About to start a course of antibiotics

[jinoadby]

I am now down to 2.5mg of Pred and was going to start a taper to 2.0 mg in two weeks, but I am about to start a course of antibiotics for a bacterial infection in my foot. I obviously won't start the taper now until I am well over the antibiotics, but I don't know if I should increase the Pred for a while or stay where I am. I would rather not increase unless I really should, but I must admit that the infection is making me feel very tired and achy.

I was going to put this question to the Doc I saw this morning, but I trust your advise over his.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

but I must admit that the infection is making me feel very tired and achy.

Would say that's probably adrenals struggling - so definitely no tapering for a while...I'd stay at 2.5mg for at least a month or so, to enable the adrenals to catch up a bit more.

However, if you do feel really rubbish then you may medical advice -so GP or if necessary ring 111 stating on low dose of steroids and concerned about adrenal crisis. Hopefully that won't be required.

..and hope the abx gets to grips with infection.

[piglette]

As DorsetLady says, stick to the 2.5mg for the time being. There is no reason to increase the pred at the moment. It sounds nasty getting a bacterial infection in your foot, what have you been up to?

[jinoadby in reply to piglette]

I am prone to fungal infections and I think that this is one that got away

[piglette in reply to jinoadby]

Hope your foot improves soon.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The Pituitary Foundation rules for emergencies is here

pituitary.org.uk/informatio...

and the instructions are:

Antibiotic treatment for infections

Action to take: Double all normal doses for duration of antibiotics (usually 5-7 days)

So you should take 5mg/day until the abx are finished. You can then drop back to 2,5mg without any tapering.

[jinoadby in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you all, I will follow all your instructions to the letter.

[Sophiestree]

I had a phone consultation with my Rheumy last week and he said the same as PMRPro's post from pituitary site, to increase during antibiotics and then drop back down. Didn't know that until now. Maybe it is on lower doses - I'm at 4.5 at the moment.

[jinoadby in reply to Sophiestree]

I vaguely remember reading this when I first joined this site nearly 4 years ago now, but because I didn't need the info then I couldn't remember what the rules were. I don't know how I would have managed all these years withou this forum they are a lifesaver.

[Sophiestree in reply to jinoadby]

100% agree. This forum has kept me sane and got me to calm down from my initial frenzy and panic.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jinoadby]

They have been tweaked in the last year or two - hence those new links.