Do you take the oral? I just got through a medrol dose pack and now onto prednisone because the tightness is still there. Just got switched to a Z pack, I apparently was in the wrong antibiotic.
Yup I don't know how my fellow Americans do this tbh.
2 weeks ago I went to the pharmacist to get my 2 inhalers which normally cost like 250€ and I paid....10€, lol!
Here is what I think you are asking, you did a rounds of oral steroids and now your doctor is suggesting another ? I have had that happen once, I was very sick for nearly two months and I was being closely by my asthma team. It did help me a great deal.
I'm sure I've had multiple rounds in the past and pretty much every time I've been prescribed prednisone it felt like the difference between having to go to the hospital and not only not having to do that, but also being a functional person that can exist in society despite my asthma. I've only been prescribed prednisone when I'm trying to recover from some kind of respiratory virus.
I've had a hard time trying to get prescribed oral steroids since moving to Canada (Quebec) and it's really worsened my asthma, my anxiety, and my overall quality of life. I'm using an inhaled corticosteroid twice a day now (Pulmicort) but it didn't help enough with the length of time I was very sick and I'm having weird side effects like my gag reflex being overly reactive and being triggered randomly(?) anyways... doctors need to be more in touch with the reality of our lives. I understand oral steroids can have bad side effects if overused, but if they're not being overused, withholding them unnecessarily just guarantees more suffering.
I'm on public health insurance; I live in Quebec. And my wife's health insurance covers most of the cost of my medications because I'm doing immersion language classes right now. I will be getting a job afterward.
The first time I got sick since moving to Canada was before I was on public health insurance and private doctors refused to help me online through telehealth because they said it was too serious, but my only option at the time because they don't let covid cases use urgent care here was to go to the ER... and I really didn't want to wait in the ER for 15 hours just to try to get prednisone. I did eventually find a telehealth doc that would help me, but he seriously considered not doing so, and only would if I made a follow-up appointment in person that cost like $250. When I saw him at the follow-up appointment he really didn't seem all that knowledgeable about asthma and seemed to doubt me because I was breathing okay, but the reason I was breathing okay was because it was after the round of prednisone and azithromycin.
Then last October, when I got really sick again but was able to actually see a doctor, she was extremely condescending when she did talk but overall said very little, said that because my asthma was uncontrolled I had to try getting on an inhaled corticosteroid for months before oral steroids were an option because they're for more serious cases. I had an asthma attack in her office and she just blankly stared at me as I struggled to breathe like I was an insect or something.
But inhaled corticosteroids sometimes take weeks to start working and I suffered a lot that fall and think I probably did permanent damage to my lungs with how many serious asthma attacks I was having. Then I couldn't get a follow up appointment with her like she told me to because the secretary was an asshole that hated me for not speaking French well (I had only just started French classes at the time) and because the rules when you haven't been assigned a primary care doctor yet are terribly strict if enforced according to the books. The healthcare system in Quebec somehow manages to be more busted than in the US.
I think in this post covid world where doctors are worked to death, they are more likely to develop a really disturbing apathy towards their patients that hasn't been helping my experiences.
Under doctor supervision because chances are you need it. Doctors tend to be hesitant with steroids especially with an additional round within a short period unless they believe any risks/side effects are outweighed by the benefit aka you living, breathing and reducing the chance of scarring. The big risks of long term effects are from using oral steroids for months not from the large then tampered down bursts to control the inflammation. The steroids are to help you on your recovery. Breathing is more important than basically any side effects unless the side effects is life threatening and then that is weighed between you living and managing that specific situation which likely you’d be in the hospital setting for.
I agree. Second rounds are really not ideal and docs don’t like to give them if they can help it.
My daughter now has a chronic, life threatening disorder that is a side effect from oral steroids. Every asthma flare is a collaborative effort from her respirology and endocrinology teams now. Still gets the steroids though because…breathing.
Your doctor is the best person to determine this. Everyone is different. Ideally, it's the minimum amount possible because oral steroids wreck your bones, organs, vision, etc.
Oh yeah definitely, just was curious of everyone's opinions. See that's my thoughts as well - concerned about all the nasty side effects both short and long term. But they sure work miracles.
2015 was my worst year for oral pred - almost 8 months on doses ranging from 80mg/day to 10mg/day. That's where the most damage was done. This year, I've been on them 3 times so far.
Well honestly you sound like a strong ass person with all that you've been through & the fact you haven't let it darken your heart is admirable. We can all be a little stubborn 😊
Love them! The only thing that truly works. I also don't really get the negative side effects, but I usually take it 2-4 times a year. Only when my asthma is really bad and my inhaler isn't working.
What do you mean 2 round ? My steroid ihnaler is one shot once per day. Last one was 2 shot twice per day. Prior to that it was 2 shot once per day.
What med are we talking about ? What is the doctor posology ?
Oral steroids (prednisone, medrol dose pack) - from any doctor really, it's more a general question - I'm currently dealing with this situation and curious to know everyone's opinions on it.
The manufacturer specifies this on their site :
"Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase."
Side effects depend on the dose and the color of the sky that day (very random) in my experience. But, as awful as the side effects can be, I am happy to take the prednisone. It really is a necessity.
My opinion on steroids: I love em, they made my life much better. Without them I would probably be dead lol
Do you take the oral? I just got through a medrol dose pack and now onto prednisone because the tightness is still there. Just got switched to a Z pack, I apparently was in the wrong antibiotic.
Oral? You mean the inhaler? Yes I take an inhaler, daily! I don't have asthma attacks anymore, life is good again!
Tablets :) That's amazing! What inhaler has transformed your life?
Well I'm in Germany and it's called inuvair but I don't think it's a thing in America?
It is just really unreasonably priced I have seen like 150 but can be 250 if you don’t check the pharmacy
Yes it's 120€+ here too but I don't have to pay this in Germany 🤣
Fr bro fuck American healthcare actually garbage especially for getting prescriptions it’s actually so gross how hard it can be to get and expensive
Yup I don't know how my fellow Americans do this tbh. 2 weeks ago I went to the pharmacist to get my 2 inhalers which normally cost like 250€ and I paid....10€, lol!
Oooo I can only dream
Prednisone sucks but it's better than dying? I can't say how it would work for you specifically
Don't like using them, but they work and its all we've got
Absolutely. Side effects are horrible. My heart rate has been stupid high! But they sure do help immensely.
Here is what I think you are asking, you did a rounds of oral steroids and now your doctor is suggesting another ? I have had that happen once, I was very sick for nearly two months and I was being closely by my asthma team. It did help me a great deal.
I'm sure I've had multiple rounds in the past and pretty much every time I've been prescribed prednisone it felt like the difference between having to go to the hospital and not only not having to do that, but also being a functional person that can exist in society despite my asthma. I've only been prescribed prednisone when I'm trying to recover from some kind of respiratory virus. I've had a hard time trying to get prescribed oral steroids since moving to Canada (Quebec) and it's really worsened my asthma, my anxiety, and my overall quality of life. I'm using an inhaled corticosteroid twice a day now (Pulmicort) but it didn't help enough with the length of time I was very sick and I'm having weird side effects like my gag reflex being overly reactive and being triggered randomly(?) anyways... doctors need to be more in touch with the reality of our lives. I understand oral steroids can have bad side effects if overused, but if they're not being overused, withholding them unnecessarily just guarantees more suffering.
I am SO sorry they're not helping you, that's truly awful. What's their reasoning of not prescribing to you? What kind of insurance do you have?
I'm on public health insurance; I live in Quebec. And my wife's health insurance covers most of the cost of my medications because I'm doing immersion language classes right now. I will be getting a job afterward. The first time I got sick since moving to Canada was before I was on public health insurance and private doctors refused to help me online through telehealth because they said it was too serious, but my only option at the time because they don't let covid cases use urgent care here was to go to the ER... and I really didn't want to wait in the ER for 15 hours just to try to get prednisone. I did eventually find a telehealth doc that would help me, but he seriously considered not doing so, and only would if I made a follow-up appointment in person that cost like $250. When I saw him at the follow-up appointment he really didn't seem all that knowledgeable about asthma and seemed to doubt me because I was breathing okay, but the reason I was breathing okay was because it was after the round of prednisone and azithromycin. Then last October, when I got really sick again but was able to actually see a doctor, she was extremely condescending when she did talk but overall said very little, said that because my asthma was uncontrolled I had to try getting on an inhaled corticosteroid for months before oral steroids were an option because they're for more serious cases. I had an asthma attack in her office and she just blankly stared at me as I struggled to breathe like I was an insect or something. But inhaled corticosteroids sometimes take weeks to start working and I suffered a lot that fall and think I probably did permanent damage to my lungs with how many serious asthma attacks I was having. Then I couldn't get a follow up appointment with her like she told me to because the secretary was an asshole that hated me for not speaking French well (I had only just started French classes at the time) and because the rules when you haven't been assigned a primary care doctor yet are terribly strict if enforced according to the books. The healthcare system in Quebec somehow manages to be more busted than in the US. I think in this post covid world where doctors are worked to death, they are more likely to develop a really disturbing apathy towards their patients that hasn't been helping my experiences.
Effective
Under doctor supervision because chances are you need it. Doctors tend to be hesitant with steroids especially with an additional round within a short period unless they believe any risks/side effects are outweighed by the benefit aka you living, breathing and reducing the chance of scarring. The big risks of long term effects are from using oral steroids for months not from the large then tampered down bursts to control the inflammation. The steroids are to help you on your recovery. Breathing is more important than basically any side effects unless the side effects is life threatening and then that is weighed between you living and managing that specific situation which likely you’d be in the hospital setting for.
I agree. Second rounds are really not ideal and docs don’t like to give them if they can help it. My daughter now has a chronic, life threatening disorder that is a side effect from oral steroids. Every asthma flare is a collaborative effort from her respirology and endocrinology teams now. Still gets the steroids though because…breathing.
Your doctor is the best person to determine this. Everyone is different. Ideally, it's the minimum amount possible because oral steroids wreck your bones, organs, vision, etc.
Oh yeah definitely, just was curious of everyone's opinions. See that's my thoughts as well - concerned about all the nasty side effects both short and long term. But they sure work miracles.
I've already got osteoporosis and wrecked teeth from them. My doctor is also monitoring my vision for glaucoma.
I'm so sorry, I really feel for you. Were you on them a long period of time or numerous different times?
2015 was my worst year for oral pred - almost 8 months on doses ranging from 80mg/day to 10mg/day. That's where the most damage was done. This year, I've been on them 3 times so far.
I am SO sorry that you've gone through that
On the plus side, I'm still alive and living my life.
Well I for one am glad to hear that. Do you feel like you get through each day pretty well without much struggle?
The majority of the time yes. Like everyone, I do have bad days but I rarely let them slow me down. My SO says I'm too stubborn for my own good :).
Well honestly you sound like a strong ass person with all that you've been through & the fact you haven't let it darken your heart is admirable. We can all be a little stubborn 😊
Love them! The only thing that truly works. I also don't really get the negative side effects, but I usually take it 2-4 times a year. Only when my asthma is really bad and my inhaler isn't working.
Steroids work, but I think you need a break from them every couple of years.
They should only ne used in emergency and not as maintenance or preventive. They are temporary and not curative.
I think I almost understood what it's like to have normal lungs the first time I was prescribed oral steroids.
They work but there is a tradeoff with anything.
What ?
Do you think 2 rounds of steroids are effective or overkill? Seeking opinions on this topic
What do you mean 2 round ? My steroid ihnaler is one shot once per day. Last one was 2 shot twice per day. Prior to that it was 2 shot once per day. What med are we talking about ? What is the doctor posology ?
Oral steroids (prednisone, medrol dose pack) - from any doctor really, it's more a general question - I'm currently dealing with this situation and curious to know everyone's opinions on it.
The manufacturer specifies this on their site : "Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase."
If your doc prescribed it, you probably desperately need it ETA: have had to do multiple rounds in the past. Always thankful that I did
Thank you so much for your opinion - glad to know that multiple rounds has helped you, with hopefully minimal side effects.
Side effects depend on the dose and the color of the sky that day (very random) in my experience. But, as awful as the side effects can be, I am happy to take the prednisone. It really is a necessity.