Itchy eyes, Prednisone

[eyeguy]

I am 59 and allergic to dust mites. Although I have been generally better the last couple years with fewer long-term episodes, the attacks I get are extreme and severe. My eyes itch, itch, itch! I also feel miserable and am easily irritated. The nose, throat and ears also itch. Big time headackes also.

No amount of new or old anti-histamine medication works. All types of eyedrops have been tried and are useless. Immunization also did not work. Nothing worked except prednisone and of course it worked great.

For the past couple of years I would have 2 episodes a year (6 mo. apart) and my allergist would usually prescribe a 7 to 10 day course starting with 40 mg x 2 days, 30 mg x 2 days etc., etc.

Question: Since this year has been tough with an extreme episode each month for the past three, what are the implications of these short burst prednisone treatments? What would be an acceptable frequency of treatment?

I am not about to take this stuff long term nor would I consider steroid eyedrops. However, these treatments usually get me "over the hump" and make life a lot better.

Thanks for your help,
Itchy Eye Guy

[National Jewish]

The real question you are asking relates to the potential for side effects of the steroids.  Taking prednisone for 7 to 10 days 2 or 3 months in a row has a significant potential for side effects for the treatment of a non-life-threatening problem.  It is much safer to use inhaled nasal steroids, anti-allergic eye drops and antihistamines if you can.  Being uncomfortable for several days beats high blood pressure, an ulcer etc.
Please read our Corticosteroids MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/corticosteroids.html and our Allergies to Dust Mites MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/mites.html for further information.