Prednisone for Asthma User Reviews (Page 2)

• Dan...
• January 19, 2017

"Plus side: Prednisone does indeed reduce the inflammation in my lungs so I can breathe. Con side: It wires me. We're talking spending the entire night staring at the clock because I cannot sleep while taking it. This time I was sent home with a four-day course of prednisone as well as a sleep aid to counteract the insomnia. I've taken two (generic) Ambien, and I am once again awake at 2 AM and have been since 1. I got maybe two and a half hours of broken sleep before awakening at 1. I mean, yes, I need to breathe, but I also need to be able to sleep to function."

• 2le...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2019

"I have taken prednisone on a tapered dose for asthma flare-ups twice. My first tapered dose lasted 3 days, and my second lasted 8 days. The prednisone worked extremely well in controlling my asthma and is a great short-term solution. However, both times I have taken prednisone, I have felt awful in every other way. I slept for 16 hours through the entire day, had no appetite, was extremely nauseous, had an erratic heartbeat, night sweats, and mood swings. In the future, I'll ask if the shorter duration of 3 days will suffice for controlling my asthma symptoms. Prednisone is a necessary evil."

• Raj...
• January 24, 2018

"I was prescribed this after diagnosis with bronchitis and sinusitis from cold/flu, and I have cough-variant asthma for which I use an inhaler every couple of weeks. Felt like a 10-ton weight was lifted off my chest and could breathe again within 2 hours of taking the first dose. 2 days of 40mg, 2 days of 20mg, now done. I have lifetime, treatment-resistant anxiety and depression, and after an initial weird feeling like I had taken speed or something, I felt calm and happy, no drug has ever been that effective. Obviously not why I was prescribed it, so after four days of relief I'm back to my depressed, anxious self. But I can breathe now."

• Anonymous
• May 5, 2011

"Like the other commentators, when my asthma is really, really bad and all my other medications together are not enough, prednisone does make me better. But for me, prednisone has had a bad side effect: I now have mild cataracts. So I avoid taking it as much as I can."

• cra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2016

"I have bipolar disorder and was given this medication for an infection; 48 hours later, I was manic, 72 hours later, I became delusional and was experiencing psychosis, unable to identify family and my home. It was very scary because it hit so quick and I didn't know what was happening to me. I am stable and on regimented medication/lifestyle practices. Found out those with bipolar should always try to shy away from this RX and other steroids. Be careful if you have a mental illness, discuss other options with your doctor, please don't go through my very negative experience."

• vwh...
• November 14, 2011

"I have asthma, and usually twice a year I have to take prednisone. About two years ago, I was in the E.R., and they gave me a 10 mg shot of Decadron. Well, both arms went numb. Now, every time I take a steroid, either shot or by mouth, my left arm will go numb. I am going to my allergist tomorrow and do a drug challenge for prednisone. Wish me well! I will let you know what happens."

• xGe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2017

"I've just been given this for my asthma as I'm struggling to breathe. So far, my nose and head hurt and don't feel like it is working. I'm only on my 2nd dose, and every review so far I've read says it works within a few hours. I can't tell if I'm having a reaction to it or not, but it definitely isn't working. I can't walk from my room to my bathroom without keeling over and not being able to breathe."

• Btc...
• June 30, 2011

"I have been on prednisone for 8 months now. I have every side effect going. I am decreasing the dose slowly now and am down to 15 mg. This is the first time I got down this low on these. I am hoping to be completely off them in the next 3 or 4 weeks."

• Gan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 21, 2018

"I have been taking prednisone for about 12 years-off and on now. I wish I had never started taking it. I was diagnosed with age-related asthma and mild COPD in 2004 and started taking steroids in 2005. It was okay first of all, with just the occasional 5-day dose of 30 mg. Then that didn't work and I was prescribed 7 days at 40 mg with 1 week to phase off. Then this dose only worked when I was taking it, and I struggled for a couple of weeks before I had to give in and start another course. I had to be able to breathe. A couple of years ago, I took things into my own hands and told the doctor I was going to try and get off of these toxic pills. His reaction was, 'You haven't got a choice.' Maybe I haven't, but I am trying, without too much success. I have been down to 8 mg a day, but then my breathing is so bad I have to put it up again to about 15 mg. I am currently on 11 mg a day but have very little support from the NHS to succeed. It sucks!!!!"

• WeN...
• May 20, 2011

"I have been on and off prednisone for the last 10 years. The last few years, I have been on it a lot more due to my severe, severe, severe steroid-dependent asthma that is not controlled with the medicines I am on, including the Xolair shots. This recent round, I have been on 40 mg since March 23rd until June 15th when I go back to see my doctor."

• No...
• December 18, 2016

"First, it helped me breathe. I was wheezing and coughing terribly. The side effects suck. I get aggressive and irritable. Insomnia is terrible. I can feel swelling in my hands. I can feel my heartbeat in my hands when I have fingers interlocked. I try to avoid all medications, but this did help."

• kkr...
• May 10, 2016

"I only take prednisone in the bubble pack as a last resort. It does work effectively, but the short- and long-term side effects of the medication need the user to proceed with caution. I have to use it for my chronic episodes of bronchitis and when my asthma gets too bad for just albuterol. Short-term use caused my liver function to go wonky. When I use a pred blister pack, I usually gain 5-10 lbs. It also causes sebaceous hyperplasia, which looks like raised whiteheads that never go away. If you go to a gym with steroid abusers, you will see that they have whiteheads all over their back and face. That is sebaceous hyperplasia. You have to get it burnt or cut out of your skin to get rid of it. If I didn't need it for my asthma, I would never take it willingly."

• cle...
• May 4, 2015

"I have taken prednisone for asthma, it seems to be working for now, but I'm still having problems. I'm wondering, should I take something else with it? Because after 5 days, I still have to go to the ER. What else could help?"

• Ay ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2017

"I wish I could give this and my doctor zero stars. I told her I was doing just fine taking Loratadine and Montelukast, but she insisted that I take this because 'I need it,' so I started taking this at 20 mg thinking it would help. About a day after I got prescribed this garbage, I got this nasty cough. It made my asthma much worse, I constantly wheeze and cough yuck stuff up now. Then, after about 5 days, I started pooping blood. I'm not talking a little, but a lot. Like half my stool is blood. And now, I'm totally depressed (and pooping blood, and completely congested). I literally don't want to do anything but die in my sleep. Sorry for the language, I'm in an awful mood. I didn't finish it either, I threw the rest of it away."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2017

"I wish I could give this medication zero stars, and I am an RN. Prednisone has ruined my life. I was given prednisone for a severe viral lung infection (I have asthma) back in August 2016; I had a 104°F fever for a week and lost almost 15 lbs. The doctor (with horrible bedside manner) had pressured me to take prednisone (60 mg) in the office... even though I only came in for an I.V., due to severe dehydration. I was started on 60 mg (and was supposed to take 40 mg for the next 5 days). Little did I know that it can cause mania and psychosis (I have a history of depression). By the 2nd day, I couldn't sleep (I kept talking, cleaning, and writing poetry) and had a manic episode, due to steroid psychosis (and I don't have a history of bipolar disorder). No one in my family knew what was wrong with me. I am WARNING any of you with a psychiatric history to avoid this medication and oral steroids at all costs. Due to taking prednisone, I lost a full-year college scholarship (I'm studying laboratory science)... (due to being hospitalized) and my housing. I also lost a ton of hair, and it is super thin now. I had to be hospitalized 3 times in the span of the year due to this med causing suicidal depression after the manic episode. It is depressing that I lost so much money due to copay medical bills amounting to $5,000, and I cannot sue the doctor/outpatient clinic for the lost money and time, and my housing (was asked to move out due to mania/steroid psychosis). I will never take another oral steroid (even if I am on the brink of dying and I'd rather die instead). Taking prednisone has resulted in so much embarrassment and humiliation for myself. I have no idea what's worse... the 104°F fever and coughing, or taking this medication. Take this medication at your own risk. DON'T LET ANY DOCTOR/FACILITY PRESSURE YOU INTO TAKING PREDNISONE OR STEROIDS."

• Die...
• November 13, 2017

"I have eosinophilic asthma (e-asthma), and I will be starting the Nucala injections in a few weeks. Hope it helps because the only thing that does to this point is prednisone, and I don't like being on it very long with the side effects it has."

• mz3...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 28, 2018

"I have been on and off steroids for three years for my asthma, and it has not helped at all. Doctors cannot understand why. I have seen a variety of doctors, and not one has been able to help with my shortness of breath. I've reached the point where I am out of options. Any suggestions?"

• Aan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2020

"I was prescribed prednisone after the doctor could hear wheezing in my lower left side of my lung. I also had a headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, fatigue, and fever. I was prescribed 50 mg. After taking it, I felt great, but then when I'd get up or talk, I'd literally become breathless. Speaking in short sentences, using my muscles to keep myself breathing, and had coughing fits to remove phlegm from the back of my throat. My pulse oximeter displayed 97% and would sometimes drop to 90%, and that's when I'd feel more anxious. Usually I'm 98-100 with asthma and chronic bronchitis. I phoned the doctor, and he told me tomorrow to cut the prednisone in half because the dose might be too high."

• Ang...
• September 1, 2017

"I took this medication last year while going through a bad bout of asthma. I was prescribed 30 mg a day (with tapering, so about a week total). After the third day, the anxiety and crushing depression I was feeling with the medication caused me to go back to the doctor, and she told me to come off it immediately. I was not told to taper off, which I now know is a bad idea. I spent a good 10 days suffering withdrawal effects and had dark thoughts. It took me 9 months to start feeling like myself again. I had debilitating joint pain, so much so that I was tested for lupus, RA, and other joint/connective tissue disorders. I was also very depressed. I had taken prednisone before, with bad reactions, this was the worst yet. Never again."

• Jbi...
• January 5, 2018

"I’m currently taking 20 mg twice a day. I’ve not had any negative side effects, and I’ve been on prednisone several times over the past year. My complaint is that I just don’t feel like it does anything to help me breathe better. It doesn’t seem to work on me."

• DMc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2021

"My asthma is food-related, mainly from preservatives or acids, including lemon. This is the only drug that stops the racking cough. It is always given at the end when the asthma is bad, with a horrible racking cough. I should start earlier with the dose. I use 40 mg a day for 4 days, then reduce to 30 mg for 3 days and 20 mg for 2 days, then 10 mg for 1 day."

• Can...
• September 26, 2017

"When you're left with the choice of breathing or taking this medication, what do you do? Taking a huge taper of four 10 mg for 7 days, then three 10 mg for 7 days, and so on! I have literally told my husband I'm going for divorce and that I hate him and I've never loved him! I've taken this medication before with the same side effects, and it has indeed cost me a job, as I fear it might if and when I can return to work IF I CAN EVER BREATHE AGAIN!!!!! I'm still panicked, I still can't breathe, I am still pursed-lipped breathing, and it's been this way since Friday at 5:30 pm! Yes, I was admitted for 24 hours, only to be discharged while still heavily sedated (shouldn't have been driving myself, and yes, they knew)."

• Pat...
• April 27, 2022

"During my one allergy season a year, I end up needing a steroid to open my airways and calm the inflammation around my larynx and upper respiratory areas. I tend to get small mucus plugs in my upper airways. I don’t go on them unless my inhalers don’t work, and the nebulizer won’t work anymore than I ask for the steroids. Unfortunately, for a couple of years, the physician did not want to give me more than one prescription, and that doesn’t work for me. The box of steroids' seven-day taper doesn’t do anything for bad asthma. Also, I need to taper very slow, so he does not feel like giving me more than one prescription. Several years ago, this happened, and I felt like I was asking this particular doctor for something illegal because that’s the way he was acting. I know all about the side effects of steroids, and they’re not good or fun, but if nothing else works- inhalers, steroid inhalers, and nebulizers- then you have to take a steroid. Last two years, had to go to the ER to get meds."

• KVJ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2017

"Usually, I try to take a drug without reading up on side effects, but this medication had me consistently checking for reactions online. It did help my asthma, but the allergic reactions and side effects kept me out of work the whole time I was on it. My vision became blurry, the nausea was daily, and swelling of my tongue didn't become manageable until I was down to 10 mg. Let me clarify, I was on this medication for almost two months, starting at 60 mg. My sugar went on a roller coaster ride..... they started giving me meds to deal with the side effects, which helped. I will never take this medication in the future. Listen to your body and speak up for yourself. I believe my problem is that I'm allergic to something in it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2024

"I’ve had a severe asthma flare-up or bronchitis-type illness. Felt terrible this morning with constant coughing and very tight chest and bad for a couple of days. Got prednisolone at lunchtime and by this evening I feel so much better. Chest lightened and coughing almost stopped. It’s like a miracle."