Can Prednisone cause the symptoms to recur?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have taken Prednisone for over 10 years now, and the side effects are high on me with more weight gain. I started taking this drug 15 years back after I had surgery on my nasal cavity for growth in my nose. This drug helps me when I am having a breathing problem, nasal conjure, and cough. My intake of medicine was not regular. I usually take it when I am having shortness of breath or cough, or nasal conjure. I took BP 2 mg to 8 mg in a week. But the effects of weight gain have been so high now that I want to stop it. Whenever I stop taking it for up to two weeks, the nasal conjure and blockage on both noses will come back with cough and fast breathing. Please, what should I do? How do I stop the intake of Prednisone? Are there any other drugs I can use other than this?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Long-term intake of tablet Prednisolone is not advisable as it has many side effects. First, consult with your physician to confirm the problem. It may be turbinate hypertrophy or seasonal asthma or allergic bronchitis or lower respiratory tract infection, etc. Until examination is done, it is difficult to say what it is. I suggest you,

Use tablet Deriphylline twice a day for five days in case of breathlessness.
Use tablet Levocetirizine with Phenylephrine twice a day for five days for congestion.
Use water vapor inhalation thrice a day for five days.

Get chest X-ray, complete blood picture, and ECG (electrocardiograph) done. If the symptoms are not improved, please consult with your physician or get back to me with reports. Take care.