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Long Haul flights taking Prednisolone

Posted , 12 users are following.

andrea93419
andrea93419

Hi All,

I'm after some advice regarding long haul flights whilst taking prednisolone, and the risk of DVT. Has anyone got advice on this issue? 

Many thanks Andrea xx

0 likes, 17 replies

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  • EileenH
    EileenH andrea93419

    Posted

    I've done multiple long haul flights since being on pred and am contemplating another half dozen this summer. I've never had any problem - but for the last few years I have been on an anticoagulant anyway so my risk is low.

    All the usual preventions apply - keeping well hydrated, not drinking too much coffee or alcohol and moving every couple of hours where possible, if not there are exercises to do in your seat, flight socks.

    If you are really worried though, see your GP well in advance and ask their advice. Don't do it last minute in case you need to buy anything such as stockings. If there is a risk then your GP may even suggest a shortacting anticoagulant injection immediately before you fly.

    • andrea93419
      andrea93419 EileenH

      Posted

      Thank you Eileen very much! I was hoping you'd reply!! You are a great help on this forum, I do appreciate you sharing your knowledge, 

      many thanks Andrea xx

  • glyn6942
    glyn6942 andrea93419

    Posted

    I am going long haul next week. I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow and will ask him and advise here tomorrow pm. I am on 12.5 prenisolone. x 
    • andrea93419
      andrea93419 glyn6942

      Posted

      Thank you Glyn, I'll be interested in what the GP Has to say! It'll be bad enough for us PMR sufferers to be couped up for hours on end in a seat let alone cause anything else!!

      Andrea 😄😄

  • Gymjen
    Gymjen andrea93419

    Posted

    I come to Johannesburg from London at least twice a year  and never had any problems,my GP advised flight socks. I take aspirin daily for another problem. Now on 5 mg of pred,was on 30 when I first started these flights .

    I walk around a bit ,when allowed and do not drink alcohol or coffee,not too much of a hardship, coffee always grotty anyway. Go enjoy your trip.Pmr will come with you and be with you when at  home ,it doesn't take holidays! 

    • andrea93419
      andrea93419 Gymjen

      Posted

      You've summed it up well there Gymjen!!,,,, PMR doesn't take holidays, I've sat for a year trying to 'protect myself from the evils' and yes it's still with me! So I now realise I have to live my life with it, or it will control my every move and I mustn't let that happen! 

      Andrea xx

    • EileenH
      EileenH Gymjen

      Posted

      Just want to say: whatever you may hear, aspirin does NOT protect from DVT! It is to reduce the risk of clots in arteries, not veins. There is a different mechanism. 

      But I have found a lot of doctors (who should know better) think aspirin works to prevent flight DVT!

  • angela43016
    angela43016 andrea93419

    Posted

    Hi Andrea, I'm no expert but went to my Docs and asked consultant re: flights. Both said no problem. I made sure I bought flight socks and Michael Flately whilst aboard, please don't stress about it xx
  • febes
    febes andrea93419

    Posted

    Hi Andrea,

    Last year I flew from Melbourne Australia to London I was on 9mg Pred  at the time. I wore flight stockings, drank a lot of fluids( mainly water but NO alcohol) did some exercises in my seat  and took some walks up and down the aisle of the plane, and also did a bit of walking during our stop-overs. I survived it just fine and had no problems.

    Febe 

    So enjoy your flight  

    • rrobinson75
      rrobinson75 febes

      Posted

      How did you manage big time zone changes and your prednisone dose?
    • EileenH
      EileenH rrobinson75

      Posted

      My way of dealing with them is to take the normal dose at whatever time going the short day way round so the next dose will be due in less than 24 hours using local time.

      For the long day way round I either take a slightly higher dose and the next dose more than 24 hours later or take a bit of a booster dose during that long day and then go to taking the dose at the local time. 

      I'm very lucky though in some ways - the antiinflammatory effect of pred lasts well over 24 hours for me (it is 12-36 hours depending on the person and at one time I took double doses on alternate days, it is a recognised way of using pred).

      I also make sure I'm not committed to doing too much the day I get there - either way round - and try to sleep or at least rest. It has always worked so far.

    • febes
      febes rrobinson75

      Posted

      Hello, 

      I took my normal dose just before I left Australia which was in the morning and that is when I usually take my tablets. So when we arrived in London it was morning and I had them with breaky again. Going home I went a bit over the usual dosage time. I took them in the morning of our flight ( in the UK and a bit later time ) and then when we got back to Aust it was early morning so took them again then. I didn't have any trouble or feel any the worse for wear because of this.

      Hope this helps Febes 

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