PredniSONE and advair

I have had life-threatening spasmodic breathing episodes for the last year. My GP attributed it to asthma, because that's what it looked like, and they have given me prednisone shots and later on, antibiotic shots, to control it (for about 6 weeks at a time). I have well-controlled type II diabetes, so predisone can cause it to go out of control fairly quickly. Prednisone also caused some occasional pain in my feet, probably because of the elevated blood sugar. All the asthma drugs they gave me actually made me sicker, like Advair, etc. Lo and behold, I was able to talk my doctor into a referral to an allergist, and my allergy numbers are off the charts! All grasses, most trees, and many animals were high enough to cause anaphylaxis, especially when surrounded by more than one. Anaphylaxis can cause the labored breathing I suffered. Meanwhile, I have the lung capacity of an Olympic swimmer. I have an elderly friend who has gone to the hospital several times this year with the same problem. After I found out my results, I talked to his wife, and they discussed the allergy and infection aspect with the doctor. Turns out he had fairly severe allergies and infections that made his life-long asthma go way out of control. With a medicine for infection, he is 10 times better - the asthma is under control because it is not being jump-started by the low-level infections he suffered. I don't even have asthma, it just looks like asthma. I will begin years of allergy shots, just like in my 20's. (I am 55). The upshoot? Some people are suffering severe asthma symptoms. Others have a combo of problems which are exacerbating the asthma-like problems. Doctors who think you only have asthma tend to only treat asthma. Prednisone greatly reduces inflammation, which is a common factor in all the above diseases. So, calming the symptom doesn't mean treating the source. You long-term asthmatics should also look inot taking allergy tests if it is considered safe (they DO inject a small amount of allergens in your skin), and not spend 100% of your time with the pulmonary specialist who is only looking at your lungs. Also, you really need to do some cause and effect testing with antibiotics or similar to see if you have some type of infection. My friend and I are both on our way to better health because we went beyond treating the symptoms.

I am recently out of the hosp after 9 days with COPD exas, pneumonia, flu. I have been on heavy antibiotics, steroids--home now for 1st time with oxygen---I feel GREAT.First time in years I feel like I have a life to live. Like a veil has been lifted. I'm scared for this feeling to go away--what is it? the steroids?? the oxygen?? Whatever it is I need to know so I can fight for it and stop just waiting to die.

You people are freaking me out. I just started today with my first dose of prednisone for my first bronchitis diagnosis. I've been sick for 3 months and thought this would be a good med for me to rid the coughing. I'm starting to reconsider taking any more if all I can expect is long term adverse effects. I took this once before years ago for a severe skin allergy. I got the psychosis initially but then adjusted the dose. Then, I would get euphoric and full of energy, like being on a stimulant. I had no idea the round face thing was due to this, I thought I just ate too much while I was home sick for 2 months. I think I'll try the herbal alternative route. If it works, I'll write again and let y'all know. Thanks for all the comments.

I'm a 37 year old female and have severe asthma and allergies and have used pregnisone on and off for 30 years. I believe I am the poster child for the long term side effects. My immune system is shot to the point that my normal medicines for asthma (ventolin, advair) and allergies (tylenol sinus, claritan, visine A) and ezcema (elidel, hydrocortisone, etc. - - NOTHING works!

In the past 6 months, I have developed various infections that the doctors have not been able to identify. My eyes are swollen and red with large amount of white/yellow secretions. Vaginal secretions. Face swollen. Skilled covered in a rash with ezcema out of control. Sharp pains in my back and stomach. Constant asthma. Abnormal hair growth. It is to the point that it is impossible to function and each doctor just wants to prescribe more pregnisone. I feel as if my body is a walking time bomb and it is so full of all the cortisone from over the years and has just decided no more.

I admit that I too readily believed in the doctors when they would rapidly prescribe the pregnisone. Only now am I paying attention to the long term side effects.

Has anyone had tests done to test their immune system and other organs for damage? Thanks and best to our pregnisone club.

Prednisone is a miracle drug that is saving my life. I realize that the side effects can happen and do. I've experienced them too: pockets of fat on my face even though I've lost 25 pounds; loss of hair; Thrush in the mouth and other yeast infections; hyperactivity; insomnia; blurry vision; the shakes; reduction in muscle tone; and secondary infections because of compromised immune system. I have pulmonary fibrosis and waiting for a lung transplant. There is no known cause, cure, or treatment of this terminal disease and most patients die in 1-5 years. Prednisone is the only drug that will at least slow the disease down until I receive that transplant call. I realize that most people on this post are not terminally ill and you can say, "no" to this drug; but just wanted you to know that for some of us it's a miracle drug.
Di

Steroids have been a night mare in my life for almost 3 years.
I started taking prednisone to combat Sarcoid 3 year ago. I was so messed up I thought I was going to die. My blood sugar went nuts. Both upper and lower Blood pressure went crazy. I started shaking and droping things and just in general feeling awful. I was on a decreasing amt. starting with 80 mg in Oct. to going completly off of it in Dec. In Jan of the next year I went to a new pulmonilogist. She said I had asthma and recommended I take Advair. After three months I started experiencing psychoses. This went on for 18 months. Starting with episodes evry few weeks to episodes every few days. The last 3 months I had several prednosine doses for sever asthma attacks. That is when I started having the most frequent episodes.

It has been almost a year since my Dr. and I figured out what was wrong with me, after going through many blood test, an MRI on my brain, an EEG, many dollars, much heart ache and much missed work. The eposiodes have started to slowly taper off in frequency and intensity.

Ther have been several occasions I need the drug, a skin rash, another severe asthma attack and inflamation in a wrist injury. I used an ointment on the skin rash, advair for the asthma and an injection for the wrist injury. All left me with psychoses.

I become extremely emotional (my face screws up and I cry), I hallucinate (my head feels goofy), My moter skills are impared and I shake. I am out of comission for 5-6 or more hrs.

If you can avoid this poison (my opinion) do so at all cost.

God Bless.

I was put on Pred. for severe hives after treatments for cancer (aggressive chemo and radiation) once the burns healed I came down with severe hives all over. I was put on Allegra, Clarinex, Zyrtec, Prednisone (60mg), Singulair, Advair, Atarax, and Preventil twice a day. I began feeling like a junky and the pharmacy would question my refills. I have the moon face and weight gain, with cancet treatments and prednisone total gain is 80lbs. I was ready to give up, between the pills, the massive side effects and the hives. I was intrduced to an awesome high antioxident through Market America. I started taking 4 capfuls per day and within a week stopped all my meds. cold turkey. I got hives worse the first 3 days but I was told that would happen while my system detoxed. My doctor added Plaqunel (to cover his butt) but it takes 3 months to get into your system and it is not a steriod. I still get a few hive now and then when I eat something (Red dye, barley-beer) but after I take my OPC-3 they go away without any medication not even OTC meds.
If you want information on the antioxidants I am taking you can find information at www.4thebetterlife.com or e-mail me at ******. I am also taking vitamin C and B12 with the OPC-3 because they assist with inflamation and histimine levels. I am working on the weight (I still gained and was on Weight watcher the whole time) and my face is SLOWLY returning, its been 2 months. I wish you all the best. I will never go on a drug again without researching it first and looking for more natural ways to take care of the problems and this is coming from someone who had 20-50% chance of living through my cancer P.N.E.T. Sarcoma. I am doing great no and I am cancer free and I am getting my life back after steriods.