Steroids for COPD flare up

[deejames]

My COP D rarely has a flare up but recently I started producing increased amounts of very sticky mucus. On Monday I got an appointment with the respiratory nurse who prescribed anti biotics and steroids which I have not had for years. I took the first dose with no problems. Today about an hour after taking the I felt very sick and trembly and retched violently several times. I have not felt well all day. Lethargic and weak. Is this the flare up infection or the steroids ? Does anyone else experience this ? I am anxious about taking them tomorrow

Thanks for reading

Dee

[djbctla]

perhaps you should check in with your respiratory nurse to get her opinion, before taking any more.

BERNARDINE 🌹

[leo60]

Did you take the steroids with/after food? Makes a huge difference xx

[O2Trees]

Did you take the steroids because you were having trouble breathing? I ask because you do not mention that.

My understanding has always been that if breathing is difficult it is because the airways are narrowed due to inflammation. That is what steroids do, treat inflammation. I don't think they reduce mucus.

So maybe you should get in touch with your respiratory nurse, tell her the problems you've been having. There may be a very good reason why you've been prescribed steroids but you need to know. They are not medications which should be given casually.

Remember to drink a lot of water to dilute the mucus.

[Skatergirl1]

hi, I have experienced this before when taking antibiotics, so now always take them about 20 minutes after food, and have been ok. Taking them on an empty stomach before has made me sick. Hope this helps 😊

[mrblue12]

Your symptoms sound like they're being caused by the infection to me. I'm currently taking prednisolone and the only side effect I'm experiencing currently is insomnia.

[peege]

I had this when very poorly with a chronic infection Jan '23. For me it was the fever that made me shaky and the incessant deep coughing (asthma) that made vomit.I didn't take steroids though (at the time it was impossible to get through to GP for abs & steroids so I self medicated with my prophylactic abs daily for 3 weeks).

I too think you should see gp or respiratory nurse.

Perhaps it's: the wrong antibiotic so infection is worsening,

a reaction to the antibiotic (essential to take with food.....I've a dodgy tum & a gp once advised me to take with or after food regardless of what instructions were.

I do hate steroids but they've never given me the symptoms you've described. They do need to be taken as early in the day as possible with food .

[Izb1]

I felt like this on antibiotics that the dentist gave me for a sever infection, they also gave me thrush, I couldn't take them. I would go back to your gp/nurse x

[beech]

I’m afraid that I find the prednisone steroids make me feel very odd, but I can feel their benefit pretty quickly which is why I grit my teeth and continue with the course. I’ve only taken them a few times with an extreme downturn with a bacterial infection, but they do help.

As the week continues I can feel my mood changing for the worse, and I do become uncharacteristically more argumentative - “roid rage” - so I avoid company and stay home till they’re finished.

A few previous posters on here have used the phrase “the devil’s tictacs”! And I totally get that!

Best for you to talk this over with your doctor or practice respiratory nurse, or one of the Forum’s nurses via the help line, to discuss your personal reactions to the drug you’re taking.

I’m Day 1 of a course, thus it’s 3:30am and I’m awake 🙄 I’ll take them with food very first thing tomorrow in the hope they’ve calmed down by bedtime! 🤞🤦‍♀️😆