone once before. I think the dose was 20 mg twice a > day for 5 days, then 10 mg 2X a day for 5 days, then 10 mg a day for 5 days, > then 5 mg for 5 days and stop. Although, it really helped my arthritic > knees, it didn’t seem to help my asthma very much. I did have a lot of side > effects that I really hated….VERY irritable, SAD, menstrual changes, and > upon stopping my wrists ached for about 3 weeks. Since then, I have > essentially refused to take it unless it was the very last option. Now I > have a different doctor who is INSISTING that I take a round of it. He has > given me a "dose-pak" where I am to take (6) 4 mg tablets first day, then > 5 tablets, then 4, then 3, then 2, then one over only six days. He says > it’s much easier tolerated this way. I can see that the dose is smaller and > it is for less time, but I’m still reluctant. Has anyone else used these? > If so, what did you experience? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

New asthma guidelines recommend a burst dose of prednisone for serious asthma exacerbations–40 to 60 mg for 3 to 10 days. It’s recommended the dose be stopped without tapering. [The dose can be stopped when peak flows are back over 80% of personal best, but a High steroid inhaler dose may be needed] Sounds like your doctor is putting you on a lower dose, and is tapering it to minimize side effects when coming off the drug. I also try to avoid the prednisone burst and have been successful the last few years; I monitor peak flows and start increasing inhaled steroids when I go below 80% personal best. I start by doubling, then tripling and quadrupling. (I’m not recommending this for you, just telling you what I do) I recently had an exacerbation/virus that dropped my peak flow to 55%, even with 16 pf/day of Vanceril DS 84; (1500 ug beclomethasone) also had coughing spells; am now getting over it, without prednisone. I did have the flu shot, but I understand this coughing flu is going around. There wasn’t any sign of bacterial infection. I do plan to get an emergency supply of prednisone 10 mg tablets, for my cabin trip to Lake Tahoe in Jan. for snowshoeing. Ellis

Response:

Pred has a lot of awful side-effects, no doubt about it. However, if you are having frequent exacerbations, it is sometimes the only thing that can break the cycle. Why does your doctor think you need it? Chris Owens

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I’ve only taken prednisone once before. I think the dose was 20 mg twice a >day for 5 days, then 10 mg 2X a day for 5 days, then 10 mg a day for 5 days, >then 5 mg for 5 days and stop. Although, it really helped my arthritic >knees, it didn’t seem to help my asthma very much. I did have a lot of side >effects that I really hated….VERY irritable, SAD, menstrual changes, and >upon stopping my wrists ached for about 3 weeks. Since then, I have >essentially refused to take it unless it was the very last option. Now I >have a different doctor who is INSISTING that I take a round of it. He has >given me a "dose-pak" where I am to take (6) 4 mg tablets first day, then >5 tablets, then 4, then 3, then 2, then one over only six days. He says >it’s much easier tolerated this way. I can see that the dose is smaller and >it is for less time, but I’m still reluctant. Has anyone else used these? >If so, what did you experience? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. If >you prefer to mail it directly, remove the "nospam".

Every time i have taken Prednisone I have taken that way. The only thing I ever experienced was a major increase in appetite ( hey, ever seen a six year old eat 5 hot dogs in one sitting??) Now I am older, ( like by 8 years) and I havn’t had it recently, but I can remember how hungry I was.

Response:

I’ve only taken prednisone once before. I think the dose was 20 mg twice a day for 5 days, then 10 mg 2X a day for 5 days, then 10 mg a day for 5 days, then 5 mg for 5 days and stop. Although, it really helped my arthritic knees, it didn’t seem to help my asthma very much. I did have a lot of side effects that I really hated….VERY irritable, SAD, menstrual changes, and upon stopping my wrists ached for about 3 weeks. Since then, I have essentially refused to take it unless it was the very last option. Now I have a different doctor who is INSISTING that I take a round of it. He has given me a "dose-pak" where I am to take (6) 4 mg tablets first day, then 5 tablets, then 4, then 3, then 2, then one over only six days. He says it’s much easier tolerated this way. I can see that the dose is smaller and it is for less time, but I’m still reluctant. Has anyone else used these? If so, what did you experience? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. If you prefer to mail it directly, remove the "nospam".

Mr. Asthma