Can a persistent cough be caused by steroids?

[Deemar]

For a long time, years on and off, I have a cough. Looking back I do wonder if it can be connected with the steroids.

I have had a lung X-ray which was clear. I stopped smoking, 6 years ago, I was never a heavy smoker and didn’t cough when I smoked.

My doctor seems mystified and has ruled out a gastric reflex problem.

Next step was Ventolin which didn’t make a difference so allergy was ruled out.

He gave me a cough suppressing medicine which worked beautifully but I couldn’t take it for more than two weeks.

It doesn’t affect me at night but on and off during the day I need to cough and sometimes I bring up phlegm which is clear.

I’m clutching at straws I know but I have started to wonder if it could be a side effect of the steroids.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi

I think quite a lot of tablets can cause a cough - I guess it’s something to do with the fillers added.

If it’s just a irritant and you have been tested for anything nasty and hot the all clear it may be something you have to live with. Hopefully if it is Pred then it will recede as you reduce. In the meanwhile just keep throat soothed and lubricated.

[Deemar in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for your reply. I’m down to 21/2 msg but the cough hasn’t improved. I drink a lot of water and don’t have a sore throat. Maybe something I have to live with but am seeing GP again to have another chat with him.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Deemar]

It’s strange that it doesn’t affect you at night which is good news I guess. Which make me think it’s not reflux- but something else. Does it occur at any particular time? I.e to coincide with tablets?

[Deemar in reply to DorsetLady]

I often have to have a cough when I become upright in the morning. Then mid afternoon after I’ve had a sit down and relax and get up again. So no correlation with taking meds which I do after breakfast.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Deemar]

How odd. Hopefully you’ll get an answer. If you do let us know.

[Patricia157]

Hello Deemar

I came off steroids for PMR In January this year and that seemed to coincide with me starting with cough and phlegm issues. It also woke me up at night and I had to get up two or three times.

A nurse practitioner I saw in April prescribed a saline nose spray which did help a bit. I saw a doctor in August and was sent for a chest X-ray. Result all clear. Still the problem continues. I have been recommended to try garlic pearls by a retired matron here. I am still in my first week but she said keep taking as it should help in time. I will give it a go and see the doctor again if it remains. I have also bought a wedge cushion to lift my mattress up and this has helped at night.

I have never smoked and never had this problem before.

I too would be interested if anyone else has had this and how they resolved it.

[SheffieldJane]

Well me too. I had this mysterious intensely irritating cough, often a blocked nose and attacks of coughing choking and sneezing that knocked me about for hours. I think it was a Pred reaction. Now I am on 6 mgs it rarely happens.

[Mrs-CJ]

I too have a chronic cough. I believe mine is caused by the prednisone.....one of the side effects is acid reflux symptoms. I’m wondering if you have a mild case of acid reflux.....not enough to show up to your doctor but enough to cause your coughing.

There is lots of info online about acid reflux, and silent acid reflux. I raised the head of my bed about 2”, and I watch my diet. My cough is better for sure.

[Deemar]

Thanks for reply. I will explore this possibility again with GP. He seemed puzzled by the fact that the cough doesn’t trouble me at night.

[Mrs-CJ in reply to Deemar]

I don’t cough during the night....or if I do it doesn’t wake me up! Some days I have lots of “throat clearing “ and others it’s actual light coughing.

[Telian]

I got a dry cough and sounded as if I’d got a cold starting as throat was always gravelly when I started Pred in March 2014 - am down to 4.5mg now and although it’s much better I still have it. Doesn’t keep me awake unless I’ve got a chest infection. I’ve had many x-rays due to chest infections every winter since on Pred - always have crackles on chest now even when no infection! As a non-smoker it’s baffled me. Doctor doesn’t seem phased by it as long as I feel well! I know we’re all different but it seems to be quite common. Keep getting checked out though in case you need treatment as things can change from one day to the next.

Not sure where you are but if in UK I take over the counter Pholcodine cough medicine, as recommended by GP, he says codine is more effective for coughs. Don’t take it continuously though. ATB.

[Deemar in reply to Telian]

I’m in France. The medicine that my doctor gave me was codeine based and he said, as did the advice sheet, not to take it for more than two weeks. It worked wonderfully. How often do you take it?

[Telian in reply to Deemar]

The same no more than a week usually, if it continues after two weeks I don’t continue with it- I do all the usual gargling with salt water then GP as it’s usually a chest infection by then.

[Hindags]

Sorry to hear about that annoying cough. When I had untreated gerd I coughed all the time. I even coughed up blood due to aspirated acid from my esophagus into my lungs. It took 6 years to get a diagnosis and it was a pulmonary specialist who first suggested acid reflux based on a bronchoscopy. I never had heartburn but I did have other gastric symptoms such ask bloating and burping, headache behind my eyes, yawning, all timed to eating. An acid perfusion test diagnosed the reflux. An endoscopy diagnosed a hiatal hernia.

Your coughing in the morning and after a rest, (maybe in bed?) makes me wonder if you are dealing with some postnasal drip that accumulates in your windpipe or lungs and causes the cough. That seems to be what happens to me. Secretions are always clear suggesting allergy to me, but no specific allergy has been diagnosed. It causes a slight hoarseness and sometimes cough. It is inconsistent, comes and goes. Sometimes I just need to clear my throat. Lots of clear warm fluid helps. Also, for me guaifenesin, ( generic mucinex) really helps. Guaifenesin is supposed to help with chest congestion not post nasal drip. However for me but it helps thin the secretions and helps things drain (I don't know where they go) and I don't cough or get hoarse.

[Deemar in reply to Hindags]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I too after research on the internet wonder if it’s post nasal drip. I’ll will explore and try mucinex.