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Is It Safe To Take Prednisone For Ulcerative Colitis And Asthma?
Question: Good evening Doctor:
I am a 73 year old male.
My problem. I've had ulcerated colitis for about 4 months now and my Dr. has me now on 3 doses of Lialda. Recently he told me not to take prednisone.
I also have asthma and am in my 8 month of treatment with Xolair, an injection taken once a month. It is working pretty well after about 3 to 4 months for it to work. I was treated by another doctor for a year for COPD and no inhaler, atomizer or nebulizer worked to releve symptoms. The only drug that worked to allow me to breathe normally was Prednisone. Now that I'm on Xolair I have a rare need for Prednisone. There have been a few months just after I get my Xolair shot I become symptomatic again sometimes for only a few hours but others times for a few days. I just got my shots today and I am symptomatic again and am tempted to revert to Prednisone to get me through this (It has worked in the past, used before my GI Doctor warned me off Prednisone). However since my GI Doctor warned me against using prednisone I am reluctant to use it. I went on the web to a drug compatibility check site to check Prednisone, Xolair, Lialda and Asacol (A drug I am no longer taking). The compatibility site listed no adverse reactions between any of these drugs.
In your opinion, am I safe to resort to the Prednisone as my Allergist (Administer of my Xolair) advised me (He is not familiar with the warning from my GI Dr.) or do you know why my GI Doctor warned me off Prednisone.
I am a 73 year old male.
My problem. I've had ulcerated colitis for about 4 months now and my Dr. has me now on 3 doses of Lialda. Recently he told me not to take prednisone.
I also have asthma and am in my 8 month of treatment with Xolair, an injection taken once a month. It is working pretty well after about 3 to 4 months for it to work. I was treated by another doctor for a year for COPD and no inhaler, atomizer or nebulizer worked to releve symptoms. The only drug that worked to allow me to breathe normally was Prednisone. Now that I'm on Xolair I have a rare need for Prednisone. There have been a few months just after I get my Xolair shot I become symptomatic again sometimes for only a few hours but others times for a few days. I just got my shots today and I am symptomatic again and am tempted to revert to Prednisone to get me through this (It has worked in the past, used before my GI Doctor warned me off Prednisone). However since my GI Doctor warned me against using prednisone I am reluctant to use it. I went on the web to a drug compatibility check site to check Prednisone, Xolair, Lialda and Asacol (A drug I am no longer taking). The compatibility site listed no adverse reactions between any of these drugs.
In your opinion, am I safe to resort to the Prednisone as my Allergist (Administer of my Xolair) advised me (He is not familiar with the warning from my GI Dr.) or do you know why my GI Doctor warned me off Prednisone.
Brief Answer:
Hi
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the query.
I understand your concern.
Well prednisone though is effective in controlling both asthma and ulcerative colitis but has lot of side effects like development of diabetes, hypertension, brittle bones, eye problems etc when taken on a long term basis.
If your ulcerative colitis is getting controlled on lialda it is best not to sort to prednisone.
for your asthma you can continue xolair after consulatation with your allergic specialist along with inhaled steroids which if taken properly are as effective as oral and with much lesser side effects.
There are no as such interactions between these drugs as your search had suggested, but only for the reason of side effects you are not advised to take prednisone on a long term basis.
so I suggest you to continue your treatment in conjunction with your doctors and not to self medicate yourself with these drugs as they may have potential side effects if taken inappropriately.
hope this answers your query.
Wish you a speedy recovery.
Happy to help.
Hi
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the query.
I understand your concern.
Well prednisone though is effective in controlling both asthma and ulcerative colitis but has lot of side effects like development of diabetes, hypertension, brittle bones, eye problems etc when taken on a long term basis.
If your ulcerative colitis is getting controlled on lialda it is best not to sort to prednisone.
for your asthma you can continue xolair after consulatation with your allergic specialist along with inhaled steroids which if taken properly are as effective as oral and with much lesser side effects.
There are no as such interactions between these drugs as your search had suggested, but only for the reason of side effects you are not advised to take prednisone on a long term basis.
so I suggest you to continue your treatment in conjunction with your doctors and not to self medicate yourself with these drugs as they may have potential side effects if taken inappropriately.
hope this answers your query.
Wish you a speedy recovery.
Happy to help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr. Deshmukh: Thank you for your reply and concern. However I'm assuming from your reply indicating I or a Doctor are suggesting Prednisone as a long term remedy to either problem and conclude I was not as clear as I could have been. My GI Dr. plainly said, "Do not use Prednisone." knowing I have some at home from my Allergist. My Allergist never prescribed Prednisone as a long term use for the control of my asthma but only as a rescue medicine. He did that for the simple reason that over time it was concluded my symptoms to asthma did not respond to any inhaler, nebulizer or mist as either a control or rescue medicine. The only response to return my breathing came from Prednisone. So when I have an asthmatic episode with Xolair my Allergist suggested Prednisone as a rescue medicine (3 days of Prednisone 20mg, AM and PM followed by 3 days of Prednisone 20mg AM only) In 8 months I've only had to use it once and it worked to get me symptom free and under the control of Xolair again.
To re-emphasize, no doctor suggested Prednisone as a long term solution.
My question was would that short of use of Prednisone compromise my treatment of colitis controlled by Lialda.
I apologize for the original question being incomplete and appreciate your time.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXX XXXXXX
To re-emphasize, no doctor suggested Prednisone as a long term solution.
My question was would that short of use of Prednisone compromise my treatment of colitis controlled by Lialda.
I apologize for the original question being incomplete and appreciate your time.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXX XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mr XXXXXXX
Thank you for the query.
There is absolute no harm in taking prednisone as a short term rescue medication for asthma.
It will not interfere with treatment of colitis by lialda, but on the contrary may benefit in controlling colitis too.
Sorry for misunderstanding your question.
Hope this answers your query.
Wish you a pink health ahead.
Best wishes.
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mr XXXXXXX
Thank you for the query.
There is absolute no harm in taking prednisone as a short term rescue medication for asthma.
It will not interfere with treatment of colitis by lialda, but on the contrary may benefit in controlling colitis too.
Sorry for misunderstanding your question.
Hope this answers your query.
Wish you a pink health ahead.
Best wishes.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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