Using Prednisone When Sick (Not UC)

Ok, so I weened off pred last August but I still have prednisone left over.  The past few times I have come down with a sick bug in my throat I have taken a 40 mg dose of pred to help curve the bug.  Does anyone see this as a problem I am unaware of?  Is it not similar to a cortizone shot or cort. tablets?  I know I've gone to the doc before and told the dr. I took the pred and she didn't seem concerned.  Anyone know of a concern? 

I think work may be too slow because I feel I know the answer....

It will decrease the inflammation and provide relief of your symptoms, but could also turn a strep throat into a heart infection or blood poisoning or encephalitis. Prednisone is a serious drug and needs to be used carefully and with medical supervision.

Dang, glad I asked now.  I've only done this a few times and it does work for me though.  Also, I didn't quit pred because I went in remission.  I quit because of possible side effects from long term usage.  I had been on and off for years, with the latest on being about a year. 

So, you guys think even though my UC dr. would probably ok, or even advise, me going back on pred (because I'm still flaring), that it's potentially harmful to take a 40mg for a one day only kind of thing?  Heck, I was taking 40 mg/day for 6 months straight...

I don't know about one-day, but if you don't taper when you've been on a high dose for longer than a few days, you'll screw your adrenal glands, and possibly even kill yourself.

It's dangerous to take pred long-term because of side effects like osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes. I can't believe your GI is leaving you on pred for that long at a time...I think you should be looking at a different maintenance med.

For whatever reason, I was under the impression that pred works similar to the steriods you are given through shots or pills when you go to the dr for soar throat, body aches, cough, etc.  I guess I was wrong.  I won't be doing this again...

No no no....

The prednisone was left over from when I tapered completely off in August...

If your doc isn't prescribing them, then why did you think steroids were routinely used to treat sore throats? I'm seriously confused.

Uh, seems like you're misinformed as to why steroids are given...or your doc is. No GP would give them for cold-like symptoms without reason unless symptoms were persistent not responding to other treatments that may be geared for allergic or inflammatory illness.



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They are confusing me too Red. Haha...

You are correct though, but it wasn't necessarily a virus, just the onset of a scratchy throat I had yesterday. 

Of course, it's gone now after taking the pred yesterday, which is why I do it.  No, I'm not doing it anymore.

And I know I'm not off base with a general physician giving you a cortisone shot in the butt when you go in with a head cold.  If it's viral, you get an antibiotic.  If they do blood work and it's not viral, you get a cortisone shot or cort. pills.  This has nothing to do with UC.

This is not one doctor situation.  There are many doctors over the course of years have given this treatment for a non viral cold. 

Seriously, it's screwed up that ANY doc would give a cortisone injecton for regular old respiratory symptoms. And colds are caused by viruses, so I'm not sure what you mean by a "non-viral cold." I've heard of steroids being used for asthma, pneumonia, and severe respiratory infections when wheezing is involved, but never for what you're describing. I've never had a doc even suggest a steroid injection when I've gone in with a respiratory infection.

I don't think Sam will be taking pred in a hurry for any "Colds or Itchy throats" that he gets..lol

Steroids used to be considered a miracle drug--that was before people started reporting serious side effects. Now we know better. They should not be taken unless absolutely necessary. A cold will go away on its own. There is no reason to be taking steroids for a cold.

The fact that you have taken steroids before is even more reason not to take them for small things such as a cold.