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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Asthma / January 2005Inhaled steroids and reduced immune response?
I know that, back in the days of oral prednisone, immune system compromise was a real concern - as it is now for those still taking oral steroids. Has the risk increase with inhaled steroids been studied? I confess to concern that I only contracted pneumonia for the first time once I had started using Advair and Nasonex - both medicines greatly improved my asthma symptoms at the time otherwise, but, well, I'm just wondering, that's all. I've since gotten off of both medicines and expect to stay off at least Advair for the foreseeable future although I may need to go back on Nasonex once the weather warms and I'm outside more. Thanks in advance. -S- > I know that, back in the days of oral prednisone, immune system > compromise was a real concern - as it is now for those still taking oral [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Thanks in advance. I wonder if there is really any way around this, since asthma, like allergies, is essentially a heightened immune response. Steve, inhaled steroids can have some ill effects and suppression of the immune system is one of the risks, but I wouldn't think a bout of pneumonia really points to that. If you start getting ill a lot, then it's possible that your immune system has been compromised. It could also be possible, in that case, that the bout with pneumonia has bacteria lingering and is making your asthma worse. If all you're talking about is the one illness, I wouldn't worry about it. Many people have taken oral steroids for years and don't appear to have suffered any side effects. >Steve, inhaled steroids can have some ill effects and suppression of >the immune system is one of the risks, but I wouldn't think a bout of [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >it. Many people have taken oral steroids for years and don't appear to >have suffered any side effects. The doctor explained that the majority in inhaled steroids go to the area mostly needed and not like taking oral which affect the whole body. The amount inhaled is considered mild in most cases. I quess it is a case not using effecting the quality of life. Mabey I can blame my increase weight on them <G> > Steve, inhaled steroids can have some ill effects and suppression of > the immune system is one of the risks, but I wouldn't think a bout of [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > to > have suffered any side effects. I guess we're each an experiment of one, and I've been doing very well without my inhaled steroids for the last six months or so, so I'm interested to see how I make out this winter. I had pneumonia for the first time two years ago and it got closer to killing me than anything has yet to date - pretty frightening. I got it again last winter but, since we all recognized the signs, we were able to deal with it earlier and therefore better. If I make it through this winter without pneumonia, I will take that as some sort of "sample of one" proof - not scientific evidence for anyone but me but it will have some validity for me. One upshot is that I seem to be getting more symptoms from a common cold than I used to - more nasal stuffiness, sometimes a cough. But these are never symptoms that have turned into anything bad for me, whereas the pneumonia basically came on out of the blue. <sigh> -S- I was reading through the paperwork that came with Singular. Pneumonia was listed as a "side effect". Singular is not a steroid,yet there must be something in some of the asthma medications that makes one vulnerable. Suzi >I was reading through the paperwork that came with Singular. Pneumonia > was listed as a "side effect". Singular is not a steroid,yet there > must > be something in some of the asthma medications that makes one > vulnerable. No science, just my gut reaction, but Singulaire seems like one of the most benign, side-effect-free medicines I've ever taken. If I had to give up all my medications but one, Singulair would be the one I'd keep. There are so many things they have to list as possible side-effects - I find the idea that Singulair increases the likelihood of contracting pneumonia hard to believe, but I imagine it came up in a double-blind study the company did somewhere so I guess it's for real. BTW, I don't think it's accurate to say it makes one vulnerable in this case, just more vulnerable by a statistically significant enough number that they had to list it. -S- http://www.kbnj.com > No science, just my gut reaction, but Singulaire seems like one of the > most benign, side-effect-free medicines I've ever taken. If I had to > give up all my medications but one, Singulair would be the one I'd keep. > think it's accurate to say it makes one vulnerable in this case, just > more vulnerable by a statistically significant enough number that they > had to list it. My original doc (Tahoe) and now my current pulmonary doc (SW La.) and I have tried Singulair on four occasions with great results *except* I repeatedly got severe bronchitis. We stopped the Singulair and no problem for months, started the Singulair again, back in the hospital with bronchitis. I haven't taken it in over a year and have only had a few ER visits w/ asthma since (tho it has to get pretty bad for me to even go to ER). I really would like to try it again because virtually all of my related symptoms either disappeared or became far more manageable especially the night/early morning breathing problems. Funny thing though (reading an earlier post) I take Benadryl sometimes to stop some minor side effects w/ Prednisone. I am going to try and see if there is any improvement on those nights... I never connected it before if there is. Ok... back to just reading and 'listening'! :) take care Polly ===== don't spook ma' groove.... >> No science, just my gut reaction, but Singulaire seems like one of >> the most benign, side-effect-free medicines I've ever taken. If I [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Ok... back to just reading and 'listening'! :) Have you ever tried taking the 5mg instead of the 10mg Singulaire? Or the competing drug that's supposed to do much the same thing but you take twice a day (I think it's called Accolate or something like that)? Both those options might be worth exploring. In particular, we have a friend who is on the small side and she had problems with Singulaire side effects. At my suggestion, she asked her doctor if it was OK to cut the pills in half and try that - the doc OKed it, she liked the results much better, and she's now taking 5mg per day (although I don't know if half a big pill or just one small one - I don't think there's any real difference.) Just some thoughts for you. -S- http://www.kbnj.com > Just some thoughts for you. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll mention this to the doc... w/ my experience with bronchitis I can watch for and recognize any early signs. As the sole care giver for my 3yo grandson, spending time in the hospital, while others care for him, is more stressful than even the bronchitis! take care Polly > I know that, back in the days of oral prednisone, immune system > compromise was a real concern - as it is now for those still taking oral [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > -S- When I get a cold one of my Drs ( the substitute replacement for when my regular is unavailable) always suggests that I cut back on my steroids -- I use flovent and flonase > When I get a cold one of my Drs ( the substitute > replacement for when > my regular is unavailable) always suggests that I cut back > on my > steroids -- I use flovent and flonase Good - cut back on the inhaled steroids at precisely the time when you are most likely to have an asthma exacerbation. Sounds like you should leave the asthm action plan to your regular doc.  Signature00doc >> When I get a cold one of my Drs ( the substitute >> replacement for when [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >exacerbation. Sounds like you should leave the asthm action >plan to your regular doc. Mabey the substitute is trying to build up a practice by making sure he treats really sick people. The pay more. > On Sun, 9 Jan 2005 08:46:43 -0500, "00doc" > <00doc@commoncast.net> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > making sure > he treats really sick people. The pay more. Actually just the opposite is true. |
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