Good morning all, I have taken Prednisolone along with other medication for nearly all my 50 year life from being on a maintenance dose of 5mg a day to 40mg when I have been hospitalised with chest infections. I know it’s a double edged sword and comes with a whole list of side effects such as a moon shaped face and sometimes a swollen stomach not sleeping. I just wondered how everyone else copes with the daily problems it can bring and if anyone has any hacks to share.
Kind regards
Joe x
A difficult one to answer. The BLF advice center may be able to help you. The GP can help with advice on this . Have some detailed questions ready for him to answer . A good source of help are the local RESP team whom the GP can refer you to. Good luck in your search and of course never give up. The folk on this site are all very understanding and you can discuss anything with them on line.
Dan
I started on 30mg for 4? or 6? months about 10 years ago, gradually weaning down to 5mg over several months, so I have been on 5mg for many years, but going up to 30mg for 5 days if I get a cold or chest infection. I don't find any trouble with 5mg; I have read that 5mg is much the same as our endocrine glands produce naturally. My tip is: when I was on 30mg and took them in the morning I just could not get to sleep and was often still half awake at 4 in the morning. I gradually took them later in the day until I was taking them at bedtime and I got to sleep quite quickly. I still take my 5mg pill at bedtime. Also the consultant gave me lansaprazole to protect my stomach lining as prednisolone can affect it.
Thank you for your reply
5 years ago, almost to the day, in April 2013, I was hospitalised with an asthma attack, but whilst there they took my blood glucose levels, which were very high at 18.1, and done the hba1c test for diabetes.
It came back positive and I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. At 37 years old.
Why am I telling you this? Because it wasn’t caused by any of the usual factors (obesity etc). I was told categorically by a diabetes specialist nurse they sent to see me, the reason behind my diagnosis was that it was a side effect of all the prednisolone I’d taken over the years to combat my asthma attacks and chest infections.
Prednisolone - fixes one problem, but the side effects just give you so much more to worry about. So now I only take them if I’m very bad with chest infections - as in so bad that a few lemsips won’t fix!
Thank you
Thank you from me too. I had been aware that prednisolone can cause diabetes and have had two tests over the years, last one about 4 years ago, and was OK, but I had forgotton about it. Thank you so much for the reminder.
I’ve been on them for over 20 years for chest infections. 40mm. X 5 days The only side iexperience is not being able to sleep at night.
Thank you
Hi Joseph260268,
I haven't got a great deal to add to what's already been said, just wanted to say hi to someone else on pred long term, 4 years myself down to 7mg can't go any lower without getting problems with joint aches and adrenals etc so my consultant seems happy enough with that - I have developed osteopenia though!
Best wishes always ☺
Thank you for your reply
Joe hi , l read your comments with interest , the side effects of steroids compered with Nintedanib which lv just come off, were mild would you believe. take care Rodders 1941
Thank you for your reply
Working with a resident with Covid
Cost of living crisis
transplant with no social support?
intense pain on breathing in on one side of chest
