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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by hopeinsight on June 6, 2000, at 12:16:21
Hi, I've been really sick with asthma/bronchitis for ove 3 weeks now.
I also have clinical depression (13+ years) for which I am currently tkaing Prozac and
Klonopin. A month ago I was diagnosed with an Ovarian Cyst a little larger than a golf ball
and a Fallopian Tube full of fluid. For this I am taking Levlen, birth control pills to try
to shrink it and hopefully go away by itself. I am in a lot of pain from this cyst.Last week my Doctor hospitalized me for the asthma problems that were getting worse in spite of
many meds prescribed to treat this. While in the hospital I started receiving I.V. antibiotics & Prednisone
instead of what I'd been taking by mouth. Since then I am wanting to "climb the wall". My
mind is racing and I've been unable to sleep. I finally called my Psychiatrist who told me
that the "stew" of meds that I am taking is causing me to have severe Psychosis, but as he says...sometimes
Pychosis is preferable to not being able to breathe. I'm beginning to have my doubts about that one!My question is: Does anyone know if the Birth Control pill could be giving me a rare side effect which is
causing my Asthma to flare up?Any answers are appreciated,
hopinsight
www.hopeinsight.com
Posted by Jennifer on June 6, 2000, at 14:30:42
In reply to Having SEVERE Psychosis due to asthma meds, posted by hopeinsight on June 6, 2000, at 12:16:21
Dear "Hope" ... I don't think asthma is one of the OC effects, but I'm not sure on that one! However, the prednisone causes steroid psychosis in those that aare susceptable. Is there any way they can lower your dose? Are you on an aminophylline drip to help with the asthma, or just antibiotics and prednisone? Maybe they could give you Intal by nebulizer and get you down on your steroid dose? Also, if you are getting the steroids at a certain time each day, you should notice the psychosis gets worse at a certain time also (like 3-4 hrs after an oral dose, or 1/2-1 hr after an IV dose) Can they give you Xanax or similar 20 minutes prior to when the effects are at their worst to help out? You will make it through! Birth Control pills can cause psychosis too! They brought on my panic attcks big time within one week so I discontinued them and lived with the cyst (which went away on it's own). It was better to have pain meds or surgery than the psychosis to me! My prayers are with you! Jennifer
> Hi, I've been really sick with asthma/bronchitis for ove 3 weeks now.
> I also have clinical depression (13+ years) for which I am currently tkaing Prozac and
> Klonopin. A month ago I was diagnosed with an Ovarian Cyst a little larger than a golf ball
> and a Fallopian Tube full of fluid. For this I am taking Levlen, birth control pills to try
> to shrink it and hopefully go away by itself. I am in a lot of pain from this cyst.
>
> Last week my Doctor hospitalized me for the asthma problems that were getting worse in spite of
> many meds prescribed to treat this. While in the hospital I started receiving I.V. antibiotics & Prednisone
> instead of what I'd been taking by mouth. Since then I am wanting to "climb the wall". My
> mind is racing and I've been unable to sleep. I finally called my Psychiatrist who told me
> that the "stew" of meds that I am taking is causing me to have severe Psychosis, but as he says...sometimes
> Pychosis is preferable to not being able to breathe. I'm beginning to have my doubts about that one!
>
> My question is: Does anyone know if the Birth Control pill could be giving me a rare side effect which is
> causing my Asthma to flare up?
>
> Any answers are appreciated,
> hopinsight
> www.hopeinsight.com
Posted by SLS on June 6, 2000, at 16:54:18
In reply to Having SEVERE Psychosis due to asthma meds, posted by hopeinsight on June 6, 2000, at 12:16:21
> Last week my Doctor hospitalized me for the asthma problems that were getting worse in spite of many meds prescribed to treat this. While in the hospital I started receiving I.V. antibiotics & Prednisone instead of what I'd been taking by mouth. Since then I am wanting to "climb the wall". My mind is racing and I've been unable to sleep. I finally called my Psychiatrist who told me that the "stew" of meds that I am taking is causing me to have severe Psychosis, but as he says...sometimes Pychosis is preferable to not being able to breathe. I'm beginning to have my doubts about that one!
> My question is: Does anyone know if the Birth Control pill could be giving me a rare side effect which is causing my Asthma to flare up?
Yes. However, it is not so rare. Adult onset asthma has been associated with estrogen-replacement therapy. In premenopausal women, birth control pills can cause or worsen asthma. Asthma can also worsen premenstrually and during pregnancy.
As far as your mental symptoms are concerned:1. Estrogen can cause depression, mania, and psychosis
2. Prednisone can cause depression, mania, and psychosisOf course, these occur infrequently, but it might explain what's going on. Prednisone is probably the culprit. Perhaps this particular combination of drugs is necessary to produce your reaction.
What other drugs are you taking? Some asthma medications known as beta-2 agonists are capable of making such a reaction worse.
What a mess, eh? I wish I knew how to help. I guess reviewing what drugs you took in which order relative to when the asthma and mental disturbances appeared would help. Ask your doctor if there is a drug he could use to replace prednisone that would have a reduced risk of such mental disturbances. Psychosis produced by prednisone is not rare.
Please post to let us know what happens.
- Scott
Posted by stjames on June 7, 2000, at 1:51:39
In reply to Having SEVERE Psychosis due to asthma meds, posted by hopeinsight on June 6, 2000, at 12:16:21
When I take cortisone (for bad allergies, but not at the doses used for asthma) I always take a benzo like atavin, so I don't climb the walls and bite off peoples heads. 1 mg atavin, once or twice
daily is my usual dose.james
Posted by judy1 on June 8, 2000, at 21:46:05
In reply to Having SEVERE Psychosis due to asthma meds, posted by hopeinsight on June 6, 2000, at 12:16:21
I was hospitalized for psychotic mania once I took prednisone at 40mgs/day (after 3 days). I had to SLOWLY taper in the hospital, and was given mellaril (an antipsychotic). I'm bipolar, so this was really dumb- I just wanted to breathe and conveniently forgot to mention my psych history to my ENT. Hope you're better soon.
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