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Is It Safe To Take Prednisolone For Persistent Cough?
Question: I have prescribed prednisolone tablets 50 mg per day for a for a dry very persistent cough ,he told me I have
Asthma . I did a check on the Internet and learn that this drug have very bad side effects. Can you advise if is safe to take prednisolone.
Asthma . I did a check on the Internet and learn that this drug have very bad side effects. Can you advise if is safe to take prednisolone.
Brief Answer:
Get investigated.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome to Healthcaremagic.
Hi, I am Dr Anshul Varshney , I have read your query in detail , I understand your concern.
Short course of steroids like Prednisolone are not much harmful. Most commonly the side effects that appear with steroids is on ling term use.
But, i feel that 50 mg dose a day is high to treat asthma.
I suppose, you should get investigated and be sure that it is Asthma only and not any pneumonia or tuberculosis.
Most commonly, the persistent dry cough is seen in Allergic Bronchitis. People with Asthma, do have the dry cough but, it is mostly associated with breathlessness.
I would advise in such scenario:
1. Hemogram with ESR
2. Chest Xray
3. Pulmonary Function Test
Mostly we need to evaluate our patients clinically, and if there is no severe chest congestion, we prefer to treat with anti-allergic drugs like Levocetrizine and Montelukast. We may add deriphylline or doxophylline for the chest spasms, if there.
If your chest congestion is very severe and there are wheezes and rhonchi's, then inhalers containing bronchi dilators like Salbutamol would be required.
You might also require short dose of Steriod inhaler like Budenoside.
Prednisolone is used in non responders. That means, patients, who are not responding to these above discussed agents, we treat them with steroids, that too for a short course of 5 days only, and that too with minimal dose possible like 2O mg a day.
This is my personal opinion based on details available here. Share my opinion with your doctor.
If you still have any other query, you may please ask me.
Stay Healthy.
Dr Anshul Varshney , MD
Get investigated.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome to Healthcaremagic.
Hi, I am Dr Anshul Varshney , I have read your query in detail , I understand your concern.
Short course of steroids like Prednisolone are not much harmful. Most commonly the side effects that appear with steroids is on ling term use.
But, i feel that 50 mg dose a day is high to treat asthma.
I suppose, you should get investigated and be sure that it is Asthma only and not any pneumonia or tuberculosis.
Most commonly, the persistent dry cough is seen in Allergic Bronchitis. People with Asthma, do have the dry cough but, it is mostly associated with breathlessness.
I would advise in such scenario:
1. Hemogram with ESR
2. Chest Xray
3. Pulmonary Function Test
Mostly we need to evaluate our patients clinically, and if there is no severe chest congestion, we prefer to treat with anti-allergic drugs like Levocetrizine and Montelukast. We may add deriphylline or doxophylline for the chest spasms, if there.
If your chest congestion is very severe and there are wheezes and rhonchi's, then inhalers containing bronchi dilators like Salbutamol would be required.
You might also require short dose of Steriod inhaler like Budenoside.
Prednisolone is used in non responders. That means, patients, who are not responding to these above discussed agents, we treat them with steroids, that too for a short course of 5 days only, and that too with minimal dose possible like 2O mg a day.
This is my personal opinion based on details available here. Share my opinion with your doctor.
If you still have any other query, you may please ask me.
Stay Healthy.
Dr Anshul Varshney , MD
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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