After my asthma started to get worse again 4 days ago, I finally decided to take the oral steroids even though I was terrified of the adverse effects. I was in a situation where nothing else was working, nebs were no longer useful they only lasted one hour and I still had trouble breathing after using them. I always had the tight chest even more than before and could not take deep breaths as though it was blocked. Yesterday even though I was on the prednisolone I still had to take 15 puffs of ventoline and 3 nebs throughout the day and even with all that I felt like I was going to die.
I phoned the doctor and asked him if I could take the steroids only for a few days to get over this and at first he said he didn't want me to take them because of the side effects but he eventually said I could take 40 mg everyday for 3 or 4 days and then have an appointment with him to try and find another solution. Initially I had planned to only take them for 3 days but now I'm thinking about 4 or 5 days just to make sure it works as I would hate taking this drug for nothing.
I started yesterday morning with 40 mg of prednisolone and apart from headaches and a little bit of stress I didn't experience any signifcant side effect. Today is the second day of the course and I have a more intense headache and nausea as well as some anxiety and stress. Basically I feel like I'm panicking for nothing but that could be because of my fear of the medicine. I'm not sure as I'm already anxious all the time due to my condition and I'm very used to stress and anxiety so maybe that's why I'm not noticing anything at the moment. I do feel tired as I don't sleep much at night (even without the steroids) and I feel sleepy the whole day. Concerning the effects of the medicine on my ashma flare up, unfortunately I'm not noticing any difference and the tight chest and struggle to breathe are still very much present. Nebs are not really working as I still feel the asthma symptoms after taking bricanyl and atrovent. Maybe it's too soon to see a change so I'm really hoping that the pred will work and that I will finally get to move on from this nightmare and resume a normal life.
How do you cope with the side effects when you have to take the oral steroids ? How long is it supposed to take for it to calm the flare up ? If I take it 5 days, should I still taper the dose or can I just stop taking the pills ? Also, I took pulmicort for 2 weeks (no effects) so I decided to stop until I finish the oral steroids. I'm not sure however if that's what I was supposed to do, I was afraid to take too much steroids.
Thank You!
Written by
Hannah125
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Hi Hannah. Sorry to hear you’re struggling with your asthma, it can be miserable, I know.
I would say give the steroids a bit longer, I sometimes have to extend the course because things haven’t fully settled. Most people don’t need to taper after a short course,
I’m concerned about you stopping your main inhaler at any time, but most of all while you’re having an exacerbation. We continue with that through thick and thin! Talk to your GP very soon, I’m sure he/she will be thinking along similar lines...it’s usual practice for asthma patients. But better check you’re doing the right thing.
Try not to over react to your need to take steroids. They can cause side effects, but the main benefit is improved lungs. I tend to get moody, sometimes depressed and short tempered while taking them, but this is easier to understand and control when you know why it’s happening. But it doesn’t happen every time for me. Difficulty sleeping is a more persistent problem for me, but I read, listen to radio/podcasts through headphones, mindfulness stuff, etc. Like you, I have wakeful nights quite often anyway.
Hope that helps a bit and things improve for you soon. We’re always here for a chat! 🍀
I am the kind of person who will stress over taking any medicine and thinking that all the side effects will happen to me! But I know that asthma is a serious condition so I'm sure it will be worth taking the pills for a few days. It's nice to know that there are people out there who know what I'm going through.
Also, you mentionned you sometimes had to extend the course, how long does it usually take to settle an asthma flare up ? Do you think a 5 day course is enough ?
Five days on prednisolone (steroid tablets) is the standard prescription for an asthma flare up, but I found that this didn’t always clear the infection or whatever so I’d have to ask for a longer prescription, maybe a couple more days, to make it seven.
There’s always a balance between taking as short a course as possible, but also clearing things so that the asthma exacerbation doesn’t pick up again at the end of the five days when the steroid tabs finish.
After I’d used steroid tablets a few times, I got to know when I needed them and when I was sorted.
I also learned to start them as soon as I realised that I had an exacerbation/infection, was using my reliever too often, peak flow down etc. I stopped hanging on, thinking it would clear itself....it never did. I could get away with a five day course if I acted early.
Once my GP knew I’d got the hang of things, and wouldn’t use steroids like smarties, he gave me a rescue prescription that I could activate online myself when I knew myself I needed it. Prednisolone plus antibiotics. Most experienced asthmatics have this available. Then you call into the surgery during using them or whatever GP suggests. My asthma was quite bad until I moved house last year, well away from a local factory, and I used them three, sometimes four times a year.
I’m still needing Seretide 250, and wouldn’t dream of missing a dose, because I’m still using my reliever (Bricanyl) about three times a week, sometimes more, but if I used the reliever three times in one day (it’s a four times a day max) a couple of days or so on the trot, I’d be back onto my rescue pack. I also take Montelukast every evening.
My GP says the aim is to stop scarring in your lungs, which happens if the inflammation which you have as an asthmatic flares up for too long. Only more steroids will do this, in tablet form, added to the ones in your main inhaler, that you’re taking every day. So don’t stop your main inhaler while on steroid tablets, or you’ll be in a mess, needing more and more tablets.
Sorry to write so much, and sorry if you know all this already, but I wasn’t sure, as you sounded new to short courses of steroid tablets, when needed.
Once your asthma settles, you won’t need steroid tablets for a while, as long as you keep taking your main inhaler every day, morning and evening for most of us.
Sorry if you think I’m preaching to you, but just thought I’d say how it is for me. Always, always see your GP or asthma consultant before making any change to a prescription they’ve given you. I was a bit worried for you when you said you’d stopped your pulmicord(?) without direction from your doctor.
Over and out. Hope things settle for you very soon xx
I have been diagnosed 29 years but prop started asthma 33 years ago.
You always continue with your regular meds unless directed by Dr.
Am used to 5 day 8tablets a day courses of Prednisolone when get infections. As far as I know no side effects (I say as far as know because always infection when I take).
Last time I was really bad for me.
5/12 infection started
10/12 afternoon saw Dr asked for rescue pack or Prednisolone, he agreedand started them Tues 11/12 morning. Have Dr a sputum sample
By 13/12 getting worse called 111 and got call from Dr in meantime friend had called 999 and paramedics came. They nebulised me (first time ever been nebulised) agreed to let me stay at home as had GP appointment next day.
14/12 saw GP, sputum results back a bacterial infection which hits people with lung condition hard and can cause bronchitis/pneumonia /otitis media and so on. GP sent me to hospital because was told most antibiotics resistant and they have to sort antibiotics. Mum took me to hospital who nebulised me did chest x-rays and bloods. I was allowed to go home but they booked me appointment at hospital with Respiratory Nurse on Mon 17/12. Gave me Co-Amoxiclav and another 7days Prednisolone as I was running out of Pred the next morning.
Lost the Pred in car on way home, rang hospital and picked up another 7 days the next day. (as an aside mum went away to Blackpool and her and aunt found Pred in car so when they got back they gave me this and I put in cupboard for flare up in future).
17/12 Respiratory Nurse took me off Seretide and put me on Duoresp Spiriva
By week 4 I still felt crap but GP said chest clear, by week 6still felt crap, week 8started to feel human, week 10 my voice went back to normal and human again.
6 weeks later end of march same happened another infection. I immediately started prednisolone (that got out of cupboard) did sputum test came back clear from bacterial infection so was viral. Thankfully was only ill a fortnight that time.
Touch wood no further infections since April so not needed Pred again and I only take when Infections.
Unfortunately my Asthma this year has been affected by the Hayfever as well this year I am on antihistamine all year round.
Duoresp Spiriva
Ventolin
Monteleukast
Loratadine
Fluticasone nasal spray.
My point -
1) steroids are better than the asthma symptoms.
2) Don't panic if they recommend short course
3) unless Dr says don't stop any of your regular medication while on Steroid tablets
Short course is 5 days to a fortnight.
4) Benefits out weight concerns
5) Not everyone gets side effects
6) were your symptoms side effects or anxiety about taking the tablets??
Thanks for your help, it's really appreciated. I've been suffering from this flare up for 4 months due to the flu I had back in February. Ever since I could no longer breath normally and everytime I started to feel better it just came back even worse than before.
I'm indeed very new to all this because it's the first time in my life that I experience a flare up. The last time I had an asthma attack I was 6 and now I'm 25. So I never had to take any drugs and I never used my reliever inhaler. I lived almost as if I didn't have asthma so I had no idea things could get as awful as this. It really took me by surprise and I also delayed taking any medication for a long time because the first lung specialist I saw was convinced that it wasn't asthma since the reliever didn't work and spirometry was normal. He didn't understand what I was going through and even sent me back home without any medication save for the blue inhaler. I was more than happy to believe him as it's not easy to accept it when we have a disease but I did lose a lot of time because of this. I almost had to see 7 doctors in order to finally be prescribed something.
No wonder you’re stressed and confused! Poor you! Maybe you understand better how to treat yourself now, and what to ask for from your doctor.
Asthma can be scary but confidence comes from knowing your triggers, to help you to avoid flare ups, and also what to do about it when things flare, due to a virus or infection.
We’re always here for a chat or a second opinion, so write us a post if you’re concerned....or to tell us you’re feeling better now! Stay strong.,,,xx
Stressing over this is counter productive. You need to be calm if you are to get better properly. Talk to your self - you know what the answers to your worries are - and talk yourself calm. Lots cheaper than a therapist!
Hi, when I was in hospital in may the consultant said my dr should have prescribed the steroids for 7 days not 3. She said thats the least time anyone should be on them.
Today is my 4th day of taking oral steroids (40mg) and unfortunately I still feel pretty much the same. Although I didn't need ventoline yesterday I still needed my 3 nebs throughout the day. And I still feel the tight chest and can hear a little wheezing.
I'm not sure how long it's supposed to take to clear all the inflammation but I'm really worried since I was supposed to take them for only 5 days. I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow so I'll ask him but until then I'm worried. Oral steroids were the only option I had left since inhaled steroids didn't work and I can't take montelukast (side effects). I'll discuss with the doctor if I can extend the course to make it 7 days but I'm concerned about tapering which I haven't done yet. If I take the pills for 7 days should I still taper just in case ? Are the pills still going to be effective ?
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Steroids not working? 
4th course of Prednisolone this year
Covid action plan, antivirals, steroids etc
tapering off steroids
do I start my rescue meds? 
