Prednisolone for asthma

Your GP will work out how much you need to take, and for how long, depending on your symptoms and how you’re recovering. You may want to arrange transport home after the injection, especially if you’re going to have a local anaesthetic, because numbness from the anaesthetic can make it difficult to drive. Prednisolone should start to help your child’s wheezing soon after taking it, but usually takes 4–6 hours to have its full effect. Your doctor will work out the amount of Prednisolone (the dose) that is right for your child.

• The guideline contains a full list of the sources of evidence we have used.
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• Symptoms of an infection include a change in temperature, aching muscles, headaches, feeling cold and shivery and generally unwell.
• It is more likely to happen with steroids taken by mouth (orally) than with other types of steroids.
• Try to go to bed and get up at the same time each day and spend some time relaxing before you go to bed.

Topical treatments work to target the area of inflammation directly, such as inflammation in your rectum and the lower part of your colon (large bowel). Oral or rectal prednisolone can be used to treat adults and children with ulcerative colitis when they are having a flare. It can sometimes be used alongside aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) such as mesalazine or sulfasalazine. Prednisolone is a common steroid prescribed to patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

What are the possible side effects of tablets used for a short time or injections into a muscle or vein?

Corticosteroids can weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to infection. This means you should avoid any live vaccine until at least 3 months after your course of corticosteroids has finished. The recommended course of treatment largely depends on weighing up the benefits of corticosteroids against the side effects. Steroid tablets may be recommended if you’re pregnant and have severe asthma.

If you are worried about gaining weight, talk to your doctor or nurse. Topical prednisolone treatments are put onto or into the part of your body where they are needed. Because it is targeted only where it is needed to work, topical prednisolone is less likely to cause unwanted side effects, and less likely to interact with other medicines.

Common conditions

You might have blood tests during cancer treatment to check for this. But if your asthma is poorly controlled and you need to take steroid tablets, you may be more at risk of severe disease from COVID-19. But if you’re taking high doses for a long time, you may be at risk of some of the same side effects as steroid tablets. If you need two or more short courses of steroid tablets in a year, or your symptoms come back once you’ve finished the course, you should ask your GP for a referral to a specialist clinic.

Is there anything else I need to know before I have a steroid injection?

For further information about this treatment go to the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC)  website. If you have epilepsy this could become worse when taking steroids. Steroids can increase the number of white blood cells in your blood. You might have weaker bones due to bone loss (osteoporosis).

If you’re already taking steroid tablets, ask your doctor or a pharmacist for advice before taking any other medicines, remedies or supplements. Tell your doctor if you take any other medicines, including herbal remedies and supplements, before starting steroid tablets. Because steroids can cause you to put on weight or have an increased appetite, it’s important to keep an eye on your weight while taking them.

High blood pressure

Taking any drug while using steroids puts extra strain on your liver. As steroids can affect your mood it is advisable to avoid other drugs that change your mental state. Your healthcare professional will advise you of the risks and benefits of a repeat course of steroids depending on your individual situation. The information here aims to help you better understand your health and your options for treatment and care.

If you’re worried about any side effects, ask your GP or asthma nurse for advice as soon as possible. For example, if you have an upset stomach after taking steroids, your GP may suggest taking the tablet with meals or after food. Research is ongoing into new treatments for all types of severe asthma.

You should not take anti-inflammatory painkillers e.g. ibuprofen (low dose aspirin is OK), as together they may increase the risk of a stomach ulcer developing. Do not take over-the-counter preparations or herbal remedies without discussing this first with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Depending on your type of steroid medication and how long you are taking it for, you might be given a steroid treatment card or a steroid emergency card, or both.

The evidence for how long steroid injection can last as long as 10 weeks or so. Anecdotally it is not uncommon for people to report pain relief for many more months following steroid injection. Taking steroid tablets https://online-pharmacycanada.bid for a long time can make you more likely to get infections. If you feel feverish or unwell, or develop any new symptoms after starting steroids, it’s important to tell your doctor or rheumatology nurse.