provision of steroid emergency card

[AnniesRyder5]

My gp record has been updated and admittedly I’ve been stuck on 4mg for months so maybe that’s why provision of a steroid emergency card is now not required.

But if that’s the case why then all the pressure to reduce to zero?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

No matter what dose you are on, and even for up to a year after you’ve come off, you should carry a steroid card or a medical bracelet etc to alert others in an emergency situation.

Was this meant to be a reply to a previous post on subject?

[AnniesRyder5 in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi DL

I was looking for a test result and instead I saw this note on my record 😡

[PMRpro Ambassador]

At a low dose after longterm pred I would say that carrying a steroid emergency card is as important as ever - if not more important. 4mg is plenty to suppress natural production of cortisol but not enough to deal with an emergency situation and you could still be at risk of an adrenal crisis.

[PhilFreeToAsk]

I just bought 2 from here for £2.99. pituitary.org.uk/product/nh...

I was not going to waste my time by talking to medical professionals about this. IMHO theses cards should be automatically

given to PMR patients.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PhilFreeToAsk]

Many moons ago, my first one [the original blue one] was issued by the hospital where the steroids were first prescribed...after that I got them from pharmacy when required . and as a member of PMRGCAuk I get a replacement [still did this year] every time my membership renews..

Not sure if the charity will/do send out the Emergency Card - as it should be a one off - whereas the blue one has room to amend doses, so is an ongoing record.

But agree all patients on steroids should receive card with their first prescription.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PhilFreeToAsk]

They ARE available for download by anyone and some practices do it for patients who can't manage it themself - all I can see on the page linked are free of charge, what cost £2.99?

The blue card is a record of current dose and dosage history - and many GPs and pharmacists do carry them.

[PhilFreeToAsk in reply to PMRpro]

You can download from here endocrinology.org/clinical-....

As I thought it was important to carry a card on me and I won't be seeing my GP until after Xmas, I decided to buy them. Easier to purchase a couple than downloading and printing onto paper.

I carry both on me: the blue card and the emergency card.

[Koalajane in reply to PhilFreeToAsk]

Where did you buy them from please

[PhilFreeToAsk in reply to Koalajane]

I bought them from The Pituitary Foundation healthunlocked.com/redirect.... Others have said that they maybe available at your pharmacy.

[Koalajane in reply to PhilFreeToAsk]

My husband downloaded mine, filled it in and laminated it for me

[PhilFreeToAsk in reply to Koalajane]

I wish I could have done that. Sounds an excellent solution.

[DogAgilityObsessed in reply to PMRpro]

It's the postage that costs

[Temeraire]

Thanks for that info. I’ve just ordered one too. I’ve downloaded to my phone too but having a hard copy is excellent.