Alternative to Prednisone?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Jerry Freedman - 12 Aug 2004 19:25 GMT

I have coughing asthma, usually triggered by a bad enough cold. I cough
constantly and sometimes violently and the cough can last 6 weeks treated or
non-treated. The standard treatment for it is prednisone. Prednisone really
doesn't work all that well. I can still have coughing fits while I am taking
50 milligrams a day. The side effects from prednisone suck and for me they
suck even more. I am diabetic and prednisone really messes with my blood
sugar.There have been times when I have been on high doses ( 40 milligrams
and up) for a month. Once, after 5 weeks of it I had to deal with serious,
dnagerous depression when I finally came off it ( didn't know what was going
on until my son's therapist told me that that can happen with prednisone and
is easily treated). I am also a semi-pro trumpet player and this time
prednisone ( only a week) caused my lips to puff up ( I have cupid's bow
anyway) and made playing difficult if not impossible. As I said earlier,
prednisone doesn't work all that wonderfully for me anyway but for asthma,
particularly coughing asthma, its the drug of choice for most Drs. Are there
alternatives out there?

(I should mention that I regularly, whether coughing or not, take flovent
( maxed out dosage), flonase, serevent and prilosec. When I am having a
coughing attack albuterol stops it almost immediately but I am not supposed
to take albuterol more that 4 times a day)

Reply to this Message

nonerequired - 14 Aug 2004 05:32 GMT

I have cough variant asthma (only). Doesn't sound nearly as bad as yours.
Inhaled steroids generally get it under control rapidly, but you said you are
already taking max doses of those. The few times it has not the Dr. added
codeine which helped a lot. It's a strong cough suppressant. I used it as needed
and quit when better. It has side effects but not as serious as prednisone.
Dextromethorpan (DM) is worthless for me.

Fritz

Reply to this Message

Jerry Freedman - 14 Aug 2004 12:51 GMT

I get codeine to ( which I sort of enjoy) but doesn't really do much. The
only thing that stops the coughing is mentholyptus cough drops which taste
evil and don't do much for my blood sugar

> I have cough variant asthma (only). Doesn't sound nearly as bad as yours.
> Inhaled steroids generally get it under control rapidly, but you said you are
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Fritz

Reply to this Message

Ellis - 15 Aug 2004 05:38 GMT

> I have coughing asthma, usually triggered by a bad enough cold.

I cough constantly and sometimes violently and the cough can
last 6 weeks treated or non-treated. The standard treatment
for it is prednisone. Prednisone really

> doesn't work all that well.

-------cut------

> (I should mention that I regularly, whether coughing or not, take flovent
> ( maxed out dosage), flonase, serevent and prilosec. When I am having a
> coughing attack albuterol stops it almost immediately but I am not supposed
> to take albuterol more that 4 times a day)

For Quick Relief, the albuterol inhaler can be used as needed per
below US NIH National guidelines; not restricted to 4x/day.

http://www.vh.org/adult/provider/internalmedicine/AsthmaIM/comp3/3-4b.html
------------------------
"Quick Relief All Patients

*Short-acting bronchodilator: 2-4 puffs short-acting inhaled
beta2-agonist as needed for symptoms.

*Intensity of treatment will depend on severity of exacerbation;
up to 3 treatments at 20-minute intervals or a single nebulizer
treatment as needed. Course of systemic corticosteroids may be needed.

*Use of short-acting beta2-agonists = 2 times a week in intermittent
asthma (daily, or increasing use in persistent asthma) may indicate
the need to initiate (increase) long-term control therapy."
-------------------------

Reply to this Message

Jason - 19 Aug 2004 09:12 GMT

There's a product I found to be quite surprising, though no doubt it'd
vary from individual to individual, called Pycnogenol, it's one of
those "alternative", or "natural" remedies - but not specifically for
Asthma, I tried it and was pleasantly surprised that it reduced my
daily intake of inhaler (Ventolin) from a daily dose or a couple of -
down to maybe twice 3 times a week!! I took 4 tablets a day, any less
and it didnt have the same level of effect. The only unfortunate part
is that you do have to buy it, not available through any Doc etc etc
.. if interested I'd reccommend a search and read from whatever
suppliers might be in your area, there are to my knowledge about 3
maybe 4 different brands.. and it's best to have a good read and
decide which is the more "quality" behind it.
But regardless of al else and whatever you might think about
Alternatives - this really does work. though as said.. might depend
on your level of Asthma, and if you can also afford 4 tabs a day, it's
not permanent.. whwn I stopped my asthma returned to "normal" after
about a week.
Well worth a look into. I got mine from a Co by the name of ~ then
again maybe not.. don't want to be looked on as promoting any
particular brand! I know from other groups around - you do that and
get labeled a spammer!
but if anyone wants to know the one I used - the email to me IS
real... so feel free to ask if you want.

Reply to this Message