Has anyone had problems with steroids?

[Falcon22]

Hi I have Emphysema...and have always been ok taking steroids for chest infection ect. But my brother also with COPD. ..took two and now refuses to take any more he said he couldn't breathe heart pounding/racing and chest tight ? I am worried as he has had infection for two weeks has taken antibiotics but refuses to take another steroid. Also another problem he can not swallow tablets so he crushes them up is their liquid steroids? Antibiotics? Thank you

[helenlw7]

I’ve been on steroids for about 15 years. I’ve managed to tail my dose down to 7.5 mg a day. I’ve not had symptoms similar to your brother, but my body has become used to the steroids so I can’t stop them.

[Falcon22 in reply to helenlw7]

Thank you for your reply maybe an idea if he could try a low dose ?

[helenlw7 in reply to Falcon22]

He maybe needs to talk to his gp. What dose was he prescribed? I know once when I was prescribed an emergency dose of 60mg a day by the hospital for a really bad chest infection I was buzzing. I was able to do all sorts of physical jobs that I hadn’t been able to do for years - I also have severe rheumatoid arthritis.

[islande in reply to helenlw7]

me too made me feel very speedy and on edge snapped at people for nothing.

[Dottie11]

There are dissolvable steroids but not sure available in UK. You can get coated ones "gastro resistant type" but supply can be hit and miss. I would suggest your brother contacts GP to be examined re symptoms. Good luck.

[Falcon22 in reply to Dottie11]

Thank you for replying 😊

[Stewiecat]

Hi, I've been given liquid prednisolone for asthma exacerbation at our local minor injuries hospital, it was enough to get me through the following 11hour wait in a&e, so it exists and is worth asking your brothers doctor about

[Falcon22 in reply to Stewiecat]

Cheers for your suggestion I will tell him

[Stewiecat in reply to Falcon22]

I hope it's helpful to him 😊

[Mellywelly]

Hi chook, I have copd and the only problem I have is they do nothing for me whatsoever. Keep telling my deaf doctor but they just don't listen 😕 🙄

[Falcon22 in reply to Mellywelly]

Cheers for your reply 😃

[Difficul]

Steroids (Prednisolone) keep me awake and antibiotics upset my tum.

[Falcon22 in reply to Difficul]

Yes I can relate keep me awake to x

[Ern007]

I honestly think your brother needs to see a GP - The "pounding heart and tight chest" could be anxiety or a reaction to the steroids.

There are liquid steroids according to NHS link below.

His antibiotics should sort his infection, steroids are not for that, they are to help breathing caused by an infection.

Really needs to get his meds sorted by a GP.

nhs.uk/medicines/prednisolone/

[Falcon22 in reply to Ern007]

Cheers your thoughts along the same as I was thinking on the steroid ...the antibiotics have helped but would be easier for him to have a liquid form. I agree really needs an consultant appointment been year and a half thus far ! Thank you for you reply and link vgeers

[Ern007 in reply to Falcon22]

I hope you get sorted soon - I have declined all upgrades om my inhalers so I know precisely how well they work and I know hardly any side effects

[Biker88]

I have emphysema and my only treatment is inhalers, I only get the occasional steroids if I have a chest infection, for people with breathing problems steroids can save lives, if you get an adverse reaction to any meds best to see your GP.

[Romes54 in reply to Biker88]

Hi Biker88, I also have emphysema and find that steriods work for me and only have a rescue inhaler ie. Salamol which I find that I can be using more than I should, which inhaler have you been prescribed please

[Biker88 in reply to Romes54]

I have the Anoro Eliptar preventer and blue Salamol reliever, I also have a nebuliser with saline solution, and now I’m on ambulatory oxygen, but I do have chronic aspergillosis as well. I find with the oxygen I don’t need the blue inhaler quite so much

[Romes54 in reply to Biker88]

Thanks for getting back to me, keep well

[Falcon22 in reply to Biker88]

Cheers yes I am same as you only use steroids for chest infections...and only been ok myself and they have helped the breathing. They do thin the skin to tissue papers. Thank you for your reply

[Lutontown]

I used to be on a puffer which contained a steroid, and I reckon it thinned my skin. It was so easy to get a three corner tear in my arms or legs. My limbs are now covered in scars as a result. I was constantly seeing a nurse at the surgery, to disinfect and dress a wound. Since stopping that medication and avoiding steroids, I don't get torn skin anymore. Could be I'm less active, and more careful. I also stopped using a nasal spray when I found it contained a steroid. I'm pre-diabetic, and I found that one can be steroid induced diabetic.

[Falcon22 in reply to Lutontown]

Snap tissue paper skin too .. stay saff