Prednisolone how long does it take?

[reidie01]

Hi,

I've recently had an asthma attack due to inhaling some van clutch fumes. I've had tests done in a hospital and after a few trips to a and e the doctors they said it should go with my relevant inhalers. Smybicort and now a tablet montelukast are what I'm taking. The doctor has given me prednisone 40mg daily I'm on the second day. How long does it take for it to take full effect I feel it's starting to work but not completely. My breathing is still not right could this be a recovery from the attack and how long would it take? I'm worries that the fumes have done permanent damage but the doctor said the lungs would clean and it's the after effect of it recovering. Any answers are appreciated? I just feel pushed out of a and e and left to give it time.

[twinkly29]

I don't think the fumes will have done any damage but it can take a while to recover from attacks - even mild attacks can take longer than you expect to recover from. Unfortunately giving it time probably is the answer!

Some people say that, for them, prednisolone works quickly but it can take 2-3 days to be fully effective. Hopefully once it kicks in fully for you (and it's good that it's started to), you'll feel much better.

Definitely keep up with your Symbicort and montelukast though - and use your reliever inhaler if you have one when you need it (or your Symbicort if you're on the mart regime).

[reidie01 in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks for responding. I've tried to go for a short walk. Got breathless so came back. I'll give it another few days and keep up with my medication. The last time I had this was ten years ago and it came back after exercising with a chest infection. I'm a bit anxious over it and I don't think that helps. It's good to be reassured that it will get better with time. Thanks

[twinkly29 in reply to reidie01]

It will definitely - and the trying to do too much too soon is me all over 😅 It's great that we want to but frustrating when it's difficult! Hopefully over the next few days things will get easier 🙂

[reidie01 in reply to twinkly29]

Yes I thought it would help getting out the house. Is it common for it to get worse on a night and morning aswell. I'm having trouble sleeping probably the steroids. Can it take weeks to recover from this depending on the severity. Thanks again

[twinkly29 in reply to reidie01]

Night and morning is typically not good for asthma (though can vary) so likely it would be worse then - our natural steroid levels drop then I think. Plus it makes sense 6on my head that the pred we took the previous morning is wearing off then!

I don't think it's as cut and dried as the worse it was the longer the recovery. I guess some people might find that, relative to their own previous "worsts". But I don't always find that. I do find though that times when treatment has been quick to get going and kept up with means recovery is quicker. When it's slower or complete crap like my last hosp experience, it takes so long to get better from it. That's just me but the right treatment quickly does help me.

[reidie01 in reply to twinkly29]

Yes that makes sense i was backwards and forwards to a and e over the weekend after the attack Friday. The doctors checked me over but said any steroids or other inhalers have to be done by the gp hence why I started them Monday. I suddenly wake up in the night with a feeling like a gasp of breath aswell. Thanks for the info this is new to me again and I wanted to get a better understanding.

[twinkly29 in reply to reidie01]

That's absolutely not true about steroids having to be done by the GP (at least in the UK)! Ok maybe a&e wouldn't just start you on a new inhaler but they definitely should be giving oral steroids (prednisolone) if needed in an acute flare. No wonder you were to and fro if they weren't doing that. Getting them started quickly at least means they're starting to get into your system.

Hopefully the night symptoms will start to lessen now you've been on them a couple of days - that feeling isn't much fun is it?!

[Paradigm]

Previously, it's taken me all the way until day 4 to feel much affect and even then nowhere near what we now know is actually my best. Had a milder attack at the weekend and by day 2 there was some improvement. PF says normal now, but still twitchy.

[reidie01 in reply to Paradigm]

Thanks for sharing I hope you recover soon. I'm still recovering from fumes off a burning clutch off a broken down van that triggered my last attack. I hope it eases off

[Jimmy-Lyden]

Prednisolone usually works inside a day, I've had it work inside 2 hours but other times it's taken around 3 days. I get what you mean about the fumes as I'm regularly stuck on motorways around Glasgow (driving 11 year old lorries with over 1m miles on the clock & multiple drivers). the fumes can bring on an attack but usually not lasting damage and it will take time to recover. Twinkly29 has covered pretty much all the bases although there's one thing I'd add. This may sound incredibly condescending but it's not meant to be so please don't take it this way... Regarding your walking. Don't push it, slow down. These days I rarely walk faster than a stroll and even a bit slower after I've had an attack. If I walk at what was my normal pace I'm gasping for air inside 100 yards. Believe it or not, it took me a while to realise and just give in to not moving as fast (yes, walking is fast...?). So for the time being, just slow down. Stroll, don't walk. It'll probably sort itself out in a couple of weeks but at this time your lungs are in a bit of a recovery mode.

Good luck and welcome to the forum!

[Daisy_FC]

You sound like me of the first time this happened to me. (The trigger for me was a virus). I'm also on symbicourt and montelukast.

It can take a long time, and it can be a shock that it takes a long time and that you can't do normal activities - and quite scary when those normal activities mean you really struggle to breathe!

Ideally your asthma should be controlled (few or no symptoms). Uncontrolled asthma is defined as using your reliever inhaler 2 to 3 times a week. When you have had an attack it can take a while to settle down. Keep an eye on how much you are using your reliever and make sure you tell your doctor/asthma nurse exactly how much you are using, and how much activity you are able to do. This will help them make sure you are on the right preventer medication.

[reidie01]

Thanks everyone for the comments had another attack last night so in hospital on a ward. Getting an x ray done and other checks. Thought I was getting on top of it only day 3 on the steroids so hopefully I'm in the right place. I had my blue inhaler last night and it made me worse so went straight in to the a and e. Is it common to still have flares up after an attack. I'm a bit of a worrier and this has scared me that its staying at one level.

[twinkly29 in reply to reidie01]

Hope they get on top of it soon - it could just be that as they didn't get on top of it quickly it's slower to improve. It's like lots of attacks one after the other which is tiring for the body.

[reidie01 in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks my sats are ok had my symbicort earlier made me shakey and worse. Think it's one flare up after another there gonna assess what I'm taking. Just waiting for the xray etc. Hope it will get one day to a point better then this.

[reidie01 in reply to twinkly29]

It worries me that it triggered again last night while I was on this prednisolone. Is it case of hitting the reset level with my progress. I just feel it is gonna stay at this same level of tightness.