Hi all,
I've posted here before and get so much from this group -- learning so much. I have PMR, and am currently at 12.5 MG of prednisone and all is as good as can be expected -- under control at least.
However, I am a seminar speaker and have contracted a nasty cough on Friday. I'm "on again" tomorrow for another 4 days. I'm "iffy" at best.
I do know that most bronchial and throat conditions are viral, and therefore not treatable with antibiotics. I don't think my condition has gone into my lungs -- mainly my throat and bronchial tube.
Here's my question: I think I remember reading that there are some conditions we have to be careful about when taking prednisone, and perhaps lung conditions are one of them. What symptoms should I look for to alert me its time to go to a doctor?
PS: I am out of town now, in a place where I am not familar, so it would be hard to find a place to go, although I would if I thought I needed attention.
Hi Bob
As you are a long term steroid user, I would err onside of caution and get advice. If you are in England dial 111 or go to your nearest NHS walk in centre. Otherwise go to A and E.
Hope you are feeling better soon
Jane
I seem to have had fewer infections whilst on pred - but when I do get a cold, like you it is a humdinger! If you get worse rather than better over the next few days you may need antibiotics. Or if it gets really productive and you have really bad pflegm.
'm assuming you are sure this is an infection and not a sign of inflammation in your chest arteries? I had a dry non-productive cough for a long time and it was most likely GCA in the chest arteries.
Hi Bob are you sure its not just some nasty bug that is going around ? but in the mean time gargle with warm salt water if possible 3 times a day when I get a sore throat this really helps clear it up everytime.
A bedtime get a lemon, honey and a teaspoon of brandy or a spririt of your choice squeeze the lemon juice into cup and mix all together and take with two aspirins,as you sip this you will feel your bronchial tubes clearing then you should sleep well.
This sounds simplistic but the old fashioned salt water and aspirin can work miracles just try it and see how you go, always go for the most ovious treatment first ,and the least it will do will ease the symptoms so you can carry on speaking,let us know how you go.
Since Bob is on prednisolone that last medication he should take for his cold is aspirin or any other NSAID (non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug such as ibuprofen). Both of them can cause stomach irritation and bleeding - and it can happen after just a few doses. Paracetamol might be acceptable - but not alongside spirits as together there is a risk of liver damage with even small amounts of alcohol.
I think that Bob WAS suggesting it is a "nasty bug that is going around" and his concern was because he is on a medication (prednisolone) that suppresses our immune systems and so he might become MORE ill than normally and he wanted to know what to watch out for.
Eileen
I don't think it's GCA. It started with a tickle in the thoat. Then it just kept getting worse, but it's more or less confined to the throat.
I'm taking a lot of throat longeses, but with the prednisone now I'm breaking out all over my face (and I'm 67). Gees.
I think I'll hold off on the doc -- probably just a viral bug.
Thanks for all your help (you and everyone else)
You know when ever we mix drugs there are side effects to watch out for what ever we take,apart from the pred I also take two lots of blood pressure medication now to counteract the rise of it caused in part by pred and endep in the first place I suspect.
I am also open to getting nasty bugs and I just take two aspirin with honey and lemon and just One.... Teaspoon of brandy ,even though I never drink alchohol ever... and it certainly helps me to get over any bugs out there,I would be amazed if those who do drink stopped when taking pred and looking at the side effects on the internet 50% say there are none and 50% say there are ...I know which advice the drinkers will take notice of.
I am not suggesting this becomes a habit as of course there could be side effects, and looking at reports on the internet about the problems that could arise when you mix different drugs together if taken notice of and acting on it could mean that I would have to stop taking the medications that help to keep me on my feet so damned if do and damned if dont,the latest is a lot of antidepressants and sleeping tabs cause dementia and so on it go's I suspect if I took all this advice and warnings to heart I could die from worry alone.....JMO
I use an interactions checker on Drugs dot com
You can list all the drugs you are on and check the interactions between them
You can also visit your local pharmacist for a medication use review to check what you are taking including any over the counter meds,
Yes, I was in "WalMart" this weekend to look for a cough supressant. The pharmacist was not on duty (Sunday), so I "googled" "prednisone and robitussan," and immediately I got a list of drug interaction sites. BTW, they all said there was no problem between the two.
With the devices we have today, we have so much at our fingertips!
Bob - A&E equates to ER in the US!
Best of luck, John
Yes that is true - but the checkers just pick up interations between drug A and drug B. If you happen to be on A, B and C and possibly D as well that changes the entire story!
For example: the odd NSAID alongside my pred dose is unlikely to cause much of a problem when I need a pain killer - except now I also take Sintrom, an anticoagulant similar to Warfarin. So that means if I had even a tiny bit of irritation from the NSAID and the pred - I could have a massive gastric bleed.