Steroid Card?

[_Badger_]

I've just been removing my personal information from my new inhaler (Relvar 184/22) and noticed it says to carry a steroid card. Does anyone know what this is and why it is needed?

Thanks

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

A steroid card is a little blue card (which you can get from pharmacy by asking for them). It basically informs any medic that you take steroid (and what form) if you are unable to do so (ie are unconscious).

This is because some people have issues when they suddenly stop steroids (adrenal insufficiency or just general steroid withdrawal). This is less of an issue with inhalers (hence why you’ve probably never had a card), but is a much bigger thing for those on regular steroids. This means if you are unconscious and taken to hosp the team are away that they need to give you IV steroids to cover the ones you are missing. As I said this is less of an issue with inhalers, but they blanket apply the rule about the steroid cards. Been on constant steroids since 2017, multiple a&e, never needed to show the card, however some people I know have.

Hope this helps. And if you’re concerned just go to your nearest pharmacy and ask for one (last time I did this I got given about 10 😅😂)

[_Badger_ in reply to EmmaF91]

Thanks Emma, it's my first time on this inhaler (have been on lower dose ones before) so hadn't come across it.

[peege]

Given to me by my respiratory nurse. When I told her that mostly the only steroids I have are in inhalers she told me that nevertheless its important to carry at all times plus to mention steroid inhalers whenever asked about present medications - ie for bone health and dentist, they always ensure I'm given the injection without adrenaline rather than the normal one which does contain it.

[ninelives in reply to peege]

Great reply.

I also have blue card as on long term prednisolone ,hadn't realised that dentist also should be aware.

[peege in reply to ninelives]

I think its to with gums as well as other medications. P

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to peege]

My dentist was very interested in my adrenal insufficiency and meds for it when I switched to a new one last year - asked me way more questions than about all my asthma meds.

Since my sick day dosing rules for hydrocortisone with AI include major dentistry (ie I have to take double the normal dose for anything more than eg just fillings), I assumed he wanted to know in case I ever need anything like that.

There may be other reasons too but since my hydrocortisone is quite a tiny dose that just replaces the cortisol I already make, I don't think it has the same effect on bones, gums etc that my full dose asthma steroids did. I have to say he seemed much more clued up about it than many doctors I meet in hospital, who seem to find anything endocrinological very scary and brain-melting.

Btw I have a medic alert bracelet saying adrenal insufficiency, steroid dependent - now that I have a formal AI diagnosis. I would also recommend something like that saying steroid dependent for anyone on long term pred or other high dose oral steroids. No one so much as mentioned it when I was on long term pred but I would have been in a bad way if I were in an accident etc and couldn't tell anyone, since I was reliant on steroids.

[_Badger_ in reply to peege]

That's interesting about the dentists, I have a bad reaction to the injections with adreneline so they already use a different one on me anyhow.

[Fruitandnutcase]

I realised I ought to have been given one but hadn’t been when I was prescribed steroids for inflammatory arthritis.

I filled the prescription at the hospital outpatients branch of a Lloyds chemist, I went into our local branch and explained that I ought to have had one but wasn’t given one etc and eventually after a lot of explaining I was given my little blue card to carry with me.

I was on a three month decreasing dose before I started another drug so I worked out in advance on the card exactly what I should be taking and when.

From what I remember I continued to carry it for quite a while after I finished the steroids.

[Pipswhips]

I never had one until ive been in hospital and they gave me one.

I suggest either have word with your dr or asthma nurse even the pharmacist where you collect your meds from might be able help you.