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Prednisone dosage for flu -
Prednisone is a steroid used to treat and prevent a variety of conditions that involve inflammation. Find out how to take it safely and possible side effects. Prednisone is used to treat many illnesses associated with inflammation, such as asthmaCOPDrheumatoid arthritisgoutulcerative colitisCrohn's disease and other autoimmune conditions.
Prednisone works by calming or suppressing your body's immune system and is especially effective for treating flare-ups of these conditions. Prednisone helps to reduce the symptoms associated with these conditions — it does not cure them. Prednisone is in a class of medicines known as corticosteroids, which is similar to the steroid hormones your body naturally makes.
In New Zealand prednisone is available as tablets in 4 different strengths: 1 mg, 2. Like all medicines, prednisone can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.
Most side effects are related to the dose you are taking and how long you are taking prednisone for. Read more about taking steroids long term. Prednisone, especially in high doses, can cause changes in personality, behaviour and mood, such as:. These symptoms typically develop within a few days of starting prednisone, but they can occur at any time, including after stopping treatment. While these symptoms often go away when your dose is reduced or prednisone is stopped, stopping prednisone must be done under the guidance of your doctor.
Stopping too quickly can make these symptoms worse. You are at higher risk of mood and behaviour changes if you have previously had similar reactions to steroids corticosteroid-induced psychosisor if you have a personal or family history of psychiatric disorders. If you have changes in mood and behaviour, especially depression and suicidal thoughts, tell your doctor immediately or phone Healthline Prednisone interacts with a number of medications and herbal supplements so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting prednisone or before starting any new medicines.
Looking for Where to get medical help A health professional or service Patient portals Newsletters View all. How to reduce my prednisone dose gradually over a few weeks. These are quite common when you first start taking prednisone and usually go away with time. Tell your doctor if troublesome. Prednisone increases your appetite. Follow a healthy, balanced diet to maintain your weight. Develop an eating schedule and stick to it. Whenever possible, sit with your feet raised.
Avoid foods with high salt content. Tell your doctor if this happens. Prednisone can cause an increase in blood glucose.
If you have diabetes, you may need to increase the dose of your diabetes medicine to control your blood glucose. Talk to your doctor about this.
Prednisone can also cause the onset of diabetes in people who are at risk of diabetes. Your doctor will monitor your blood glucose levels regularly. Tell your doctor immediately or phone Healthline Problems with your stomach such as pain, blood in your stool poo or dark coloured stool poo. Report a side effect to a product.
❾-50%}Prednisone dosage for flu
What should you do if you've got the flu? Unless you're a candidate for an antiviral, our experts recommend strategies such as rest, getting plenty of fluids, and the use of OTC pain relievers as directed by your doctor. You can also follow the Consumer Reports' day-by-day guide to treating colds and flu.
While most studies on masks have been done in healthcare settings, some suggest they may help stave off flu in other situations, too. It may also help prevent you from passing the virus from your hands to your mouth or nose. And wear one if you're sick and are going to be around other people, or are caring for someone with the flu.
Last, consider a mask if you're going to a doctor's office, or if you're traveling on an airplane, especially if people around you seem sick. Two types of masks are currently available: surgical masks available at drugstores and online , designed to block large particles that may carry viruses, and N respirators available at some hardware, medical supply, and office supply stores and online , which block even smaller particles.
Both appear to work equally well, according to a study in JAMA. Just make sure you get a tight fit around your mouth and nose. For more advice on masks and the flu, see what the CDC says. But these only work for bacterial infections—not viral infections like the flu. And using the medications unnecessarily can contribute to an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria and bacterial infections that are hard or impossible to cure, Lipman says.
The flu can sometimes, however, lead to complications that may be appropriate to treat with antibiotics, such as bacterial pneumonia. Secondary infections such as strep throat may be treated with antibiotics, too, says pharmacist Heather Free. Some doctors may also prescribe steroids such as prednisone to stem symptoms like the cough that can occur due to inflammation from the flu virus.
But this is potentially dangerous, because steroids suppress your immune system—making it harder to fight infection, says William Schaffner, M. Generally, steroids should be considered for the flu only for people who are admitted to the hospital with severe wheezing due to an underlying problem such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, Lipman adds. So unless you have a bacterial infection or lung problems, avoid antibiotics and steroids for the flu. Instead, follow these treatment steps if you do get sick.
Hallie Levine is an award-winning magazine and freelance writer who contributes to Consumer Reports on health and fitness topics. She's a mom to three kids and a fat but feisty black Labrador r etriever named Ivry. In her nonexistent spare time, she likes to read, swim, and run marathons.
Do you need Tamiflu? Do antibiotics, steroids, and supplements work? What you must know now. By Hallie Levine. February 14, Sharing is Nice Yes, send me a copy of this email. Send We respect your privacy. Oops, we messed up.
Try again later. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals.
For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of prednisone in children. However, pediatric patients are more likely to have slower growth and bone problems if prednisone is used for a long time.
Recommended doses should not be exceeded, and the patient should be carefully monitored during therapy. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of prednisone in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for elderly patients receiving prednisone.
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.
When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you.
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
To do so may increase the chance for unwanted effects. Measure the oral liquid with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. Measure the concentrated liquid with the special oral dropper that comes with the package. If you use this medicine for a long time, do not suddenly stop using it without checking first with your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.
Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Keep from freezing. If you will be taking this medicine for a long time, it is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits for any unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine. Blood or urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby.
Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away. If you are using this medicine for a long time, tell your doctor about any extra stress or anxiety in your life, including other health concerns and emotional stress. Your dose of this medicine might need to be changed for a short time while you have extra stress.
We respect your privacy. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. Certain of these "alternative" flu therapies, such as dietary supplementsare even being recommended by some pharmacists, according to news accounts. More people are also donning surgical or respiratory masks to keep flu germs at bay. And some are getting prescriptions for steroids and antibiotics if they do come down with the virus. Do any of these strategies actually work?
And what should you do if you can't find an antiviral like Tamiflu, or a place to get a flu shot? Newspapers and TV stations around the U.
These drugs can reduce flu symptoms somewhat and may shorten the course of the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDCthere have been spot shortages of the vaccine and the antivirals, particularly of generic oseltamivir in capsule and powder form which is mixed with water for those who have trouble swallowing capsules.
Confirm by phone before you go and be aware, says the CDC, that you may not have a choice about which flu shot you get. If you have just come down with the flu and your doctor thinks you're a candidate for an antiviral —most otherwise healthy people generally are not—it may take a bit of detective work to find it, says Michael Hochman, M. At his center, the nurses keep up with which pharmacies have antivirals in stock, so ask whether your doctor's office has similar information.
Or check pharmacy websites—some are noting availability of antivirals—or call local drugstores. Good to know: If you need powder oseltamivir and it's out of stock, pharmacists now have permission from the CDC to compound it from capsules.
If cost is a concern, know that many health insurers are currently covering Tamiflu as a generic or at the lowest cost "tier" for brand-name drugs.
Lipman, M. In the case of one vitamin—vitamin D—some research does suggest that supplements may modestly reduce the risk of upper respiratory infection such as a cold or flu. But those results were mainly seen in people who were very deficient in the vitamin.
And, notes Heather Free, Pharm D. Homeopathic productswhich are classified by the FDA as medications and may sit on drugstore shelves next to over-the-counter drugs, are a different matter. In homeopathy, a presumed active ingredient—in Oscillococcinum, it's an extract of wild duck heart and liver—is diluted to the point where it's virtually undetectable. According to Lipman, there's no good evidence that homeopathy works. Consumer Reports reached out to Boiron, the manufacturers of Oscillococcinum.
In an emailed statement, a Boiron representative wrote, "Oscillococcinum has remarkable customer satisfaction and a money-back guarantee. The statement also said: "Oscillococcinum has been shown in two placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trials to help reduce the severity and shorten the duration of flu-like symptoms. What should you do if you've got the flu? Unless you're a candidate for an antiviral, our experts recommend strategies such as rest, getting plenty of fluids, and the use of OTC pain relievers as directed by your doctor.
You can also follow the Consumer Reports' day-by-day guide to treating colds and flu. While most studies on masks have been done in healthcare settings, some suggest they may help stave off flu in other situations, too. It may also help prevent you from passing the virus from your hands to your mouth or nose. And wear one if you're sick and are going to be around other people, or are caring for someone with the flu.
Last, consider a mask if you're going to a doctor's office, or if you're traveling on an airplane, especially if people around you seem sick. Two types of masks are currently available: surgical masks available at drugstores and onlinedesigned to block large particles that may carry viruses, and N respirators available at some hardware, medical supply, and office supply stores and onlinewhich block even smaller particles.
Both appear to work equally well, according to a study in JAMA. Just make sure you get a tight fit around your mouth and nose. For more advice on masks and the flu, see what the CDC says. But these only work for bacterial infections—not viral infections like the flu. And using the medications unnecessarily can contribute to an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria and bacterial infections that are hard or impossible to cure, Lipman says.
The flu can sometimes, however, lead to complications that may be appropriate to treat with antibiotics, such as bacterial pneumonia. Secondary infections such as strep throat may be treated with antibiotics, too, says pharmacist Heather Free.
Some doctors may also prescribe steroids such as prednisone to stem symptoms like the cough that can occur due to inflammation from the flu virus. But this is potentially dangerous, because steroids suppress your immune system—making it harder to fight infection, says William Schaffner, M.
Generally, steroids should be considered for the flu only for people who are admitted to the hospital with severe wheezing due to an underlying problem such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, Lipman adds. So unless you have a bacterial infection or lung problems, avoid antibiotics and steroids for the flu.
Instead, follow these treatment steps if you do get sick. Hallie Levine is an award-winning magazine and freelance writer who contributes to Consumer Reports on health and fitness topics. She's a mom to three kids and a fat but feisty black Labrador r etriever named Ivry.
In her nonexistent spare time, she likes to read, swim, and run marathons. Do you need Tamiflu? Do antibiotics, steroids, and supplements work? What you must know now. By Hallie Levine. February 14, Sharing is Nice Yes, send me a copy of this email. Send We respect your privacy. Oops, we messed up. Try again later. When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. Learn more. More on the Flu. When to Worry About a Fever.
More From Consumer Reports. Hallie Levine Hallie Levine is an award-winning magazine and freelance writer who contributes to Consumer Reports on health and fitness topics. Show comments commenting powered by Facebook.
To determine whether low-dose prednisone reduces flu-like symptoms at the initiation of interferon beta 1-b (IFNbeta-1b), we studied 71 patients with. Low‐moderate‐dose CS therapy defined as 25 to mg/day methylprednisolone or equivalent. High‐dose CS therapy defined as > mg/day. Some people may. Many clinicians administer corticosteroids as an anti-inflammatory treatment for patients with severe influenza-related pneumonia to stop. Adults—At first, 5 to 60 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. Missed. Prednisone is in a class of medicines known as corticosteroids, which is similar to the steroid hormones your body naturally makes. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely. Or check pharmacy websites—some are noting availability of antivirals—or call local drugstores.Drug information provided by: IBM Micromedex. Prednisone provides relief for inflamed areas of the body. It is used to treat a number of different conditions, such as inflammation swelling , severe allergies, adrenal problems, arthritis, asthma, blood or bone marrow problems, endocrine problems, eye or vision problems, stomach or bowel problems, lupus, skin conditions, kidney problems, ulcerative colitis, and flare-ups of multiple sclerosis.
Prednisone is a corticosteroid cortisone-like medicine or steroid. It works on the immune system to help relieve swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions.
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals.
For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of prednisone in children.
However, pediatric patients are more likely to have slower growth and bone problems if prednisone is used for a long time. Recommended doses should not be exceeded, and the patient should be carefully monitored during therapy. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of prednisone in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for elderly patients receiving prednisone.
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.
When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you.
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur.
Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:.
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance for unwanted effects.
Measure the oral liquid with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.
Measure the concentrated liquid with the special oral dropper that comes with the package. If you use this medicine for a long time, do not suddenly stop using it without checking first with your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Keep from freezing. If you will be taking this medicine for a long time, it is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits for any unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine. Blood or urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant.
If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away. If you are using this medicine for a long time, tell your doctor about any extra stress or anxiety in your life, including other health concerns and emotional stress. Your dose of this medicine might need to be changed for a short time while you have extra stress. Using too much of this medicine or using it for a long time may increase your risk of having adrenal gland problems.
Talk to your doctor right away if you have more than one of these symptoms while you are using this medicine: blurred vision, dizziness or fainting, a fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat, increased thirst or urination, irritability, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
This medicine may cause you to get more infections than usual. Avoid people who are sick or have infections and wash your hands often. If you are exposed to chickenpox or measles, tell your doctor right away. If you start to have a fever, chills, sore throat, or any other sign of an infection, call your doctor right away. Check with your doctor right away if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, eye pain, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment.
Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist eye doctor. While you are being treated with prednisone, do not have any immunizations vaccines without your doctor's approval. Prednisone may lower your body's resistance and the vaccine may not work as well or you might get the infection the vaccine is meant to prevent. In addition, you should not be around other persons living in your household who receive live virus vaccines because there is a chance they could pass the virus on to you.
Some examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, influenza nasal flu vaccine , poliovirus oral form , rotavirus, and rubella. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for very long.
If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor. This medicine may cause changes in mood or behavior for some patients.
Tell your doctor right away if you have depression, mood swings, a false or unusual sense of well-being, trouble with sleeping, or personality changes while taking this medicine. This medicine might cause thinning of the bones osteoporosis or slow growth in children if used for a long time.
Tell your doctor if you have any bone pain or if you have an increased risk for osteoporosis. If your child is using this medicine, tell the doctor if you think your child is not growing properly. Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain skin tests. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor.
This includes prescription or nonprescription over-the-counter [OTC] medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.
Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.
These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:.
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
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