I have asthma and i've been on prednisone for almost 4 years and?

Question

. want to quit taking prednisone , but can't . The side effects are awful, and are getting worse, but everytime I try to get off I can't breathe. Anyone have help or advice for me. Thank you!

Answer 1

That's terrible! I have asthma, too. Predinsone is really hard to get off of, I know you know that, but I can't imagine what kind of side effects you are having from it, I was only on two short courses of it years ago, and it really screwed me up.

Okay -- I am currently on the best treatment regimen I have ever been on. I have to take 500/50 advair 2x per day, singulair and zyrtec. Part of this is that all summer the allergens have been off the scale for me. I have hopes that I can reduce or even eliminate some of these meds this winter.

I have also been using a book recommended to me by two friends who both totally eliminated their asthma. The one friend committed to eliminating her allergy triggers in her home and diet, she was able to get her allergies under control with the same medicines I use. The other friend was able to move to natural dietary supplements, and practices daily breathing exercises, and she carries an emergency inhaler (like I do) but she rarely uses it.

Since you have been on predisone for so long, ask your doctor to help you get off of it. If they won't help you do this, find another doctor. The package insert for Advair even says "if you have been on steroids you need to be very careful while adjusting to advair.) So you definitely want someone to monitor you while you change your treatment protocol.

I think it's great that you want to get off prednisone. It may be harder to get it out of your system than to stay off of it long term, it's that adjustment period where you are vulnerable that is so hard. But if you can get past it, there are better treatments available now.

The name if the book I use is called " Reversing Asthma" Richard M. Firshein DO. I think this book is great, I haven't been able to put it completely into practice yet, but I have seen other people do it. Maybe you can too!

Answer 2

Talk to your doctor and ask about introducing you to an Advair Diskus. It is a inhalant that combines a steroid like prednisone to keep down the inflammation and a long acting bronchodilator that you use twice a day. I've had asthma for 45 years and was always either on prednisone or weaning off of it until I started using Advair about 5 years ago and I can't tell you how wonderful it has made my life. It's a widely used medication for asthmatics and if you type it in your internet browser you'll find tons of information on it. Prednisone causes so many side effects to different parts of your body. Good luck~oh yeah, since I've been using Advair Diskus regularly, I don't have asthma attacks like before or need to use my emergency inhaler as often.

Answer 3

Are you referring to oral prednisone? Orally taken steroid preparation has more side effect naturally since it is systemically metabolized. Don't forget that orally administered steroids should be tapered when the decision to withdraw is required because you have to prevent the occurence of what we call as Cushing syndrome. Discuss with your doctor regarding locally administered steroids taken in puffs through the mouth which is actually even more convenient and much lesser side effects and can be brought outside your home in case you would need it. Just watch out for oral candidiasis infection that may occur but the chances are very nil when you rinse you mouth by way of gurgling after taking it.

Steroids are good for asthmatic patients because it decreases inflammation in the bronchial tree thus promoting a decrease in mucus production that will result into a cleaner breathing in a clear bronchus thereby increasing its patency. But you have not mentioned if you have been prescribed bronchodilators which could also be of great help especially in acute attacks.

Answer 4

Get off the prednisone, its a psycotic drug and besides giving one osteoprosis you can get cataracts and failed kidneys. I have had cateracts and have osteorperosis. It also makes you short tempered. Singular taken once every 24 hours and Theophillan with the alupent inhaler should treat you just fine. I was on prednisone for 12 years and I weened myself off it. Now I refuse to take it, even if I have an asthma attack. The clue is weening yourself off, cut down to the very minimum slowly until your taking one 10mg pill every three days. It can be done, it must be done.

Answer 5

Talk to your doctor about other medication choices to help your asthma. Some doctors may use prednisone every other day to decrease side effects. You should not do anything without discussion with your doctor.

Answer 6

I know a person who had asthma for 7years and it got really bad at times. Then we found out about a machine called the Power Plate. This machine was designed for astronaughts. Whenever the astronaughts were for longer then three months in space, theyre bone density started to decrease. They therefore designed this machine and found numerous other positive results. Most gym's have it because it also increases muscles. The friend of mine with asthma joined me on this machine and is TOTALLY asthma free. Please go and look at the website and read about this machine. www.power-plate.com

Answer 7

There are treatments, other than predinisone for asthma.. May need to get a second opinion on your condition and appropriate treatment..

Answer 8

i hate prednisone

Answer 9

start drinking hot or warm water it will help you

Answer 10

I am just take prednisone for 3 months and only 1 week per month. Is that bad?