Glucocorticoid meds are prescribed to reduce hyperactivity among immunity cells. This helps allergic reactions – especially inflammation / swelling caused by bronchitis, bronchial asthma and other such autoimmune conditions. This property also helps treat insufficiency of adrenalin and a high level of blood-calcium. Prednisone is one of the glucocorticoid meds. Its key ingredients help suppress your immunity cells. Can you use prednisone for ear infection? It can be of help to have more insights into this.
Glucocorticoids are essentially steroidal hormones. These steroids play an active role in feedback associated with your immunity cells. They are largely responsible for causing internal swelling or inflammation. Owing to this, they find use with treatment of autoimmune conditions like arthritis, respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchial asthma and a few allergic reactions.
In this light, what is prednisone?
Prednisone is one of the well-known glucocorticoid drugs. This drug has the ability to suppress your immunity cells. As a result, it helps reduce internal swelling caused by rheumatological disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases like bronchitis, etc. As an extended use, they also help treat inadequacy of adrenal also help balance calcium levels in blood. The latter has often triggered due to the onset of cancers.
Prednisone received its patent in mid-1950s, and it came to public use soon after. Today, it fares as the World Health Organization’s listing of essential drugs. You can also get it as a generic drug. As per latest estimates, it is ranked among top-50 highly-prescribed drugs in US. In terms of number of prescriptions each year it has crossed 20 million.
Caveat: It is unsafe to stop taking this medicine in an abrupt manner. Your doctor may taper-off doses at the end of your medication plan. Such tapering is needed if you have been taking 40 milligrams (mg) of Prednisone on a daily basis. Also, patients who have had 3 weeks of dosages of Prednisone may also need to have the doses tapered-off.
Prednisone for ear infections
Prednisone is also widely used for middle-ear infections. It reduces swelling inside your ears. It allays pains and reduces risks of loss of sense of hearing. These risks are higher if middle-ear conditions are not treated. These infections are quite painful. Hence, a timely treatment can lessen several discomforts.
You are likely to witness a few side effects Prednisone triggers. These are sleeplessness, mood swings, a sudden increase in appetite levels, etc. These are mostly short-term discomforts. Some may go off with time while a few may persist for long.
Upon seeing acute side effects like hypertension i.e., increase in blood pressure levels, spikes in blood sugars or a compromised immunity system (you may get sick often), check out with your treating doctor without delay.
Most medication plans start-off with a lesser dosage of Prednisone. Also, treatment span is maintained for the shortest possible time. Such practices help in keeping undesired reactions / side effects at bay. Due to these factors, Prednisone needs to be strictly taken under the guidance of a qualified caregiver.
Prednisone for sinus infection, Prednisone is a steroid that helps reduce swelling and inflammation. Doctors may prescribe it for a severe sinus infection if symptoms like facial pain or pressure don’t improve with antibiotics alone. It’s usually taken for a short time to relieve congestion and pressure. However, it doesn’t treat the infection itself—just the inflammation. Always follow your doctor’s instructions.
However, there are a few over the counter painkilling drugs widely taken to ease middle-ear pains and allied discomforts. Such drugs include acetaminophen, ibuprofen – to name some. Beware of an untreated middle ear infection: bones behind your ears may get infected and the condition may spread to cells inside ears, making them grow rapidly. There are also instances wherein people have complained of stressed nerves on facial parts.
If your body temperature stays at 102 degrees F or you are witnessing a pulsating pain inside your ears and if you find a fluid draining off your ears accompanied by inflammation – rush to an emergency room closer to your home. In the US, call 911; in Canada, reach out to Health Canada. It is always a safe thing to talk to your ear, nose, throat specialist prior to taking any meds. Your treating physician call fill you with needful inputs on using Prednisone for ear infection.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.
Education: Master’s in Epidemiology from Harvard University. Experience: 10 years of writing experience, including articles on infectious diseases and public health for leading health publications and research blogs.