I’ve been on prednisone for about 5 years - now on 6mg. I have never ever forgotten before! No idea how this happened but it did. I’m really worried about having an adrenal crisis! Do I need to do anything? Has this ever happened to any of you long term pred people? Sorry for the over use of exclamation marks but I’m in a state!
Bon
X
Here’s the advice from the NHS website nhs.uk/medicines/prednisolo...
If you still have concerns phone 111 or speak to your local pharmacist.
I suffer with severe adrenal insufficiency and have had a crisis that resulted in a stroke. I don’t say this to scare you.
If you are having a crisis you will have a number of symptoms increasingly worsening. Nausea, headaches, lightheadedness are my first symptoms. My blood pressure will then start to drop, and oukk look se speeds up. My crisis was what led to my adrenal insufficiency diagnosis, so was unaware of the fact he symptoms were building up and needed more steroids.
Now a days when I start to get symptoms I take an extra dose. I get low cortisol symptoms regularly when I overdo things, as I need to think for my adrenals and take extra. If you have taken your steroids since and feel ok you’ll be fine. If you still feel any of the answers mptojs I mentioned take extra. You only need between 3-5mg prednisolone daily to manage adrenal insufficiency normally, so if you do feel rough then a small updose should be sufficient. If you suspect you have AI I urge you to see gp for testing, as we have to carry an emergency intramuscular steroid injection at all times, in case we are vomiting , severely Ill or injured badly. It normally involves taking a blood sample between 8-9am before you take your steroids or any steroid inhalers. If it is low w you would be referred to an endocrinologist for a SST - short synacthen test, which shows if your adrenals are capable of producing cortisol when prompted. Unfortunately my levels are undetectable as my adrenals have severely atrophied, so I need steroids for life. Most times crisis can be averted by taking a bit extra, when we experience low symptoms. I regularly use my injections as I suffer severe migraines with repeated vomiting, but thankfully the injection stops the vomiting, and I can rehydrate at home. Please try not to worry, if you have since taken your steroids and gave no symptoms your fine 🤗
I take them every day but just call your GP and ask for clarification x
You’ll be fine. Just take your next dose as you would normally. Most people forget now and again and adrenal crises don’t happen with one missed dose of 6 mgs. Follow the advice bpeal has published. And breathe……..
I'm also on long-term prednisolone (5mg) & have on rare occasions missed a dose, when ill & unable to keep down any meds. Just the one day hasn’t had any effect on me, I dare say due to the low dose, I just take the dose as normal the following day. Thinking about it you'd probably have experienced symptoms by now if it was going to affect you at all so hopefully that will ease your understandable concerns. After all we aren't medically trained are we, so wouldn't ordinarily know if we'd react negatively, the first time of missing a dose anyhow. I feel similar with pregabalin & buprenorphine patches, how much longer than the one day would it take before having withdrawal symptoms. As such I always ensure I have enough to cover reordering & the time repeats can on occasion take to be approved by a GP & then filled by the chemists.
If you're still worried maybe asking your pharmacist would help?
thank you all for your kind responses. Panic abated!
good morning l asked my rheumy at my last appointment what to do if l forgot the pred he said to just take it when l remembered or the next day first thing. Also asked what to do if l was sick he said take when you can the same day when the nausea had calmed down
I don't have RA but my wife does, Iam on medication for other health issues, the other evening I mistakenly took another dose of my morning meds, I called 111 more or less straight away, an hour later I had a doctor on the phone, after I told her what meds I had doubled up on she insisted I went to hospital to get checked out which we did, all was ok luckily, but I would recommend to anyone get some help from 111, It can be a worry, so give them a call and take care
Eeek! Forgot to take my MTX - what do I do?
Eye problems with RA?
I almost forgot how lucky I am.
