How does Prednisone help a cough go away?
Prednisone is a strong corticosteroid medication that helps in relieving persistent cough effectively.
“It treats the cough by calming the body’s immune system response and lowering inflammation.”,” says Dr.Richard Honaker
Cough can be due to several reasons, including asthma, sore throat, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), long-term COVID and diet. If left untreated, these can worsen and cause damage to your respiratory system!
Some of the commonly used home remedies for normal cough are :
- Gargling with lukewarm water
- Over-the-counter lozenges
- Mint teas
- Honey and water
However, long-term cough cannot be treated with natural and home remedies, and patients need medications like Prednisone for the complete treatment of cough. Antitussive (cough relief) medications are prescribed for the cough that doesn’t go away and irritates the gastrointestinal tract. Some of the anti-tussive agents prescribed for different types of cough can be :
- Dextromethorphan
- Hydrocodone
- Benzonatate
- Noscapine
- Pipazethate
- Isoaminile
Some of those mentioned above are available over the counter, while most require a prescription for effective treatment.
Prednisone is the last choice drug for coughs only in persistent coughs that irritate the respiratory system and can not be cured by anti-tussive agents.
What is the dose of Prednisone for cough?
“The usual prescription prednisone dose for a cough is 20 to 40 milligrams daily. However, it highly depends on the factors including nature, severity, and age of patient taking the prescription of prednisone,” says Dr. Richard Honaker
It is also important to note that healthcare providers only prescribe prednisone in case of cough due to asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the side effects of a respiratory illness. If prescribed, other than these reasons, steroids can impact one’s health with severe side effects.
Can Prednisone be used for children with a persistent cough?
Yes, Prednisone can be prescribed to children in case of severe persistent cough due to medical conditions like asthma or COPD. The initial starting dose of prednisone for children is 1-2 mg/kg/day. According to healthcare experts
“Prednisone can only be prescribed to children for a short term with frequent dosing as per the age and severity of presenting medical condition,” says Dr Mehwish Khan
How long is the treatment with Prednisone for cough?
The treatment period with prednisone depends on the severity of the cough and an individual response to that medication. In usual cases, prednisone treatment lasts 5-10 days and is usually prescribed to address acute inflammation related to conditions such as bronchitis or asthma exacerbations.
Long story short, prednisone works as quickly as 7-10 days for effective treatment of cough.
Can Prednisone be taken with other medications for cough?
Prednisone can only be taken with other medications if advised by your healthcare provider first. It’s important to discuss your medical condition and medication history with your healthcare provider and pharmacist to avoid drug-related interactions. Some of the medication classes that should be avoided with prednisone are as follows :
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs NSAIDs (Examples: ibuprofen, naproxen)
- Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners) Examples: warfarin, heparin
- Antiplatelet Drugs (Examples: aspirin, clopidogrel)
- Diuretics (examples :furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide)
- Antidiabetic Drugs(Examples: insulin, metformin)
- Antifungal Medications(Examples: ketoconazole, fluconazole)
- Antibiotics (Examples: rifampin, erythromycin)
- Antivirals (Examples: ritonavir, indinavir)
