Prednisone for PWD

Horatio

Please help!

I read online that one of the medications that people with dementia should avoid is steroids. It says online that steroids can make the dementia worse or progress faster. Today, however, my mom's doctor wanted to prescribe 40 MG of Prednisone for an alleged viral upper respiratory virus. (Rhinovirus/ Enterovirus) that is causing my LW extreme fatigue, a persistent cough and white and yellow phlegm.

Is this safe?

M1

Yes. Short-term for a respiratory infection the benefits outweigh the risks. They will likely taper the dose down quickly.

Marta

Memory deficits have been reported after even 4-5 days of prednisone, especially declarative memory (names, nouns, events). Fortunately, these are reversible.

times2

The 40 mg dose is likely a 5 day burst and not a long term deal. As a person with asthma and an RN (and lots of experience with prednisone bursts) the benefits outweigh the risks this point. If mom is lethargic and weak, she’s likely not doing well with air exchange because her respiratory tract is inflamed. Hence the phlegm. Yellow phlegm is not normal and mom could be headed for pneumonia if this doesn’t get treated.

Speaking only for myself, I’d rather see my dad lose a little memory than have pneumonia which at his stage in life will likely be his undoing.

Horatio

I wish you had mentioned that Prednisone causes a big increase in Blood Pressure and Hypertensive Crisis

Horatio