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Are there Alternatives to Prednisone for Asthma? | Everyday Health - Latest news |
Prednisone alternative
I have chronic asthma and have been on 20 mg of prednisone for more than 20 years. Is there another drug that can replace prednisone for this kind of long-term use? Many people are stuck on prednisone for long periods of time. Unfortunately, it's unlikely that anything currently available could replace it completely, but some drugs are also sometimes used to reduce dependence on prednisone. These are very strong drugs as well and must be used with caution, but sometimes they can have good effects when taken in small amounts or as a short-term alternative to prednisone.
According to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology , two Chinese herbal supplements - ASHMI and FAHF-2 - were seen to have some effects that were similar to those of prednisone on the signs and symptoms of asthma and food allergies, respectively. Depending on the advice of your doctor, ASHMI might be a supplement you could try to ease both your asthma symptoms and your dependence on prednisone as a long-term therapy.
Keep in mind that I am not a doctor and can't diagnose you here or tell you how these options would affect you. Always check with your doctor before taking any medication or herbal remedy. You should know: The answer above provides general health information that is not intended to replace medical advice or treatment recommendations from a qualified healthcare professional. What can we help you find? Pain Management. March 9, What to Read Next. Start Survey.
❿Top prednisone alternatives and how to switch your Rx.
Deflazacort--an alternative to prednisolone?
Many people are stuck on prednisone for long periods of time. Unfortunately, it's unlikely that anything currently available could replace it completely, but some drugs are also sometimes used to reduce dependence on prednisone. These are very strong drugs as well and must be used with caution, but sometimes they can have good effects when taken in small amounts or as a short-term alternative to prednisone.
According to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology , two Chinese herbal supplements - ASHMI and FAHF-2 - were seen to have some effects that were similar to those of prednisone on the signs and symptoms of asthma and food allergies, respectively. Depending on the advice of your doctor, ASHMI might be a supplement you could try to ease both your asthma symptoms and your dependence on prednisone as a long-term therapy.
Keep in mind that I am not a doctor and can't diagnose you here or tell you how these options would affect you. Always check with your doctor before taking any medication or herbal remedy. A week or 10 days of small doses of prednisone is like a magic bullet. All asthma symptoms completely disappear, only to return gradually after a month or so. What is implied when asthma symptoms are so responsive to prednisone - does it mean that the symptoms are more allergy-based?
I don't manifest allergic symptoms like runny nose or itchiness. My symptoms are more classically asthma-like. Would that prednisone were not so generally ill-advised! Prednisone is an extremely effective anti-inflammatory medicine and, fortunately, anti-inflammatory treatment works for you.
Since the source of your inflammation is unclear, allergy evaluation with skin testing seems warranted.
A combination of inhaled steroids and antihistamines drugs that block the action of histamines , which can cause itching, sneezing and watery eyes or antileukotrienes medications that inhibit the action of substances called leukotrienes, which trigger asthma symptoms will probably be extremely effective for you and reduce the need for oral steroids.
I cannot live without prednisone. How harmful to my body is this? I have tried every new asthma medication on the market. Nothing works for long. Only prednisone works. I am sure that there will be long-term effects on my body. I have already been diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. I was told the prednisone was the cause. Will prednisone eventually kill me?
Prednisone is an extremely effective anti-inflammatory medicine. Unfortunately, there are many side effects associated with it, the most common being osteoporosis , or weakening of the bones. Prolonged steroid use also puts you at increased risk for cataracts , glaucoma , fluid retention , frequent infections, weight gain, skin problems, and mood disorders. Oral steroids like prednisone should only be used as maintenance medication in the most severe cases of asthma. There are many excellent treatments for asthma , including a variety of inhaled steroids, which are the cornerstone of modern asthma therapy.
Keep working with your asthma specialist. It would be prudent for you to be re-evaluated to see if a combination of the existing remedies helps with your symptoms and allows you to cut back on the prednisone. You may also benefit by working with an allergist to identify potential asthma triggers , both inside and outside the home.
A careful examination of your living and working environments may be in order, once you know more about allergens.
Many asthma triggers can be eliminated or avoided, and in your case this would be time and effort well spent. I have chronic severe asthma and I have attacks every morning.
I have recently stopped taking high doses of prednisone, which I took for 14 years straight.
I'm an asthma sufferer who was diagnosed after developing thyroid disease. I have allergy-induced asthma, and I am allergic to albuterol. My physicians have me take prednisone when I have an attack. Are there any other options for me? I always suffer when I take the steroid. Yes, there are other options for you. Albuterol is a symptom reliever. It relaxes and opens the airways and works within a few minutes to relieve chest tightness and that dry asthma cough.
Albuterol does not treat the inflammation in the lung linings that actually causes the symptoms of asthmaand it does not help prevent symptoms. Specific medications in this group include in no particular order Flovent, PulmicortQVARAsmanexand many others, both brand-name and generic. These are medicines that are similar to prednisone, but the dose is much lower than prednisone taken by mouth, and the side effects are dramatically reduced.
Inhaled corticosteroids work because the medicine is delivered directly to the lung. Another type of controller medication, which is different from either albuterol or steroids, are the pills for asthma, Accolate zafirlukast and Singulair montelukast. These medications are taken orally each day, and treat inflammation in the lungs. They are usually given to people who need a little more treatment beyond a steroid inhaler.
These medicines do not have the side effects of prednisoneand they are generally not as strong as prednisone either. But they work well for some people. Please talk to your PCP about trying something to control your asthma symptoms. You certainly do have options. A week or 10 days of small doses of prednisone is like a magic bullet.
All asthma symptoms completely disappear, only to return gradually after a month or so. What is implied when asthma symptoms are so responsive to prednisone - does it mean that the symptoms are more allergy-based? I don't manifest allergic symptoms like runny nose or itchiness. My symptoms are more classically asthma-like.
Would that prednisone were not so generally ill-advised! Prednisone is an extremely effective anti-inflammatory medicine and, fortunately, anti-inflammatory treatment works for you. Since the source of your inflammation is unclear, allergy evaluation with skin testing seems warranted. A combination of inhaled steroids and antihistamines drugs that block the action of histamineswhich can cause itching, sneezing and watery eyes or antileukotrienes medications that inhibit the action of substances called leukotrienes, which trigger asthma symptoms will probably be extremely effective for you and reduce the need for oral steroids.
I cannot live without prednisone. How harmful to my body is this? I have tried every new asthma medication on the market. Nothing works for long. Only prednisone works. I am sure that there will be long-term effects on my body. I have already been diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. I was told the prednisone was the cause. Will prednisone eventually kill me?
Prednisone is an extremely effective anti-inflammatory medicine. Unfortunately, there are many side effects associated with it, the most common being osteoporosisor weakening of the bones. Prolonged steroid use also puts you at increased risk for cataractsglaucomafluid retentionfrequent infections, weight gain, skin problems, and mood disorders.
Oral steroids like prednisone should only be used as maintenance medication in the most severe cases of asthma. There are many excellent treatments for asthmaincluding a variety of inhaled steroids, which are the cornerstone of modern asthma therapy.
Keep working with your asthma specialist. It would be prudent for you to be re-evaluated to see if a combination of the existing remedies helps with your symptoms and allows you to cut back on the prednisone. You may also benefit by working with an allergist to identify potential asthma triggersboth inside and outside the home. A careful examination of your living and working environments may be in order, once you know more about allergens.
Many asthma triggers can be eliminated or avoided, and in your case this would be time and effort well spent. I have chronic severe asthma and I have attacks every morning.
I have recently stopped taking high doses of prednisone, which I took for 14 years straight. I do not want to take prednisone anymore. I want to know how to prevent these really scary attacks - any ideas? You should follow up with your physician so that he or she can discuss with you the numerous asthma controller medications such as inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting bronchodilators, leukotriene modifiers, mast cell stabilizers, methylxanthines, anti-IgE therapy if appropriate and possibly others that are currently available and will hopefully eliminate or at least minimize your need for prednisone.
Learn more in the Everyday Health Asthma Center. Health Conditions A-Z. Health Tools. See All. DailyOM Courses. By Dr. Anna Feldweg. Reviewed: July 6,
Osteoporosis, increased risk of heart disease, increased risk of infections, weight gain are all assocaited with low dose prednisone use. Deflazacort (Calcort--Shire) is an oral corticosteroid licensed for use in adults and children. When deflazacort first became available last year. Osteoporosis, increased risk of heart disease, increased risk of infections, weight gain are all assocaited with low dose prednisone use. Specific medications in this group include (in no particular order) Flovent, Pulmicort, QVAR, Asmanex, and many others, both brand-name and. Unfortunately, it's unlikely that anything currently available could replace it completely, but some drugs are also sometimes used to reduce. Methotrexate may be a viable steroid-sparing agent for myasthenia gravisalthough azathioprine is better studied and more commonly used for this purpose.Methylprednisolone and prednisone are both corticosteroid medications. They have similar effects on the body but differ in their available forms and some of the side effects they cause. Both medications reduce inflammation , and people use them to relieve the symptoms of many health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis RA , lupus , and eczema. Methylprednisolone and prednisone are both corticosteroids. Corticosteroids can reduce inflammation in the body and relieve related symptoms, such as body pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Corticosteroids reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system. They are a standard treatment for autoimmune conditions, which often cause inflammation in the body. Methylprednisolone and prednisone are both common medications that are similar in price. They can come in branded or generic forms. As with most drugs, the generic versions cost less but still comprise the same substances.
Methylprednisolone is stronger than prednisone:. Prednisone is an oral medication that people take in the form of a tablet, liquid, or concentrated solution.
People will take between one and four doses a day depending on the medical condition and the effectiveness of the treatment. In many cases, a doctor will inject methylprednisolone into either the muscle or vein. However, for certain conditions, such as RA, they may sometimes inject methylprednisolone directly into a joint to reduce inflammation.
Being injectable makes methylprednisolone easier than prednisone to provide in large doses. Both prednisone and methylprednisolone are very strong medications.
Doctors will try to use the lowest possible dosage that is effective, so they may increase or decrease the dosage during treatment. People who stop taking them too quickly may notice side effects, such as:. As methylprednisolone and prednisone are both very potent, they can cause a range of side effects, including:. The side effects of prednisone can also include losing touch with reality. For this reason, doctors may prescribe methylprednisolone to someone with a risk of mental health conditions instead of prednisone to reduce the risk of psychosis.
Due to these side effects, doctors may avoid prescribing these corticosteroids. They may only recommend them if nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs are not effective or if a person has severe inflammation. Corticosteroids can interact with many other medications, including some nutritional supplements and alternative medicines, such as herbal remedies.
Before using corticosteroids, a person should tell their doctor about any other medications that they are taking. Corticosteroids have a widespread effect on the body. As a result, they can cause complications, some of which are severe. Taking corticosteroids for more than a month, which doctors consider long-term use, increases the likelihood of adverse effects occurring.
It is important to note that these drugs can reduce the activity of the immune system, which makes it harder for the body to fight infection. Complications are more likely to affect people who have or have had certain medical conditions, such as:. Methylprednisolone and prednisone are corticosteroids that can have a significant impact on the body.
They are effective medications for reducing inflammation. Both medications can produce a range of side effects and complications. Methylprednisolone is more potent than prednisone. Doctors can give methylprednisolone orally or through an injection, while prednisone is only available as an oral treatment. Methylprednisolone may, therefore, be more appropriate for people with digestive issues that stop them from taking or fully absorbing oral drugs.
A doctor will decide which medication is best in each situation. People should ensure that their doctor is aware of all their previous health conditions and current medications when discussing taking corticosteroids. Rheumatoid arthritis RA is an inflammatory disease that affects the joints and also produces symptoms throughout the body.
Find out more about how…. While researchers do not know exactly what causes rheumatoid arthritis RA , they do know that heredity plays a role. Learn more about RA and genetics…. Doctors use a combination of blood tests to help them diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. Learn more about these tests and what else the diagnostic process….
Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, swelling, and inflammation in joints and can affect organs throughout the body. Find out more here. The exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis are unclear, but researchers have identified several risk factors. Learn about 10 of these here. How to understand chronic pain What is behind vaccine hesitancy? The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cure New directions in dementia research Can psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?
Medical News Today. Health Conditions Discover Tools Connect. What is the difference between methylprednisolone and prednisone? Medically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, Pharm. Methylprednisolone vs. Share on Pinterest Methylprednisolone and prednisone reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system. How do people take methylprednisolone and prednisone? Share on Pinterest People can take methylprednisolone orally or as an injection. Image credit: Anonymous, Side effects.
Share on Pinterest Prednisone can cause dizziness and nausea. Image credit: nlm, Drug interactions. Share on Pinterest People with high blood pressure are more likely to experience complications from taking corticosteroids.
How we reviewed this article: Sources. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references.
We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Share this article. Latest news Having a sense of purpose may help you live longer, research shows. Dementia vaccines: What are they, and when could they become available?
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