Question: Hi, I started with a cold last Wednesday, and tested yesterday to find it is NOT covid but some crazy respiratory virus that started with sore throat and congestion and post nasal drip. By last Saturday, I felt I maybe had a sinus infection and started an antibiotic that day (5 day Azithromycin). By Sunday, I felt wheezy in my chest and had a cough and I began a 6 day taper of Medrol . I have asthma with certain viruses/colds. By this Wednesday, my sinuses were better but the coughing worsened and asthma and inflammation in the chest worsened. My allergist gave me a nebulizer treatment, and send me home with it and changed my Medrol dose to a high dose of 48 mg, tomorrow 40 mg, Friday 32 mg, Saturday, 16 mg... I feel not so great, but wheezing is less. My questions is whether the Medrol will prevent the bronchitis from healing quicker as I read it lowers immunity. I am wondering how long it will take for the acute asthma & bronchitis to clear. Also, how long it will take for my immune system to kick back in afterwards since I am concerned about getting another sickness on top of this one. And, can the Medrol be taken with vitamin supplements like C & D and magnesium, etc.?

Ok thank you. Are there any other vitamin solutions to treating the immunity issue or improving lung function? I have been using a powdered magnesium supplement, and high doses of vitamin c. How quickly would my immune system be expected to be restored after stoping Medrol?

One more question! Are the side effects of Medrol cumulative or do they disappear after the drug eliminates from your system daily? I’ve notice the higher doses make it hard to swallow certain foods or vitamins because I’m so dried out from the 40 mg dose in one day. My doc wants me to take it all at once. Also maybe the levalbuterol could be doing that?

Hi,
I’ve completed my Medrol taper yesterday & today while I am better overall I have had some early morning slight wheezing while still in bed. I used my xopenex inhaler & I felt better but noticing some return of slight tightness in chest today & slight wheezing when I deeply inhale. Is this normal after coming off of Medrol & bronchitis is still resolving? Should I be concerned or just dismiss it and resume my normal activities? Would it help to excercise a bit to resolve chest congestion? Should I nebulize?

Ok - thx. My allergist put me back up to 8 mg of Medrol for two days, then 4 mg for two days after - a longer weaning off. I will also use my xopenex a couple times a day. I guess it just takes awhile for the bronchitis & inflammation to clear? It seems to fluctuate. It is reasonable to assume that I can exercise once the wheezing is completely gone? It was mostly gone but returned more so today before I took the 8 mg Medrol. I was on an antibiotic early n in the virus so I also worry that maybe something else is settling in? I stopped taking Zithromax last Wednesday.

Thank you & I can I take Advil a day after stopping Medrol in case I have inflammation in my throat area? I will still be Pulmicort 180 1 puff twice a day. I’ve had a lot of inflammation from coughing

Hi again,
I have finished tapering off my prednisone yesterday, and I last took my antibiotic on wednesday the 5th of January (it was a 5 day Zpack). I am still on Pulmicort 180 2x day inhaled & find myself still having some bouts of shortness of breath I am managing with xopenex today - one time. My allergist doesn’t think I need another antibiotic. But today I am first seeing thick whitish/yellowish discharge from my nose. I am also feeling like there is a colored sputum coming occasionally when I occasionally cough. I cannot see it, but it tastes odd. How would I know if I do need an additional antibiotic? This is going on three weeks. It is exhausting & I thought I w out of be over it by now. Is it normal to have some colored sputum now and lingering shortness of breath? I do wonder if that pulmicort May be causing some of it & I should switch to just taking Advil? Also take mucinex today.

Thank you. What would be a good gauge to know whether I would need an antibiotic? My chest/bronchial area feels inflammed still & I periodically feel tight in my chest but I guess this is normal after bronchitis. Today it is three weeks from when I started with a sore throat. So I count three weeks time from day it went into my chest? Or when I started with a sore throat and sinus trouble? I’m always confused about timing to recovery…

Ok good idea, tho my allergist doesn’t prescribe any of it she suggested I take an antacid. I’ve tried gaviscom & feel a bit better. I guess it could be acid reflux since I was on Medrol and antibiotics previously. I do have gerd and a hiatal hernia so I hope it is simple.