One of the listed side effects of Prednisone is that those who take it are more open to problems with infections. I have PMR and have been taking this drug since August 06 with minimal side effects. If you have experienced any complications due to infections of any kind please respond letting me know what I should be watching out for and how you were treated etc......Thank you.
Osias,
Hello Mike
Welcome!
I have been taking prednisolone since October and recently I came down with a chest infection. I was seeing my GP for a pred update and before I could say anything (between coughs) he had written me a prescription for antibiotics. It took two courses of antibiotics to rid me of the chest infection. Luckily we had caught it in time.
I think doctors are concerned by the immunosuppressive action of the steroids so infections hit you harder and are much more difficult to shake off. Particularly nasty is the herpes zoster virus (chicken pox or shingles) which has to be treated with antivirals. I'm sure this can pass the blood/brain barrier so antivirals are given to fight it.
Just when I started the pred I came into contact with someone who had been nursing her grandchild with chicken pox. Fortunately my antibodies hadn't been zapped too much as I am still here to tell the tale!
Last time I was on steroids the only infection I had was an overgrowth of mouth flora which I made worse by trying to counter-act it with mouthwash. My tongue went black!
Other than the Cushing's syndrome, falling dry hair, eye disturbances, hot flushe and fat deposits I haven't had many side effects!
Hope you are having a good day and not worrying too much about infections: your doc will keep things under control.
Best wishes
Judi xx