1st December 2003
Prednisone is an oral corticosteroid. Basically it is a systemic anti-inflammatory. Usually it is only used to burst an asthmatic or allergic person out of a flare, but there are the few unlucky who have been on it for a while. I am on 40 mgs, though we try to get me as low as we can by tapering (dropping little by little). Since I have such bad nocturnal symptoms I take 20 mgs in the morning and 20 mgs at 3pm. The 3pm dosage follows my body's natural steroid curves and helps out with how many times I wake up at night. My maintenance dose of 30 mgs has me taking 10 mgs in the morning and 20 mgs at 3pm.
Xopenex is a lot like your regular albuterol except for more purified. It can be taken at set intervals, but I usually take it when I need it (about four times a day). It only comes in nebulizer form, which is kinda' a pain but not...
Atrovent is an anticholinergic and a mild bronchodilator. It is usually used for those with emphysema and the like because it dries up secretions well. I have it inhaler form as well as in nebulizer form. I use it when I need it, though I like to use the Atrovent twice a day when I have a flare because of those secretions.
Advair is a combination drug. It has both fluticasone (flovent brand name) and salmeterol (serevent brand name). The flovent part is an inhaled corticosteroid that provides long-term suppression of the inflammation in an asthmatic's lungs. The severent part is a lot like your albuterol, but it takes a bit longer to kick in and does so longer. It is called a long-acting bronchodilator. There are three strengths to Adviar: 500/50, 250/50, and 100/50. The larger numbers refer to the amount of corticosteroid in the drug. The serevent part always stays the same. I take this twice a day, once in morning and once at night.
Qvar is another inhaled steroid. I'm on two in hopes to chop away at how much oral steroid I'm on. I take two puffs twice a day, morning and night.
Allegra 180 is an allergy controller medication. I take it once in the morning.
Nasonex is a nasal corticosteroid. It is used to keep inflammation in the sinuses at bay. My sinuses don't really give me a problem, but it is a precautionary thing. I take one spray per nostril twice (morning and night) a day after my nasal irrigation.
Prevacid is a proton pump inhibitor. It is used to control the acid in your stomach and prevent GERD. GERD can drive and/or mimic asthma, so it is good to have that at bay. My pH probe came out only slightly elevated and I never experience symptoms of GERD, but I'm on it because it's better safe than sorry.
IVIG is usually used for those with some types of immune disorders. It is pooled from other people's plasma. Studies have shown that it may help reduce the amount of steroids us steroid-dependent asthmatics are on, so we're trying it. They don't know exactly how it works, but at the moment, if we can lower the dosage of oral steroids, we're trying it...I take this via IV for two days once a month. I go in to National Jewish for it.
I'm also on calcium because prednisone is a nasty little drug that leeches the calcium from your bones causing osteoporosis and some weird part of me thinks 18 is too young to have that as well. (Other side effects of long-term prednisone use consist of glaucoma, diabetes, cataracts, etc). I take 500 mgs of this three times a day. Daily supplemental thing says one should only take 1200 mgs a day, but I have permission for the 1500 mgs. I take it with my morning meds, my 3pm pred dose, and my night meds.
It IS a lot to take and it can be very frustrating. I have meds to take between 7 and 8, at 3, and before I go to bed at around 9. My morning meds (between 7 and 8) and my 3 pm pred and calcium dose are the most annoying because I get the best benefit if I follow my body's natural steroid cycle.
