Prednisone question
Posted , 4 users are following.
hi - i took my daughter to out of hours last night she has been coughing constantly and it turned into a barking cough. The nurse checked her chest etc and said there was no wheeze but she never does have, only cough variant asthma. Because we are going on holiday tomorrow she gave her a steroid prescription for us to use if we need to which i collected. Shes woken this morning not mucj better should i just start the steroids? or if its just a virus would it be better not to. thanks in advance
0 likes, 8 replies
net27 ket0207
Posted
Hi I assume they did tests to check if she was having an attack? I have used prednisone on and off for years and it is a very good medicine and I have had no side effects from it as it is a short term use, it is also fast acting. I would take it if I was prescribed it.
I know you say above that she has no wheeze and she has cough variant asthma but I am a chronic asthmatic and I have had major attacks with no wheeze, I have been told that no wheeze can be caused by the fact that there is so much clogging in my lungs, that air is too limited to get through, and to be extra vigilant if I feel breathless and that occurs. Sorry just saying but I assume they did an x-ray to rule out that her lungs were congested.
ket0207 net27
Posted
hi thanks for replying - they checked her sats and listened to her chest, did temp etc that was all. She has never sounded wheezy even at her worst. i started the tablets this morning in the end she was coughing so much. will have to just wait and see how she is but at least she has a chance of feeling better in time for our holiday
mic71403 ket0207
Posted
Hi
I'm normally a 'no excess medications' person but as said above it is remarkably quick acting, hope by now, and no side effects.. I seem to ha ve an occasional wheeze but nothing substantial, and seeing a specialist soon, but happy to ha e this drug for emergency.
Good luck.
Mic
X
EXETER
Uk
Annaflare ket0207
Posted
As has been said, prednisone is fast acting and pretty safe over short term use. I've also taken it on and off for a number of years (more then 20), used sensibly, it's a very effective and life saving medication!
I'm assuming she's on some sort of steroid inhaler as a daily preventer in conjunction with Ventolin. If not, it would be a really good addition to prevent flareups and reduce the need for medications like prednisone... inhaled preventers are far less systemic (doesn't affect the whole body) then prednisone and safe for long term use.
ket0207 Annaflare
Posted
thank you - yes she has a steroid inhaler twice a day plus ventolin. we have noticed a definite improvement in her cough aince this mornings first dose can it really work that quick?! its only the second time she has had this steroid but it was like a wonder drug last time. the doctors have said theyre not sure if she has asthma as doesnt wheze but she responds so well to the medications
Annaflare ket0207
Posted
Prednisone is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory medications, asthma is a inflammation of the airways, yes, it can work incredibly quickly. Honestly, not everyone wheezes, not all doctors realise that (hell one gp told me i suffer anxiety because I develop tightness and no wheeze). Last time I presented to hospital one of the respiratory specialists ended up seeing me - I was actually down to 37% lung function (apparently it was quite repeatable) according to their machine. I told them that I usually present better then I actually am, she told me that some people don't wheeze and that I sounded far better then she was expecting based on my results (my specialists are all at that hospital, been going there for years)
I was given Ventolin and Atrovent in a nebuliser and 37.5mg of prednisone (7 days)I was also started on Alvesco (in conjunction with my other meds) and given scripts to take home, to continue the treatment until I could see my normal asthma specialist. After seeing her and being monitored I was sent home within a couple hours. I should note this wasn't the emergency department, I'm in Australia and the hospital I go to has a rapid access asthma clinic, I was nearly admitted from there, but, I improved with medications. But, I was told to come back if it flared again (that was a little over a month ago).
net27 ket0207
Posted
Yes, it works that quick. Steroids are great for treating asthma, I wouldn't be here today without them and they were not something I built up an intolerance too over time. She may get hyper as they can give you a sense of false energy and in later days she may be tired but it is a small price to pay for the improvement. Enjoy your holiday 😃
ket0207
Posted
thanks all we are having a lovely time, the coughing has stopped except at night but shes been swimming and cycling which im sure she couldnt have done otherwise!