Hydrocortisone for Asthma

Hi all

Yesterday I was changed from Prednisolone 40mg daily to Hydrocortisone 40mg daily taken over four doses.

I have been diagnosed as Tertiary adrenal Insufficiency which means my hypothalamus is suppressed. I am nervous about the change. After all these years of being on prednisolone it feels odd to have something different for an asthma exacerbation.

Does anyone else take hydrocortisone for asthma?

[Alliecat]

hi, I am allergic to hydrocortisone lol.. apparently..... I was given it years ago after going into hospital.. was about to leave and the nurse said she would give me a dose of hydrocortisone.. and I was violently sick then a massive asthma attack.. went into respiratory arrest... so basically they don't want to chance me doing that again lol... ah well.. hope it helps you.. steroids are the only thing I can take now that actually still helps...

[Hidden in reply to Alliecat]

Wow! thankfully I can say I am not allergic to hydrocortisone.

[tayokufo]

Sure i do take hydrocortisone IV for asthma as well as aminophylline IV, i dont feel the hydrocortisone that much though (dont really get relieved by it) but i do feel the aminophylline more such that my doctor gets very scared when my eyes are closed. For prednisolone, it has to be used for a long period of time for it to be effective (so i hear). I stopped taking it for a long while (maybe over a year) but just resumed taking it this october because i really had trouble with the asthma flaring up all the time even after taking antibiotics for recurrent chest infections. So, what i did is, i took the prednisolone daily for about a week. The first day, i took 5 tabs at night, the second day 4tabs, the third day 3tabs, the fourth day 2tabs, the fifth day 1tab & then from the sixth day up until a week/2weeks, have to take 1tab daily, each time i take the prednisolone, i take it with either 1/2tab of ventolin (salbutamol) depending on if it's 2/4mg of salbutamol. If it's 2mg i take 2tabs but if it's 4mg i take just 1. Also use the nebulizer as well but it all depends on treatment plan as management for each person with asthma actually varies. I advice you work with your doctor but mostly importantly know what works for you best as you are tge only one who knows what you are going through & the pain you feel. I used to have little misunderstandings & issues with the doctor i use before such that at some point she didnt want to talk with me but after i got the nebulizer she asked to me get, we became close. Now, once i start to cough or am in pain but pretend like am fine, she swings into action & work with my treatment plan.