Brief Answer:
Steroids help in refractory urticaria

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back.
As I had mentioned in my previous discussion, steroids are prescribed when urticaria is not responding to oral antiallergics.
Steroids are added in tapering doses and its good that you have started tapering your steroid dose. As I had stressed in our previous discussion too , take a combination of oral antiallergic like cetrizine two times in a day with Benadryl in night or it can also be taken twice in a day depending upon the response achieved. This would offer better control of the disease. Steroids definitely help in urticaria. So be assured intake of oral steroid in your case too would prove to be beneficial.
As far as side effects of prednisolone are concerned, it can lead to acidity, gastric ulcer, raised blood pressure, raised blood sugar, weak bones etc. These side effects occur when steroid is taken for a long period of time. In your case too, I would advise that steroid should be tapered to lowest possible dose in two to three weeks time.

To prevent gastric side effects usually an antacid like ranitidine is prescribed. Ranitidine has a role in urticaria prevention too. Similarly to prevent weak bones one can take calcium and vitamin d supplements if required. As such your attending doctor will keep a check on all these side effects so you need not worry.

Hope this helped.
Take care

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Brief Answer:
I shall be available for follow up

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Like I said earlier, I shall be available for further follow up.
Wishing you speedy recovery and good health.

Regards

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