I have been prescribed antibiotics, Please could you tell me if there are any complications with steroids. Thankyou
It depends what antibiotic it is. You should never take a member of the QUINOLONE family of antibiotics alongside any form of prednisone/prednisolone and especially methylprednisolone (Medrol) as it can cause inflammation of the achilles tendon. It happened to me despite both the doctor and pharmacist knowing I was on Medrol and I ended up on crutches for 9 months!
Quinolones usually have substance names that end in -oxacin and probably the most commonly used in the UK is ciprofloxacin (brand names are Cipro, Ciproxin, Ciprobay amongst others). Ask the pharmacist (not the counter staff) if you aren't sure but make sure you have mentioned quinolones and pred - because obviously some pharmacists can't manage to add 2 and 2 together! The GP said "I knew about it but I've never seen it before" - very helpful!
There is also a problem with some MACROLIDE antibiotics (such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin amongst others).
So do check with the pharmacist as to what your GP has given you.
Hi Mary, I have taken amoxicillin while taking prednisone. It did not cause a problem for me.
Anything different I should do while taking antibiotics (amoxicillin clavulin for sinusitis)? Allergy doctor thinks I have had a low grade sinus infection for a long time - maybe years. Been on antibiotics for 4 weeks and probably a couple more weeks. I have been trying to reduce from 4 1/2 mg Pred to 4 mg using your slow reduction plan but am feeling worse (mainly increased fatigue). I'm thinking I should just go back to 4 1/2 mg until this infection is dealt with. But I think I read somewhere on this forum that sometimes you should increase your Pred when you have an infection? I'm reluctant to do that because a side effect I get is brain fog. Or maybe I should experiment with some kind of alternating pattern of 4 1/2 and 5? Would appreciate any suggestions!
Never attempt a reduction when you are ill, whatever it is. All infections or injuries put stress on your body and - as you say - you may need more rather than less pred. 5mg may be plenty - and if you just take it for a few days you can drop back to where you were quite quickly.
Also at this level your adrenals are having to kick back in to keep you feeling really good so take your time about drops for some time. Some doctors keep patients at 5mg for months, up to 6-9 months, before continuing with reductions. That is really to let your body catch up and marking time for a few months now may pay off in the future. Even if you are off pred altogether it can take a year to feel back to normal - and a few ladies on the forums have commented about how there is a definite improvement now they have been off pred for about a year.
Don't rush - especially if you are not well and needing antibiotics.