Methylprednisolone and Shortness Of Breath: What Users Say

• Jen...
• December 10, 2015

For Inflammatory Conditions "Had a horrible cough. Choking so bad I actually hurt my neck. I was sure it was bronchitis. Dr. said no. Prescribed me this. First 2 days were fine. Then horrible stomach pains, no appetite, red rash on my face would come and go. I'm so extremely tired that no amount of sleep helps, leg cramps, I'm so sore all over I feel like I have been beaten, jaw pain. The list can go on. Shortness of breath almost like an anxiety attack. I still have the cough. I'll never take this drug again. I feel horrible."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2015

For Inflammatory Conditions "I was in a car accident. After taking Tramadol, Flexeril, and Naproxen every day while going to the chiropractor for 7 weeks, I still had pain in my upper and lower back, right shoulder blade, right arm, and wrist every day. I had 3 MRIs in week 9, which revealed 5 bulging/herniated discs with pinched nerves in my neck and 2 in my lower back. I was prescribed a Medrol Dose Pack (4 mg, 21 pills x 6 days) and had 70% pain relief afterward. Side effects from the Medrol Dose Pack I had were nausea, slight headaches, and trouble breathing (I never took the meds on an empty stomach and have no health problems, 31 years old). Four days after completing the dose pack, a majority of my pain reappeared again every day. I have now been prescribed aquatic therapy and IDD (cervical/lumbar mechanical traction)."

• Nic...
• May 2, 2013

For Inflammatory Conditions "I was prescribed this due to a stress fracture in my foot that was greatly inflamed as I did not find out that it was fractured until two months after the fact. After the first dose of taking all six at once (six-day cycle of 21 pills), I slept great, but woke up with terrible dry mouth and throat, and had trouble breathing. Also, feeling fatigue was an issue. Being an 18-year-old male, I would rather just cope with the pain and simply wear the brace that they gave me to take the pressure off my foot. I feel that the adverse effects I got were not worth taking the inflammation off through time; although it did take care of the inflammation within two days."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "Having sinus drainage issues. 60+. Began coughing up a small amount of phlegm from chest cough, and doc says Medrol pack - 21 tabs. After 3 days, no phlegm, still coughing at night or when laughing, but have not slept for 3 days. That hurts. Symptoms are disappearing as I type. On 2nd and 3rd day, I was short of breath and dizzy playing golf. In 2.5 more days, I hope it's done, cough gone, and I can sleep again. PS take in the morning is supposed to stop the insomnia."

• Anonymous
• July 8, 2012

Methylprednisolone "I was prescribed this to go along with an antibiotic for a bad case of bronchitis and the beginning of a sinus infection. It made it much easier to breathe and made my flu-like body aches go away within a day of taking it! I felt so much better! As for side effects, I suffer from panic disorder, and taking this medication did make the physical symptoms of that intermittently worse. I experienced shortness of breath, a few heart palpitations, and felt jittery after taking each pill. As long as I took a small amount of my anxiety medication, I was fine. One very unexpected side effect was a striking increase in my libido. I normally have a very low sex drive. I felt like I was a teenager while on this. I wish I could take this every day."

• Swi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2019

For Inflammatory Conditions "I have ankylosing spondylitis, which affects my spine and major joints. I was taking Humira, but it seems to have lost its effectiveness. I just started taking Remicade and had the first loading dose last week. It hasn’t taken effect yet, and my spine and knees have been really painful. I took the second dose of the Medrol DosePack today. Couldn’t sleep at all last night. Face puffy. Short of breath. Spine feels better, but not so sure about the knees. Vision blurred. Blood pressure hit 210/110 this afternoon. Not sure I will take any more of this stuff."

• Kev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2019

For Asthma "I've been taking the methylprednisolone dose pack 4 mg for three days now. I feel like it's already ruined my life. I had no prior history of anxiety or panic attacks, but I've woken up every day feeling like I'm going to die of a heart attack since I've taken it. I now have unbearable anxiety, panic, and terrifying shortness of breath that is only relieved for brief periods of time by Xanax. I am literally in tears over this as a grown man. I'm afraid to go to sleep. I wouldn't recommend this drug to my worst enemy. Avoid it at all costs."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 16, 2022

Methylprednisolone for Inflammatory Conditions "Catastrophic and fatal as my mom passed away after 5 days from receiving the second dose of injection of 40 mg of Depo-Medrol. She got most of the undesirable side effects: shortness of breath, vomiting, tunnel vision, severe headache, dizziness, convulsions, and they couldn’t help her in the ICU."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2020

For Asthma, acute "Some relief from methylprednisolone after 30 mins with a single injection. Breathing better, opened up lungs, feeling able to absorb oxygen again, thankfully. Now, 6 hours later, still not 100 percent. Feeling irritable and nervous, like I can’t shut down to go to sleep... annoyed with everyone. Still getting shortness of breath when being active (walking, tending to kids). Just wanted to add I did fall asleep, woke up at 2:00 am clenching my teeth, have a headache now. 12 hours after the injection, I’m back to being out of breath when sitting still... good luck."

• Kel...
• September 8, 2017

For Allergic Rhinitis "I am 29 years old. Went to the doc for an ear infection and sinus pressure that I think turned into a bad sinus infection. Was given the 21-pill PAC 4 mg. Felt fine day 1, day 2 woke up feeling great but slowly felt numbness in my fingers, nose, and cheeks throughout the morning. By lunchtime, I thought I was having a panic attack from the constant heart racing and shortness of breath. At one point, there was a stream of heat shooting down the back of my neck. Thought I was having an allergic reaction, but after reading other reviews (because it was a Friday after 5 and couldn't reach my doc), it appears these are side effects. I will be going back to the doc Monday, this is why I hate taking meds. Feel like this drug is doing more harm than good."

• ICA...
• October 29, 2016

For Allergic Rhinitis "I was given this medicine in the 6 Day Pack for an allergic reaction. Since I started taking this medication, I can't sleep, I maybe doze off for 20 minutes if I'm lucky. I feel very hostile and confused, like I can't progress my thoughts at all, and I keep forgetting what I'm doing. On top of that, I'm experiencing a lot of shortness of breath, and every time I stand up, I get dizzy. I'm incredibly thirsty and have to use the bathroom more often now since starting to take this medication. I can't wait to be finished with it, seeing it's 50/50 helped with my symptoms. The taste is horrible, like acid in my mouth, and I have to take it with milk to make sure it doesn't burn. Since yesterday morning, I've developed a sore throat and bloating."

• Cha...
• October 16, 2017

For Inflammatory Conditions "I had an allergic reaction to Cozaar. It swelled my face. I had difficulty breathing and higher BP. So the doctor prescribed Medrol. I took the morning dose and lunch dose. I felt and looked terrible (most of the side effects were the reason I took it). I had a rheumatologist appointment that same day, and she recommended I take Benadryl, so I did that along with drinking lots of green tea and some exercise, and I'm as good as new!"

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2022

"I was prescribed a 6-day treatment for an ear infection. Unfortunately, I had bad side effects after only 3 days-shortness of breath, sweaty, insomnia, irregular heartbeat. Almost sent me to the ER for a panic attack. I stopped taking it on day 5. Back to normal just a day after stopping. Terrible experience."

• kim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2025

Methylprednisolone "I had serious trouble breathing for several days before I decided to see a doctor. Even the albuterol inhaler and Benadryl weren't working. It was awful! I felt lightheaded and weak and constantly yawning, gasping as I tried to take a deep breath. The doctor gave me a Z-pack. I asked if she could give me a steroid pack too, I've never taken steroids before, but the pharmacist I work with had told me it would probably help. The doctor said yes and gave me one, and I took all six tablets with lunch. Wow, I felt miles better in just a couple of hours! It was like night and day. It's now nighttime, I feel a little short of breath again, but hopefully by tomorrow I can begin feeling better again. I'll be taking the tablets as the pack directs, so hopefully, the effects last all day. If you have bronchitis or an upper respiratory infection like me, definitely ask for a steroid pack, but make sure it doesn't affect anything else you take! It helped so much for me and was only a few bucks!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2016

"Was prescribed the 4 mg dose pack for swelling and bruising after a rhinoplasty. Wow, the side effects are horrendous. Oh, the first day I took the first 6 and experienced the side effects right away: diarrhea, upset stomach, extreme dizziness, feeling faint, shaky, insomnia, anxiety, shortness of breath. Just the worst. My swelling has gone down, BUT swelling is expected to go down around this time, therefore, not sure if it was the methyl. I only took a day's worth and decided that I will discontinue it. So it could very well not have made any difference. Rather have the swelling."