steroid advice

[Reddev]

I have had a very bad cold for over two weeks cough has become unbearable… saw doctor today. Has prescribed prednisolone 30 mgs for 5 days…can I then go straight back to my 2mgs I take daily.

I have been given antibiotics as well.

thank you all in advance

[yogabonnie]

I am surprised he would prescribe that much for a cold! or any at all. Prednisone doesnt get rid of viruses.... what did he say?? or maybe I missed something. Hope you feel MUCH better soon! Antibiotics will help if it has become bronchitis or some infection.

[Reddev in reply to yogabonnie]

Maybe not worded the question very well. I do have a nasty chest infection. My main concern was .. could I go straight back down to my 2mgs of prednisolone. Thank you for replying.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes - stop taking 30mg, start back on 2mg. It is common to give a pred dose like that alongside abx these days, especially if the chest and cough is really bad. It reduces the congestion in the lungs quickly and reduces the risk of a pneumonia developing.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Would say that 30mg is a bit OTT, but as it’s only for 5 days it’s manageable and hopefully helps, he’s obviously worried it might be more that ‘just a cold’.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Doses like that are to stop it becoming more than just a cold if you are bad enough to justify abx!

[Reddev in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry .. should have said my cold has turned into a nasty chest infection. Thank you I will go too my normal dose of 2mgs after I’ve finished the 5 days of 30mgs.

[Miacaro45 in reply to Reddev]

That makes more sense. Feel better.

[BettyE]

One of my neighbours has had exactly the same experience; long lasting severe cold and an exhausting cough. She is now on her fourth day of ABs and steroids , sorry, don't know the dose and is slowly improving.

About twelve years ago I had an allergic reaction to penicillin and was upped from 2 to 20mgs of pred for five days and then straight back to 2 .

[Reddev in reply to BettyE]

Thank you. Obviously what I thought was a simple cold has turned into a nasty chest infection.

[Preacherball]

Have you (or a doctor) considered the possibility that the chest infection/respiratory issues you've experienced are not the result of a viral infection, but are caused by GCA itself? The reason I ask is that I have struggled with this same issue since I was diagnosed in the summer of 2021. I do fine, until I get one of these infections which you describe, including a terrible cough. I'm going through one now. After a week of misery, fever, and no marked inprovement, I finally decided to do a five day course of 40mg pred. I have been completely off pred. and Acemera since last summer, so this is a dsappointment. My rheumy left his organization, and I have an appointmnt in March with a new one. So, I'm kind of left hanging in the wind until then.

[Reddev in reply to Preacherball]

I do have asthma as well so no I’ve not considered