Side Effects

[budgies4]

Has anybody had Oral Thrush side effect of Prednisone ? And how do you get rid of it without going to to the Drs for more medication. Thank you

[BethCH]

Hi,

I use inhalers and oral thrush can be a side effect even if I rinse and brush. So I have found the best treatments are by prescription. Nystatin - a fluid to rinse and swallow. Or fluconazole tablet if it has gotten bad (it is an antifungal). If it is just in the mouth and not down the throat and reasonably mild then daktarin gel OTC from pharmacy may work for you. Although it is not cheap for a tiny tube that lasts a few days!

If your GP surgery is flexible, they might do you a script without seeing you. A good pharmacist can check to confirm it is thrush too. Might be worth trying the daktarin for a few days. As always check contra indications with other meds and note that i have no medical training, just experience. Good luck 😊

[budgies4 in reply to BethCH]

Thank you Beth 👌

[SnazzyD]

Sadly it’s a common complaint. It isn’t the Pred itself but the fact your immune system is suppressed which is the aim of the game right now. People usually find relief from prescribed oral treatments. The other thing you can do is watch your carbohydrate intake because Pred causes increase in blood sugar so if you eat many carbs as well your blood glucose levels go up even more thrush thrives on. You could see if your local pharmacy has signed up for the Pharmacy First scheme to save a GP visit.

[BethCH in reply to SnazzyD]

Unfortunately oral thrush is not ‘on the list’ in England. So annoying cos it easily solved and diagnosed by a pharmasist

[SnazzyD in reply to BethCH]

Really!? That’s surprising.

[BethCH in reply to SnazzyD]

Yeah, tried it last time I had oral thrush, pharmacist could diagnose but only give me daktarin without script. But of course daktarin was one of the ones they couldn’t get for love nor money so ended up going to minor injuries just for a script - no GP appts available for 6 weeks. 🤦‍♀️ With a bit of luck, the list will expand in time. Tried the whole pharmacy on line thing too - same reply.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

With difficulty! But they tend not to be long duration medication. Providing you clear it out properly with something like Nystatin that can be it.

Cutting sugar and simple carbs and changing or disinfecting your toothbrush with Milton also helps.

[BethCH]

Also, plain yoghurt will ease the discomfort but not cure it 😊

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I did early days on GCA doses… a couple of courses of nystatin sorted it… never returned..

[suzy1959]

My husband gets it with his inhaler. If it hasn’t got as far as being thrush, he finds a mouthwash after taking the drug prevents it developing .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to suzy1959]

Was he not told to rinse his mouth out with water after using his inhaler? That is often enough - and better for your mouth than mouthwash as such.

[agingfeminist]

nystatin (on prescription)..very successful and innocuos...best treated asap. Some of us become very susceptible to fungal infections due to the pred knowcking out our immune system...the fungal infection I got became systemic and need to be treated by some horrible anti-fungals.

[Viveka]

You could try garlic. Lots online about how best to take it. Apparently works upstairs and down.

[Numptybrain]

I always use corsidol mouthwash after brushing, never had thrush and I’m on fostair 200 and prednisone, it’s just natural to me now as I’ve done this for years.

Good luck

Wendy xx

[budgies4 in reply to Numptybrain]

Thank you 👌

[Shadow35]

You should go get it check because it can spread in other part that can be fatal for a people with a weak immune systeme. I am on nystatin right now. It help but it's not gone after 8 days. You can try a mix of water and bicarbonate the soude. Check for a receipe online. If you don't have any health issus it's suppose to go away after 2 week by it own.

[Athas17]

When my husband went for an oral biopsy he was turned down because his heart rate dropped too low. Subsequently, his Cardiologist looked in his mouth and said it was a fungus. He suggested neem oil and it worked in just a few days. I would not use it more than that because it is a pesticide.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Athas17]

Seems a useful item!

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....