Prednisolone...Yes or No?

[Redhead66]

Would love to know people views on IV Prednisolone for inflammatory lung symptoms

Thank you

[JulyAugust]

Hi Redhead, I’ve never had Prednisolone intravenously but when I’ve been prescribed the tablets for wheeziness they never seem to do a thing for me. However apparently some people find them very effective. What do you think?

[Redhead66 in reply to JulyAugust]

Well I had an oral weaning dose of Prednisolone tablets prescribed but they made my cough and breathlessness so much harder to manage...I've been offered three days of continuous IV Prednisolne to help the inflammation in my lungs but this would only be for a short period of time, maybe a few weeks certainly no more..but am concerned about the side effects especially as there is no cure for my disease...I manage my symptoms very well I'm just not sure I can cope with the side effects!

[Patk1 in reply to Redhead66]

If the dr thinks itll help,personally I'd not think twice! Go4it

[O2Trees]

For me its kind of 'can't live with, can't live without'. Having had copd dxd since 2000 (but would have had it lots longer), severe asthma since my 20s and some scary hospitalisations, steroids, both oral (prednisolone) and IV (hydrocortisone), have saved my life on many occasions.

However they do have nasty side effects like glaucoma, osteoporosis and diabetes. Im now prediabetic but there is never a choice about turning down steroid treatment as it works to treat inflammation in my lungs when nothing else does. So regretfully its a case of 'needs must' and despite regret I am sincerely grateful for the fact that they have undoubtedly extended my life.

[Cloudancer in reply to O2Trees]

Great reply o2 trees.I have also been on oral prednisolone long term(since 2005).

It is a double edged sword -without it I would not have survived as long as I have and I cherish each and every day I have had.

Yes the side effects especially on the higher doses are not pleasant and the long term side effects can be challenging.

Discuss with your medical team and let us know how you get on .Wishing you better health soon.

[Verbena_67 in reply to O2Trees]

Can you tell us what dose you take?

[O2Trees in reply to Verbena_67]

Ok, well I only take oral steroids (pred) if I have a flare-up which can be treated at home and I would take a week of 30mg a day, then tapering the following week as quick as I can do it which varies. If I have to go to hospital then its because I have respiratory failure so its urgent to treat the inflammation and I get put on IV steroids which are usually hydrocortisone and I have no idea of that dosage.

Rest of the time I take a combination inhaler - Symbicort - and I take the 200/6 one, with at the moment 9 'puffs' (actually sucks as its powder!) but using the SMART system which allows people with asthma to use more as needed.

[GintyFerguson]

I've been on oral steroids never IV . I absolutely hate the side effects. To be blunt would depend whether my life dependsed on it but then again I would want to be satisfied that my quality of life was worth the hassle .About 6 years ago a consultant wanted me on tabs full time and I refused . I'm still here with inhalers that are working fine . Incruse and fostair . Why bother if it is only a temporary fix on the other hand it may settle the inflammation enough to give you some better quality of life for a while. Good luck...let us know.

[O2Trees in reply to GintyFerguson]

Actually I love how they make me feel - really happy, bit manic though which affects sleeping. But good mood, clears skin and hungry, which Im not usually. Strange how they affect people so differently. Although I dont mind being on them, I hate the longer term side effects of course.

[Karenanne61 in reply to O2Trees]

I'm on tons of calcium to protect my bones due to steroids effect on bones.

[Arch74]

I was given steroid tablets for a flare up with my copd, after having a viral chest infection. It went straight onto my chest and I couldn't breathe, my chest was terrible. I took them for a week, they cleared me up well but they gave me muscle weaknesses in my legs and arms.

[O2Trees in reply to Arch74]

Interesting you should say that about muscle weakness, Arch74. I took a week's course of pred not long ago, with a further week to taper which I always need to do. During the tapering week I restarted my regular weight lifting session. At the end on an impulse I checked my pulse and found it was missing every fourth beat (think I wrote about this on another post). Although I hadnt experienced the weights as harder to lift, I did wonder if my muscles were affected by the steroids as normally my heart rate is fine when doing that exercise.

[Injecter1]

Hi… I have IPF and I have been on Prednisone since 2017 to control the inflammation. I have had IV Prednisone given over 3 consecutive days to try and reduce a flare up when my lung function dropped. I didn’t have any ill effects from it during the infusion or afterwards, it’s not painful or uncomfortable and you doesn’t make you feel unwell. I’ve been on high doses when needed and this is when I get sides effects of a fuller face and some muscle cramps. Steroids reduce your potassium levels causing cramping but if you eat potassium rich foods this helps. They slowly wean me down to a maintenance level and this settles, although I’m on a high dose at the moment as it’s flared up again. The benefits out way the side effects, without steroid treatment I wouldn’t be here so I’m grateful.

[Izb1]

I have only had prednisolone tablets and must be a one off because I feel fabulous when i am on them. My lungs feel so much better and my rheumatoid has a break too, shame about the side effects x

[TObby75 in reply to Izb1]

hi izb1 i have copd & also for the last year i have lung cancer i'm 76 & take prednisolone tablets when i get bad lung infections & i haven't got anything bad to say about them & feel great when on them & not so good when i finish a course but i know when to take them & when i don't need them!

[Izb1 in reply to TObby75]

Yes me too, although my doctor wont give me more than a week so never need to wean mysekf off them x

[Italia]

My Dad has taken these and believes that they are the only thing that helped his flare ups. Unfortunately he’s now been diagnosed as diabetic, perhaps as a consequence, and is no longer allowed to take them, so is hoping alternatives he’s about to start will help.

UPDATE

just by way of an update, I spoke to my Dad about Prednisolone last night.

He had it for his COPD flare ups which he said helped, but when he was diagnosed with IPF they told him to stop taking it and stopped prescribing courses. He believed however this was the only thing helping his flare ups so continued to take it from his emergency pack for a few days after each flare up.

Whilst he’s now got diabetes possibly as a result of steroids, his IPF consultant has told him in no uncertain terms that he cannot take it with IPF as it can have adverse reactions for IPF patients, apparently a trial was conducted, and instead has prescribed low dose morphine for breathlessness and antibiotics to prevent flare ups.

He’s yet to start his new medication but has been off prednisolone completely for over 6 weeks which is the longest he’s been without it in years, and he’s just realised that he hasn’t had any flare ups and is wondering whether Prednisolone actually contributed or not. He used to get a flare up every 3 weeks or so.

He’s still breathless but hopefully the new meds should treat this, but I thought I’d mention given he was instructed to stop it once his COPD also became IPF.

[Vicki1234]

I am 74 yrs old. Had asthma since age 2 and COPD last 14 yrs. I've used steroids increasingly over the last 10 yrs. I've always considered prednisolone a "love/hate" drug. Because despite the side effects it works! And the side effects only last a short while, yet the prednisolone reduces the time I'm unable to breathe. I've only experienced IV prednisolone once during a flareup but it too helped. So I guess its a matter of choice - suffer any side effects while improving breathing in less time... or suffer breathlessness longer with a chance of it becoming worse.

[Cookiemonsterr]

Hi Redhead,

Corticoids are love/hate for me. Inhaled 8-10 doses a day, injections and oral prednison when things get out of hand. The high 60+ mg initial dosage are a lifesaver and will make me feel like Superman, but the weaning afterwards is dreadful

Good luck

[Redhead66 in reply to Cookiemonsterr]

Thank you so much for your thoughts. I have pretty much decided that I'm going to swerve Prednisolone totally-my symptoms are manageable right now-shortness of breath and an unproductive cough-I am aware of my limitations and am happy to stick within them-I'm meeting with my Consultant tomorrow who has agreed to monitoring of my symptoms and me alerting her of any changes, regular CT chest scans to monitor the disease and to alert her of any fibrotic changes which we both know will happen eventually but to date I have no time scale on this-I really feel that the side effect profile of steroids far out weigh any short term respite of my symptoms x