Hello everyone, hope all good & well with you all.. I have been on Hydrocortisone tablets for adrenal insufficiency for about 1 year now, I had been on prednisolone for many years quite a high dose & when I developed adrenal insufficiency I was put on a much lower dose of Hydrocortisone 10 mg morning + 5 mg lunchtime, I seemed to be doing alright on this dose & I have not required to use rescue pack since starting Hydrocortisone ( when on prednisolone I had quite often had to use rescue pack) Within the last few days I have developed a very red itchy rash on my hands & arms + small red blisters on my hands,I am wondering if this is due to being on a less dose of Hydrocortisone, I have been taking antihistamine tablets for the past 4 days + applying hydrocortisone cream but so far does not seem to be helping much. I was thinking if it would help if I increased the hydrocortisone tablets a little for a short time..I would very much appreciate if anyone has any advice that would help alleviate this problem..All answers greatly appreciated..Thank you.. Primrose 123..xx
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Hydrocortisone Tablets
I think you should speak to your pharmacist who is likely to know what to do and what is wrong. I don’t think you should increase any medication without medical opinion and pharmacists are best for understanding drugs and medications.
Many thanks Bevvy for your kind words & yes, I will follow your sound advice & speak to the pharmacist tomorrow.. I wish you good health & much happiness for the future.. Primrose 123.. (Maria)..x
Just to let you know Bevvy, I seen the pharmacist today & he prescribed stronger antihistamine tablets which hopefully will stop the itching & blisters on my arms & hands, if any further problem I have to contact my GP... Thanks again Bevvy for your kindness shown to me.. Primrose 123..(Maria) x
Make sure it’s not an interaction with the sun as well. A lot of medications are photosensitive.
Thank you SuziElley for your kind reply,I was advised by Bevvy & Stanjory to speak to a pharmacist which I did do & I was prescribed a strong course of antihistamine tablets which I am delighted to say completely cured my problem (I am so grateful to both Bevvy & Stanjory for their sound advice given to me regarding my problem) I hope all good &well with you SuziElley, & I wish you good health & much happiness for the future.Love, Primrose 123..Maria...x
That’s great news!
Thank you, SuziElley, it is indeed great news,& thank you too for your sound advice regarding the sun & medication, I will be on my guard for that too..Kind regards, Primrose 123..Maria...xx
I agree with Bevvy. I have adrenal insufficiency due to previous high steroid levels and take 10mg hydrocortisone daily for life. I have the autonomy to double up for a few days if ill or injured but have never experienced a rash like you speak of. My skin reacts to lots of things like garden plants, insects etc and antihistamines usually deal with it. You need to identify the cause if you can and definitely start with the pharmacist. I’ve been given stronger than over the counter antihistamines in the past. Hope you get sorted soon. Please let us know how you get on. I’m really interested.
Thank you Stanjory for your very helpful & informative reply ,you & Bevvy were 100 % correct in advising me to see the pharmacist first,which I did do today, the pharmacist prescribed Chlorphenamine Maleate 4 mg tablets, 1 to be taken 4 times daily every 4/6 hours,the pharmacist advised me that the tablets should stop the itching, but if I have any problem once the tablets are finished,I have to contact my GP, so hopefully the tablets will work for me.. Thank you once again Stanjory for your help & kindness shown to me, it has been very much appreciated..I wish you good health and much happiness for the future.. Primrose 123..( Maria) x
How do they test you for adrenal insufficiency? Have been on 10mg of Prednisolone for years and wanted to cut down and then stop using them One Dr said not to do this as could cause adrenal problems. Really interested to know firstly, why was it thought you had a problem with adrenal gland; and secondly how you were tested. Would really appreciate
Blessings and love x
Hello. I used to have 6 monthly hospital reviews just for my asthma. It came up during routine blood tests at my annual review. The consultant just picked it up. I was tested with something called a synacthen test where they put you into a state where they test how much cortisol you produce naturally. They then bring you back round. My adrenal glands were only operating at about 40% hence the 10mg daily hydrocortisone for life. I had the test again after maybe a year but no change so just a maintenance plan now. It affects me in that I don’t get that sensation of fight or flight any more so no butterflies in my tummy at any exciting event. But I live with it and it doesn’t affect my daily life. I have an endocrinologist now who I see annually for a chat. He’s really helpful. Maybe do a bit more online research and see what you can find out. It was moving onto a high dose symbicort inhaler which pushed me over the edge of steroid levels about 15 years ago now. I now wear a medical bracelet in case of accident or trauma and going into shock and needing extra cortisone. Hope you get sorted.
Hi Stanjory, I think the last message I received from you was meant for Chinadoll81.. Primrose 123..x
Thank you! Sorry! I lose track of these threads 😊 I’ll see if chinadoll81 can still see my misplaced post!!
Many thanks for your reply. Dont have the same level of medical attention here unfortunately but shall enquire next time Dr comes visiting. Blessings and love xxxx
Hi Chinadoll81),I was on Prednisolone tablets for about 10 years,& when I was in hospital being treated for a chest infection last year it was discovered by having blood tests that my cortisol levels were very low which affects your immune system & if not properly treated could lead to many health problems..( I was advised that being on large amounts of prednisolone for many years was the cause of my adrenal insufficiency) I was then prescribed Hydrocortisone tablets for adrenal insufficiency & have been referred to an Endocrinologist Consultant who monitors my cortisol levels every 6 months.. I certainly would not advise you to STOP taking your prednisolone tablets, Chinadoll81, you MUST follow your GP & Consultants advice when to reduce your medication as prednisolone is a medication which has to be slowly tapered down, on no account can you stop taking prednisolone on your own as it would have very serious consequences... I hope this helps you a little Chinadoll81,& take care, & may God bless you always..Love, Primrose 123..( Maria) x
Thank you Primrose.I will follow this up by quizzing my Dr when next I get a visit though, to be truthful, our attention from the medical here is not at all good. Blessings and love xx
Hi Chinadoll81, Whenever you do get a visit from your doctor, you should ask him/ her if you could perhaps have an asthma review, your surgery or health centre practice nurse should be notifying you every year for an asthma review, you could also ask your doctor if you could be referred to a Consultant to have a thorough check on your asthma eg blood tests & your cortisol levels,if there was any problem with your adrenal glands you would be referred to an Endocrinologist Consultant who would monitor your cortisol levels every so often,it is of the utmost importance Chinadoll81 that you DO NOT change your Prednisolone dose yourself or worse still STOP taking your prednisolone as that would lead to MEGA health issues, you must follow your doctors advice at all times regarding the medication that has been prescribed for you.I certainly think that you should insist on an annual check on your asthma by the practice nurse at your surgery,& by doing that any problem found would be dealt with by the professional people,who are fully trained to give us the best help & advice required.I wish you well,& hope that all works out well for you Chinadoll81,meantime,take care, & may God bless you always..Love, Primrose 123..(Maria)
hello! Primrose123 has pointed out I’ve replied to her instead of you about adrenal insufficiency testing. Are you able to still see my response? I haven’t worked out how to copy and paste. Sorry!
Got it!!!!
My husband is on cancer treatment atm and he had rashes appear on his hands. He was told that it was a sign of toxicity and he had to pause his treatment. I would strongly suggest that you speak with some medical professional fairly urgently.
Many thanks Coughingalltheway for your very kind reply, I visited the pharmacist today & have been prescribed medication for the itching on my hands & arms , so hopefully that will work, but any further problem I have been advised to contact my GP..I hope all goes well for your husband Coughingalltheway,& I wish you both good health and much happiness for the future.. Primrose 123..(Maria)..x
I'm glad that it's not serious and thank you for your kind words.
Jan x
Hi primrose, sorry I can't help with your question but hope the pharmacy will give you the correct advice soon 😊xxx
Thank you so much Nula2 for taking the time to reply to my question,your thoughtfulness has been very much appreciated,I visited the pharmacist today and he prescribed medication which hopefully will help me..I wish you good health and much happiness for the future Nula2.. Primrose 123..(Maria)..x
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