using predsone

[jimgreg]

I've been on and off most my life with cortisone shots.,.im also copd of 5 yrs now..I don't do to bad till gets cold like 35 or less..anyways my doc started me on low dose predsone 10mgs 14 days. Went seen her yesterday wants me to up to 20mgs 7 days then taper. The pred seems to help but makes my breathing tighter at times,.,. The other side effects I get as well..not like I've read..i been on Xanax 11 yrs that helps..at times though I get tighter down deep, it may be a anxty?  sorry about my spelling..

does pred make you at times worse than you were to start with??

tell me your experinces.thank you

[jimgreg]

nightmare on elm street, I agree..i need to know if I need to taper, its weird how my doc did me..started me at 10mgs 7 days, that didn't do it,so she gave me 20 mgs for 5 days then back to 10mgs,with no other direction's from there..I've been on it total 21 days today..i,m not doing the 20mgs for 5 days,im doing 15mgs 5 days, then back to 10 mgs 5 days and then 5mgs at 7 days then jump off. The pharmacy says I don't need to taper this little time, but my doc says never to just stop..she's gone till tuseday..im on my own..i need to know if the way im going to taper is the way to go??  yes I've been on pred and more cortisone..I've had asthma all my life.I've never went over 7 days of 10mgs..besides the med pack. Also the huge shots at the ER..im on Xanax it does help the shakes..i do eat a lot more..i avg 1300 cals aday,was 1100,was 246 now 228..95% people that take this pred wished they didn't. But its a great med for major health problems..in a short period of time..get this I only have 1 kidney,borned this way..so were is my second adrenal gland?? I had my cortisol checked was 7.1 reff range  starts 8.5 morning that is..sorry about spelling. Thanks friend.

[caregiver222]

Prednisone is a nightmare on Elm Street. The immune system is depressed. There is a much higher probability of developing a malignancy and infection after a prolonged use of the drug. The drug also causes swelling and personality changes, particuliarly anger and verbal outbursts.

I am not going to comment on the drug treatment protocol. There are many differences of opinion.

On the rare ocasions when I get a really twitchy lung, I bring the  problem down with three days of  20/10/5. I am not a happy camper with long-term low-dose prednisone, however in some cases this is necessary to sustain life.