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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is This Dosage Of Prednisone Advisable To Treat COPD?

Hello, my husband is better with his COPD when he s on Prednezone, but when his one week script is finished, he has a hard time breathing again....today, he saw his pulmonologist and the the Doctor the same thing, so the doctor prescribed him Prednezone for one month at 5 mg.....is this normal? Nancy Murphy
posted on Fri, 29 Jul 2016
Twitter Tue, 9 Aug 2016 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 9 Aug 2016 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease that makes it difficult to empty air out of the lungs. This difficulty airflow obstruction can lead to shortness of breath or feeling tired. COPD is caused by smoking, heavy exposure to certain dusts, chemicals, indoor or outdoor air pollution and genetic factor. The first and most important treatment in smokers is to stop smoking. Medications are prescribed to widen the airways (bronchodilators), reduce swelling in the airways (anti-inflammatory drugs, such as steroids - prednisolone), and treat infection (antibiotics). The term chronic in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease means that it lasts for a long time. While symptoms may vary from time to time, the lungs can still have disease, therefore, COPD is for life. While symptoms of COPD sometimes improve after a person stops smoking and takes medication regularly, shortness of breath and fatigue may never go away entirely.
Advice
1.     Follow your doctor’s instruction
2.     Ask your husband to stop smoking and avoid smoke exposure
3.     Ask your doctor about a spirometry test to check your husband’s lungs
Thanks
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Is This Dosage Of Prednisone Advisable To Treat COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease that makes it difficult to empty air out of the lungs. This difficulty airflow obstruction can lead to shortness of breath or feeling tired. COPD is caused by smoking, heavy exposure to certain dusts, chemicals, indoor or outdoor air pollution and genetic factor. The first and most important treatment in smokers is to stop smoking. Medications are prescribed to widen the airways (bronchodilators), reduce swelling in the airways (anti-inflammatory drugs, such as steroids - prednisolone), and treat infection (antibiotics). The term chronic in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease means that it lasts for a long time. While symptoms may vary from time to time, the lungs can still have disease, therefore, COPD is for life. While symptoms of COPD sometimes improve after a person stops smoking and takes medication regularly, shortness of breath and fatigue may never go away entirely. Advice 1. Follow your doctor’s instruction 2. Ask your husband to stop smoking and avoid smoke exposure 3. Ask your doctor about a spirometry test to check your husband’s lungs Thanks