Dr. Kaushal Bhavsar
Pulmonology (Asthma Doctors)
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
My mother is 43 years old and received 250 mg Methylprednisolone daily for five days, seven months back, because of COVID. What are the long-term severe side effects that I should watch out for?
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I read your query and can understand your concern.
Usually, steroids, when taken for a longer duration, like two to three months or more, cause chronic long-term side effects like diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, skin changes, and mood swings. So since she took it only for five days, I do not think any long-term side effects will occur.
Hope this helps.
Thank you and take care.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I have read that steroids are harmful. I was caught up in thinking that it would be very harmful to her health. Also, tapering was done, so the steroid treatment lasted for 25 days overall. But tapering was done with a very low dose of 20 mg and then 10 mg. A high dose was only given for five days. Is there anything to worry about?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and can understand your concern.
May I know if she has any symptoms like skin changes, mood swings, diabetes, or high blood pressure? I am curious why you are worried after seven months. Do you see any symptoms in her, which is why you suspect anything related to steroids?
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I had this at the back of my mind for the last seven months. But she was doing fine, so I did not bother. But four days back, she had a high BP and had been under stress for the last two months. We recorded her BP randomly one day. It was 140/90 mm Hg. The next day, she was worried that her blood pressure would be high and so it reached 150/100 mm Hg, and next, she was even more anxious, her BP was about 160/100 mm of Hg, and her pulse reached 150 beats per minute (recorded on ECG). The doctor here said that she should get admitted to the ICU, and they would give an injection to bring down her heart rate. But the doctor who said this was young and not experienced. We consulted another doctor. He said it was nothing to worry about and prescribed tablets Diltiazem 90 mg, Metoprolol 50 mg, and Amlodipine 2.5 mg. But I know she was under a lot of stress for the last two months due to some others reasons. So I was worried about the long-term side effects of the high-dose steroids she received, or was this because of anxiety?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and can understand your concern.
No, this spike in blood pressure cannot be from steroids seven months back. This high blood pressure is primarily due to stress and menopausal age. Not at all, due to steroids, for sure.
Hope this helps.
Thank you and take care.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thanks for the reply.
I am sorry, it was not seven months but 17 months. I mistyped it. She received it 17 months back. I thought the same that it was due to stress and menopausal age. But I get apprehensive when it comes to my mother. And that one doctor said it was PSVT after seeing a pulse rate of 150 beats per minute. Although the other doctor, who was more experienced, denied it, I still could not get it out of my head. So, can I get that 250 mg Methylprednisolone out of my system? And absolutely no other long-term side effects that I should watch out for?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and can understand your concern.
No need to worry about any long-term side effects. Just forget about that steroids now. Nothing will happen, so be relaxed and calm.
Hope this helps.
Thank you and take care.
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Pulmonology (Asthma Doctors)
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