Thread started: Nov 23 2008, 9:31 PM EST
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2 weeks ago, i started having asthma symptoms (my asthma is very mild, but can be triggered by allergy, exercise, cold temps, & virus). with every exacerabation, i go to my primary care doctor for a dose of oral steriods -in addition to using the nebulizer & inhaled steriod. as usual, i was given the medrol dose pack (generic Prednisone AKA methylprednisolone). per doctor's instructions, i took the first day's dose (24 mg) all at once. within hours, my symptoms flared and i my voice was gone.
i continued using the nebulizer 'round the clock and saw the doctor 2 days later to relate that i had increased fatigue, shortness of breath, and felt worse. i was prescribed another inhaled steriod. i continued to take all of my meds, including the prednisone as directed. the next day, my throat was raw and i still had a "whisper" of a voice. as i put together my past medical records for the specialist, i noticed an odd note. the ambulance run report noted my lungs were clear, but i had stridor and wheezing while on prednisone -just like always.
i hooked up the neb and queried "prednisone" & "inactive ingredients" online. i almost fell out of my chair when i noticed LACTOSE was the main ingredient. my pharmacy almost killed me -the doctor could not have known, but my allergies were on file at the pharmacy where they deal specifically with meds. in their defense, the FDA doesn't force the drug companies to list inactive ingredients & it took a bit of detective work on my own to find this information.
please ask that milk allergy patients & parents talk to their pharmacists NOW. i have changed all Rx to Target and the pharmacists and techs will all be alerted to look up inactive ingredients on all my oral meds. any suspicious meds or those containing lactose will be prescribed in a liquid form. i am carrying an Epi pen at all times and will now get a medalert tag.
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