- Used to prevent the severe symptoms of asthma
- Used to treat COPD
- Also used to treat skin disorders
- Used to treat Addison’s disease, arthritis, lupus, colitis and eye disorders
Sterapred is a corticosteroid that is generic Prednisone and it is sold in tablets that contain 5 mg or 10 mg.
Indications
This generic drug is used to treat a host of disorders besides preventing an asthma attack from coming on. It is used to treat skin disorders like psoriasis and it is used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, lupus, Crohn’s disease, Addison’s disease, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and certain eye disorders.
Action
This drug is a steroid and it prevents inflammation in the body by stopping the release of substances that cause it. In asthmatics, this means that the airways get clear and the person can breathe better. It averts an asthma attack.
Side Effects
Some people might experience minor side effects like a headache, stomach upset, tiredness or muscle pain. There could also be insomnia, swelling of the ankles, increased appetite and weight gain. The more serious ones are convulsions, mood swings, depression, bloody stools, vomiting, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, severe rash or hives and changes in the menstrual cycle. There could be high fever and extreme fatigue as well as vision problems and dizziness. There could be an uncomfortable tightness in the chest and muscle weakness and pain. There have been long term effects too of bone loss, hirsutism and impotence.
Caution
You should make sure you give your doctor every detail of your medical history. He needs to know if you are allergic to anything so he can prescribe drugs that will suit you. He will have to know about any alcohol, drugs or tobacco addictions. There are certain medications that could react badly with this drug so you need to inform him about any medication you take, even if it is aspirin. You also need to tell him about the vitamins and supplements you might be taking, even if they are herbal or natural. You will especially need to inform him about any incidence of high blood pressure, TB, diabetes, thyroid, herpes, cataracts, glaucoma, liver, kidney or cardiac problems or osteoporosis, as well as seizures or depression.
Contraindications
You should not take this drug if you suffer from a fungal infection so you must tell your doctor about it. Getting a live vaccine or immunizations could also be dangerous. Steroids make your immune system weaker so you should avoid people with infectious diseases, especially if it is measles or chicken pox. You should not attempt to change the dosage of the drug unless your doctor tells you to. He might if you are under a lot of stress or if you are ill. You should also not stop this medication suddenly. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid this drug as much as possible because there isn’t enough known about its effect on the fetus or the infant.