STEROID TREATMENT FOR ACUTE ASTHMA

Name:                                                              Date of Birth:                                 Date:

Doctor:

YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A PRESCRIPTION FOR ACUTE ASTHMA. EACH TABLET IS 5MG PREDNISOLONE. YOU WILL EITHER BE GIVEN 6 OR 8 TABLETS TO TAKE DAILY. YOU MUST TAKE ALL OF THE TABLETS AT THE SAME TIME, PREFERABLY IN THE MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST.

THE USUAL DURATION OF TREATMENT IS ONE WEEK. IF YOUR ‘PEAK FLOW’ HAS NOT REACHED YOUR ‘SAFE’ LEVEL AFTER SEVEN DAYS YOU SHOULD BE REVIEWED AGAIN BY THE DOCTOR (SHOWN BELOW).

YOUR STEROID INHALER (‘PREVENTER’ - BROWN) SHOULD BE CONTINUED THROUGHOUT WITHOUT STOPPING. CONTINUE AT THE DOUBLE  DOSE FOR A WEEK AFTER STOPPING THE TABLETS. AFTER THIS WEEK YOU SHOULD REDUCE BACK TO YOUR NORMAL MAINTENANCE DOSE OF THE PREVENTER. REMEMBER YOUR INHALER TECHNIQUE IS CRUCIAL!

DURING TREATMENT WITH THE TABLETS CONTINUE TO MEASURE YOUR PEAK FLOW DAILY. SEE A DOCTOR EARLIER IF THIS CONTINUES TO DECREASE OR YOU GET MORE UNWELL OR BREATHLESS.

ANY ROUTINE APPOINTMENT WITH THE NURSE IN ASTHMA CLINIC WITHIN 6 WEEKS SHOULD BE CANCELLED FOR A LATER DATE.

BEST (TARGET) PEAK FLOW =                     (This should always be remembered)

MEASURED PEAK FLOW =                     (Today with the doctor)

‘SAFE’ LEVEL PEAK FLOW =                     (When safe to stop tablets at end of week)

ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS:-

THE ABOVE INFORMATION HAS BEEN MADE TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO MANAGE YOUR ASTHMA.
IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS PLEASE ASK THE DOCTOR OR NURSE.