Discussion
Dad(86) suffering from a cold and a bad chest infection saw his GP last Thursday. He was expecting a course of antibiotics but instead he was prescribed with a drug called Prednisolone. Googling shows this drug as a steroid that stops inflamation and is usually given to asthma patients. He does feel short changed with this treatment and say's the tablets are not working.
I would like to know if this drug is the norm for elderly patients? and preferred over antibiotics? I'm quite alarmed about the long list of side effects this drug can have.
I would like to know if this drug is the norm for elderly patients? and preferred over antibiotics? I'm quite alarmed about the long list of side effects this drug can have.
Why would the doctors give antibiotics for a cold?
prednisolone is given for a wide range of conditions, one of them is to make body tissue a little more robust, there is sod all a doc can do about a cold, I suspect he is prescribing them to make the lungs better able to cope if it goes on to cause further infection.
If he does have a chest infection he should have been given antibiotics for that, maybe the doc found no evidence of it?
There is ahuge amount of prednisolone used in my house and with proper monitoring there shouldn't be a problem, short term I wouldn't worry.
prednisolone is given for a wide range of conditions, one of them is to make body tissue a little more robust, there is sod all a doc can do about a cold, I suspect he is prescribing them to make the lungs better able to cope if it goes on to cause further infection.
If he does have a chest infection he should have been given antibiotics for that, maybe the doc found no evidence of it?
There is ahuge amount of prednisolone used in my house and with proper monitoring there shouldn't be a problem, short term I wouldn't worry.
Edited by Sheets Tabuer on Saturday 21st August 23:41
I don't think antibiotics are usually prescribed for bronchitis, as I say I think the steroids are being prescribed to boost him while his body deals with it.
You could have a chat with the doc as I'm sure the dangers from chest infection/pneumonia at his age can be a problem.
I'm not a doc so feel free to ignore me.
I do however think at 86 he should have antibiotics just in case.
You could have a chat with the doc as I'm sure the dangers from chest infection/pneumonia at his age can be a problem.
I'm not a doc so feel free to ignore me.
I do however think at 86 he should have antibiotics just in case.
Edited by Sheets Tabuer on Saturday 21st August 23:52
A chest infection can still be viral, therefore antibiotics will be of no use. Sometimes I think the elderly get a bit stuck in their thoughts and assume that 'chest infection' = antibiotics.
I'd give the prednisolone a go, but if there isn't any improvement after a week, go back to the Dr and ask for a sputum sample to be taken (ETA: so that the relevant antibiotic can be prescribed.) If this isn't conclusive, push for a bronchoscopy.
In an elderly person, prednisolone isn't something to be prescribed long-term: it accelerates osteoporosis and needs to be considered in the totality of all other other medication the patient is also taking, ie. anti-coagulants. In my experience GPs don't do this - they just add another drug to the list.
BTW, I'm not a Dr or Pharmacist - just an unfortunately well-informed amateur having seen my 87 year-old father go through all of this, wishing I knew then what I know now.
I'd give the prednisolone a go, but if there isn't any improvement after a week, go back to the Dr and ask for a sputum sample to be taken (ETA: so that the relevant antibiotic can be prescribed.) If this isn't conclusive, push for a bronchoscopy.
In an elderly person, prednisolone isn't something to be prescribed long-term: it accelerates osteoporosis and needs to be considered in the totality of all other other medication the patient is also taking, ie. anti-coagulants. In my experience GPs don't do this - they just add another drug to the list.
BTW, I'm not a Dr or Pharmacist - just an unfortunately well-informed amateur having seen my 87 year-old father go through all of this, wishing I knew then what I know now.
Edited by Mobile Chicane on Sunday 22 August 00:07
Sevo said:
The prednisolone will have been given because he's wheezy. If there is no good evidence of bacterial infection then the GP will have avoided antibiotics. Short courses of steroids are fairly safe. I wouldn't be too concerned.
As for a bronchoscopy...no, just no.
agree with sevo,As for a bronchoscopy...no, just no.
does the OPs father have any degree of chronic obstructive airways disorder/ disease?
Lower respiratory infections, whether bacterial or viral, cause inflammation of the airways and an increase in mucus production. Either of these makes it harder to get air in and out, causing shortness of breath. Going that your dad had cold symptoms, it is fair to assume that this is a viral illness, where antibiotics would be of no benefit other than appeasement. A short course of prednisolone (40mg daily for 5 days, say) will relieve the inflammation from the inner walls of the airways allowing the mucus to be less obstructive. Dad may cough more and expel more sputum but that is OK. As long as the breathing is normal he'll get better.
Regarding the patient advice leaflet you get in all medication packs, here's my advice; carefully take it out the pack, unfold it, and put it in the recycling bin where it belongs
Regarding the patient advice leaflet you get in all medication packs, here's my advice; carefully take it out the pack, unfold it, and put it in the recycling bin where it belongs
Lower respiratory infections, whether bacterial or viral, cause inflammation of the airways and an increase in mucus production. Either of these makes it harder to get air in and out, causing shortness of breath. Going that your dad had cold symptoms, it is fair to assume that this is a viral illness, where antibiotics would be of no benefit other than appeasement. A short course of prednisolone (40mg daily for 5 days, say) will relieve the inflammation from the inner walls of the airways allowing the mucus to be less obstructive. Dad may cough more and expel more sputum but that is OK. As long as the breathing is normal he'll get better.
Regarding the patient advice leaflet you get in all medication packs, here's my advice; carefully take it out the pack, unfold it, and put it in the recycling bin where it belongs
Regarding the patient advice leaflet you get in all medication packs, here's my advice; carefully take it out the pack, unfold it, and put it in the recycling bin where it belongs
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff