Big A,

If you are doing long term antibiotics, it may take up to 2 months to see an
improvement. So you take your regular asthma meds until you find you are
more in control and then you can go off them. One by one. When I did it, I
took a month between each drug before I tried going down. A few people
report feeling better after just a week or two, but if you read at Jim
Quinlan's site, you will see that most report it takes awhile.

Also, not everyone is helped, so you want to stay on your meds in case you
are not in the group with an ongoing infection. Good luck!

Joy

If you're using 10 mgs a day on a regular basis you can't stop.   You
can use the azithromycin with it---Jack

Hiya -

If you are still struggling while on 10mg, you should be on a higher
dosage.  I know that there are a bunch of side effects associated with
prednisone, believe me.  Not breathing, however, is much worse for your
body than any side effect of any medication.  While on prednisone you
should be crystal clear, so that you can see how to taper, eventually.
I have taken oral prednisone since about 1988.  At one point I was
taking almost 80mg a day.  Thats what it took, so that's what I took.  I
am now down to 4mg a day.  I'm always hoping to be steroid free, but I'm
not willing to wheeze to do it.

Yes, you can take the Zpack with prednisone.  My doc usually recommends
that particular antibiotic because he feels it works the best with
asthma meds.  I'm unclear as to whether you are doing a short term
antibiotic deal, like for a specific infection, or you are beginning the
long-term antibiotic treatment that some here in the newsgroup
(including myself) have tried.  Either way, getting your breathing under
control has to be the main objective.  Please talk to your doc and find
out what it will take for you to breathe easy.

Life is uncertain......eat dessert first!!
Nancy
8=: )