Asthma Support Group

I have to wonder what drugs would make pred side effects "the lest of my worries" and that are "much more toxic" requiring frequent blood tests to prevent toxicity. Theophylline? Xolair?

There are in fact very few asthma meds that cause the the kind of severe systemic damage that long-term pred/steriod use does.

I also again have to repeat it is important to know how drugs work before making such statements.

Well I am on aminophylline drugs, I also tale chemotherapy based drugs for my asthma. The side effects of aminophylline are for me very bad because of the dose i need. as i am sure you would agree chemo based drugs are very harmful to the body and make me very ill. I also take one which inhbits tnf receptors whihc cause internal allergies. this causes long term side effects whihc cannot be reversed.

My last post was made with the help of a respiratoy doctor so I trust what they say and I do know what I am talking about with regard to drugs etc as I in mnay aspects have the use of medical specialist on hand having jsut come out of hospital I ahve nurses with me at home twice a day.

Olive

Aminophylline is IV theophylline (a common bronchodialator) and one of the earliest and oldest drugs ever used to treat asthma prior to the development of inhaled steriods. Because it is an older drug and less effective than others since developed, it is not used as often in the US. It does not have the long-term side effects of pred and is only toxic in very high doses.

I am curious about the chemo though, but suspect this might be a form of IVIG using IV immunoglobulin therapy. The only other drugs typically used as chemo agents in treating asthma are usually anti-arthritic drugs such as enberal which never took off here in the US.

Unless you've actually studied the exact pharmacology of how these medications work - what receptors they hit, where they go, and why and how they do what they do - you do not actually know how and why they work- just what the end result should be.

Again, to it is best to consult a pharmacist or licensed nurse practitioner.

I agree with olive,

Most people think that pred is the asthma drug with the worst side-effects, but this is because it is the strongest drug that most people need.

People like olive who have brittle asthma are often given much more powerful drugs which in turn give worse side effects.

I suppose what we think are bad side effects are only relative to the other side effects we have had from other drugs

I think that although it is important to talk to others to be reasured we are normal, we have to except that complaining is not going to get us anywhere, especially as many people would be at risk of death if they didnt take steriod tablets.

I am not acusing people of complaining as the side effects of pred can be very severe and can last for life, but i know that at least for me my life would be of a poorer quitlity without it.

Leah

also depends on person.
for me it is the PREDNISONE with the MOST side effects and that alone.
for others it could be something else.

yea thats what i tell my dad, he wants me to just quit taking it.

yea if you want me to be dead i'll stop taking it. lol he's always trying to play dr.
i'd prefer all the side effects to worst asthma than i have now.