(...In my time in this group, I've noticed some folks have never researched the medicines they're taking so as to better understand the effects they may or may not be having on their overall health. For that reason, I'm sending along this link from the Mayo Clinic concerning corticosteroids...)
Corticosteroids carry a risk of side effects, some of which can cause serious health problems. When you know what side effects are possible, you can take steps to control their impact.
Side effects of oral corticosteroids
Because oral corticosteroids affect your entire body instead of just a particular area, this route of administration is the most likely to cause significant side effects. Side effects depend on the dose of medication you receive and may include:
Elevated pressure in the eyes (glaucoma)
Fluid retention, causing swelling in your lower legs
High blood pressure
Problems with mood, memory, behavior and other psychological effects
Weight gain, with fat deposits in your abdomen, face and the back of your neck
When taking oral corticosteroids longer term, you may experience:
Clouding of the lens in one or both eyes (cataracts)
High blood sugar, which can trigger or worsen diabetes
Increased risk of infections
Thinning bones (osteoporosis) and fractures
Suppressed adrenal gland hormone production
Thin skin, bruising and slower wound healing
Side effects of inhaled corticosteroids
When using inhaled corticosteroids, some of the drug may deposit in your mouth and throat instead of making it to your lungs. This can cause:
Fungal infection in the mouth (oral thrush)
Hoarseness..."
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Dmactds
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All researched but what else do you have on offer?? I don’t know any meds without a long list of side effects, just look at antibiotics..or car fumes..
So if one can do without that’s good, not in my case. The idea is to take the minimum dosage possible.
I live here and now. I am happy to breathe better, not to die because of an obstruction in my airways..
I am one of the people who can't take them (and have not died of an obstruction of the airways) and was not told about the side effects. I didn't know then to check them and now have quite severe osteoporosis. No preventative measures were put in place you see. I also found that I became more and more depressed and ended up becoming suicidal, all down to the steroids. For me they truly were devils. After speaking with my consultant we decided I would not take them any more. He said there would be little detriment as any infections would still clear but may take a few days longer. I have no asthma or bronchitis, just pure emphysema, so it may be different in my case but I certainly have been much, much better without them.
As someone mentioned earlier, the 'dangers' are listed in the 'guidance notes' and so they are and when I noticed the caution about glaucoma being affected I mentioned it to my pulmonologist, he merely grunted and moved on to another subject.
That was one of my first 'alarms' that I may have to take matters into my own hands, which I eventually did by switching pulmonologists and changing medicines.
Even though the info about effects is usually included with the medicine, many folks either don't read its small print or, because their doctor prescribed it they think it must be nothing to be alarmed about...., but they're wrong.
Doctors are people also and just as prone to indifference and prejudice as the rest of us; they're NOT perfect, know-all, caring gods of the medical universe.
I take any Meds given to me what ever the side effects are. I even take DMARD's that I have to have regular blood tests due to side effects you may get. The last time I was in hospital in September I was put on preds and they were taking my blood sugar level every day. Due to being on a high dose of preds. They said it was a new NICE guide line. But it didn't continue when I was discharged.
I did research the side effects when I started taking and inhaling steroids. And experience the side effects too. But although that has been unpleasant, I know I would be doing far worse without the steroids. When I was lowering the dosage, the withdrawal symptoms were quite horrible as well. 😑
My major worry about lung transplant now is not the operation itself, but the unbelievable amount of drugs steroids being a huge number that will be used to suppress my immune system so my body won't reject the organ. These are so potent, I run the risk of irreversibly damaging my kidneys. I will bloat and lose my hair, become irritable and not myself. These drugs are a vicious cycle. 😢 I didn't know how fortunate I was back in the day when the only pills I popped were multi vitamins.
I know everyone is differant and i always take what my gp gives to me has i think you should
I am just saying what happen to me when i was first diagnosed with copd i was given inhaled corticosteroids to take for the rest of my life
During the the first few months i started to get really bad cramps in my belly chest and toes and fingers legs so bad sometimes i had to jump out of bed
also hoarseness and bruising and very dry mouth.
So i went back to my gp and ask if i could try and see if i can stop taking just for a while to see how i get on without them, and my gp said yes ok but to keep my emergency has and when inhaler with me all the time.
That was over 4 years ago,, but i do try to keep has active has much has i can that has really helped
I know that sometime later on in life i will need inhaled corticosterolds but i like to think at the moment i know my own body and how i feel.
Music, hello I also have to take a lot of prednisone steroids pills and inhalers 3 to be exact I toohave cramps and have to jump out of bed to walk them off and the one's in stomach and sides those are crazy trying to rub out unfortunately I have to stay on steroids for the rest of my life or unless they find something else
Stiolto is a recent medicine with the same ingredients as Spiriva and Symbicort but without the steroids contained in Symbicort; that's what I've switched to and day by day the difference is astounding!!
I don't like taking them but know I need to and see them as a necessary evil. And I've had a broken hip and take prescription treatments for my bones, joyce
Several years ago they had me on prednisone for copd was on it for about a year now when I go to my dr. I just say I can't take them and they always give me something else been along time sense I've needed anything can't remember what they gave me but it works so I think there's better meds. That you can take.
Stiolto is a recent medicine with the same ingredients as Spiriva and Symbicort but without the steroids contained in Symbicort; that's what I've switched to and day by day the difference is astounding!!
My respiratory doctor introduced me to the website pneumothorax which lists the drugs which can cause lung disease and there are hundreds of them. Unfortunately many of them are treatments for cardiac problems including high blood pressure. If I didn't take those I would either be dead or disabled from a stroke. I also have atrial fibrillation and the drug which I was given for that caused pulmonary fibrosis ( obliterative bronchiolitis in my case) but now I am in af all the time, but they cannot do another cardiac ablation because my lungs are in a poor state. Likewise they are just observing the aortic aneurysm and will only intervene if it causes problems. After living with congenital heart disease and now with lung problems I consider myself to be very lucky to be alive still at 74. If I was as young as many of you I would probably worry more, but I am grateful for the pills etc I have taken over the years. It is a case of balancing risk against advantage. After careful consideration I take the risk to gain the advantage.
Yes...., I agree completely; I do these postings not to discourage people from taking their drugs but to encourage them to learn more about them and any possible alternatives.
As for myself, I've only recently split from my longtime encumbrance, Symbicort and its steroid to Stiolto which is nearly identical to Spiriva and Symbicort, but without the steroids.
Today, I've just returned from seeing two other docs and have been assigned two other medicines for different problems...; so...., I'm not 'anti' medicine so much as I am against 'willful ignorance' concerning medicines and 'other' possibilities.
thank you oral steroids for any length of time in high doses does my head in have some very strange mental experiences - not all bad but very strange nevertheless x
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