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Is prednisone a blood thinner: Prednisone Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing

Prednisone Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing

Uses

Prednisone is used to treat conditions such as arthritis, blood disorders, breathing problems, severe allergies, skin diseases, cancer, eye problems, and immune system disorders. Prednisone belongs to a class of drugs known as corticosteroids. It decreases your immune system’s response to various diseases to reduce symptoms such as swelling and allergic-type reactions.

How to use prednisone oral

Take this medication by mouth, with food or milk to prevent stomach upset, as directed by your doctor. Take the tablet form of this medication with a full glass of water (8 ounces/240 milliliters) unless your doctor directs you otherwise. If you are using the liquid form of this medication, carefully measure the dose using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. If you are prescribed only one dose per day, take it in the morning before 9 A. M.

Take this medication exactly as directed by your doctor. Follow the dosing schedule carefully. The dosage and length of treatment are based on your medical condition and response to treatment. If you are taking this medication on a different schedule than a daily one (such as every other day), it may help to mark your calendar with a reminder.

Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when this drug is suddenly stopped. Also, you may experience symptoms such as weakness, weight loss, nausea, muscle pain, headache, tiredness, dizziness. To prevent these symptoms while you are stopping treatment with this drug, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Report any new or worsening symptoms right away.

Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets worse.

Side Effects

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, heartburn, trouble sleeping, increased sweating, or acne may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: muscle pain/cramps, irregular heartbeat, weakness, swelling hands/ankles/feet, unusual weight gain, signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn’t go away, fever), vision problems (such as blurred vision), symptoms of stomach/intestinal bleeding (such as stomach/abdominal pain, black/tarry stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds), mental/mood changes (such as depression, mood swings, agitation), slow wound healing, thinning skin, bone pain, menstrual period changes, puffy face, seizures, easy bruising/bleeding.

This medication may rarely make your blood sugar rise, which can cause or worsen diabetes. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of high blood sugar such as increased thirst/urination. If you already have diabetes, check your blood sugar regularly as directed and share the results with your doctor. Your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes medication, exercise program, or diet.

A very serious allergic reaction to this product is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

Before taking prednisone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: current/past infections (such as fungal infections, tuberculosis, herpes), heart problems (such as heart failure, recent heart attack), high blood pressure, thyroid problems, kidney disease, liver disease, stomach/intestinal problems (such as ulcer, diverticulitis), bone loss (osteoporosis), mental/mood disorders (such as psychosis, anxiety, depression), eye diseases (such as cataracts, glaucoma), diabetes, mineral imbalance (such as low level of potassium/calcium in the blood), seizures, blood clots, bleeding problems.

Using corticosteroid medications for a long time can make it more difficult for your body to respond to physical stress. Before having surgery or emergency treatment, or if you get a serious illness/injury, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication or have used this medication within the past 12 months. Tell your doctor right away if you develop unusual/extreme tiredness or weight loss. If you will be using this medication for a long time, carry a warning card or medical ID bracelet that identifies your use of this medication.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

This medication may mask signs of infection. It can make you more likely to get infections or may make current infections worse. Stay away from anyone who has an infection that may easily spread (such as chickenpox, COVID-19, measles, flu). Talk to your doctor if you have been exposed to an infection or for more details.

The liquid form of this medication may contain sugar and/or alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, liver disease, or any other condition that requires you to limit/avoid these substances in your diet. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product safely.

Tell your health care professional that you are using prednisone before having any immunizations/vaccinations. Avoid contact with people who have recently received live vaccines (such as flu vaccine inhaled through the nose).

This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol while using this medicine may increase your risk for stomach bleeding. Limit alcoholic beverages. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially bone loss/pain, stomach/intestinal bleeding, and mental/mood changes (such as confusion).

This medication may slow down a child’s growth if used for a long time. Consult the doctor or pharmacist for more details. See the doctor regularly so your child’s height and growth can be checked.

During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may rarely harm an unborn baby. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Infants born to mothers who have been using this medication for an extended period of time may have hormone problems. Tell your doctor right away if you notice symptoms such as nausea/vomiting that doesn’t stop, severe diarrhea, or weakness in your newborn.

This medication passes into breast milk but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval.

Some products that may interact with this drug include: aldesleukin, mifepristone, drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, “blood thinners” such as dabigatran/warfarin, NSAIDs such as aspirin/celecoxib/ibuprofen).

If your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually 81-162 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including skin tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

Does prednisone oral interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Do not share this medication with others.

If this medication is used for an extended time, lab and/or medical tests (such as blood mineral levels, blood glucose, complete blood count, height/weight measurements, bone density tests, blood pressure, eye exams) should be done while you are taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more details

This medication may cause bone problems (osteoporosis) when taken for an extended time. Lifestyle changes that may help reduce the risk of bone problems include doing weight-bearing exercise, getting enough calcium and vitamin D, stopping smoking, and limiting alcohol. Discuss with your doctor lifestyle changes that might benefit you.

If you are taking this medication daily and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.

If you are taking this medication on a different schedule than a daily one (such as every other day), ask your doctor ahead of time about what you should do if you miss a dose.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Images

prednisone 20 mg tablet

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This medicine is a white, round, scored, tablet imprinted with “PD02”.

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Drug Survey

Are you currently using prednisone oral?

This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department.

Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.

Prednisone Intensol Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing

Uses

Prednisone is used to treat conditions such as arthritis, blood disorders, breathing problems, severe allergies, skin diseases, cancer, eye problems, and immune system disorders. Prednisone belongs to a class of drugs known as corticosteroids. It decreases your immune system’s response to various diseases to reduce symptoms such as swelling and allergic-type reactions.

How to use Prednisone Intensol

Take this medication by mouth, with food or milk to prevent stomach upset, as directed by your doctor. Carefully measure the dose using the dropper that comes with your medication. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. You may mix the medication in juice or applesauce before taking it. If you are prescribed only one dose per day, take it in the morning before 9 A.M.

Take this medication exactly as directed by your doctor. Follow the dosing schedule carefully. The dosage and length of treatment are based on your medical condition and response to treatment. If you are taking this medication on a different schedule than a daily one (such as every other day), it may help to mark your calendar with a reminder.

Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when this drug is suddenly stopped. Also, you may experience symptoms such as weakness, weight loss, nausea, muscle pain, headache, tiredness, dizziness. To prevent these symptoms while you are stopping treatment with this drug, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Report any new or worsening symptoms right away.

Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets worse.

Side Effects

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, heartburn, trouble sleeping, increased sweating, or acne may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: muscle pain/cramps, irregular heartbeat, weakness, swelling hands/ankles/feet, unusual weight gain, signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn’t go away, fever), vision problems (such as blurred vision), symptoms of stomach/intestinal bleeding (such as stomach/abdominal pain, black/tarry stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds), mental/mood changes (such as depression, mood swings, agitation), slow wound healing, thinning skin, bone pain, menstrual period changes, puffy face, seizures, easy bruising/bleeding.

This medication may rarely make your blood sugar rise, which can cause or worsen diabetes. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of high blood sugar, such as increased thirst/urination. If you already have diabetes, check your blood sugar regularly as directed and share the results with your doctor. Your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes medication, exercise program, or diet.

A very serious allergic reaction to this product is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

Before taking prednisone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: current/past infections (such as fungal infections, tuberculosis, herpes), heart problems (such as heart failure, recent heart attack), high blood pressure, thyroid problems, kidney disease, liver disease, stomach/intestinal problems (such as ulcer, diverticulitis), bone loss (osteoporosis), mental/mood disorders (such as psychosis, anxiety, depression), eye diseases (such as cataracts, glaucoma), diabetes, mineral imbalance (such as low level of potassium/calcium in the blood), seizures, blood clots, bleeding problems.

Using corticosteroid medications for a long time can make it more difficult for your body to respond to physical stress. Before having surgery or emergency treatment, or if you get a serious illness/injury, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication or have used this medication within the past 12 months. Tell your doctor right away if you develop unusual/extreme tiredness or weight loss. If you will be using this medication for a long time, carry a warning card or medical ID bracelet that identifies your use of this medication.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

This medication may mask signs of infection. It can make you more likely to get infections or may make current infections worse. Stay away from anyone who has an infection that may easily spread (such as chickenpox, COVID-19, measles, flu). Talk to your doctor if you have been exposed to an infection or for more details.

This medication may contain sugar and/or alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, liver disease, or any other condition that requires you to limit/avoid these substances in your diet. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product safely.

Tell your health care professional that you are using prednisone before having any immunizations/vaccinations. Avoid contact with people who have recently received live vaccines (such as flu vaccine inhaled through the nose).

This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol while using this medicine may increase your risk for stomach bleeding. Limit alcoholic beverages. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially bone loss/pain, stomach/intestinal bleeding, and mental/mood changes (such as confusion).

This medication may slow down a child’s growth if used for a long time. Consult the doctor or pharmacist for more details. See the doctor regularly so your child’s height and growth can be checked.

During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may rarely harm an unborn baby. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Infants born to mothers who have been using this medication for an extended period of time may have hormone problems. Tell your doctor right away if you notice symptoms such as nausea/vomiting that doesn’t stop, severe diarrhea, or weakness in your newborn.

This medication passes into breast milk but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval.

Some products that may interact with this drug include: aldesleukin, mifepristone, drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, “blood thinners” such as dabigatran/warfarin, NSAIDs such as aspirin/celecoxib/ibuprofen).

If your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually 81-162 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including skin tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

Does Prednisone Intensol interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Do not share this medication with others.

If this medication is used for an extended time, lab and/or medical tests (such as blood mineral levels, blood glucose, complete blood count, height/weight measurements, bone density tests, blood pressure, eye exams) should be done while you are taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more details

This medication may cause bone problems (osteoporosis) when taken for an extended time. Lifestyle changes that may help reduce the risk of bone problems include doing weight-bearing exercise, getting enough calcium and vitamin D, stopping smoking, and limiting alcohol. Discuss with your doctor lifestyle changes that might benefit you.

If you are taking this medication daily and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.

If you are taking this medication on a different schedule than a daily one (such as every other day), ask your doctor ahead of time about what you should do if you miss a dose.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. The medication expires 90 days after the bottle is opened. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Images

Prednisone Intensol 5 mg/mL oral concentrate

Color: colorlessShape: Imprint:

This medicine is a colorless, clear, unflavored, liquid

Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.

Why it is dangerous to self-medicate coronavirus

  • Olga Dyakonova, Nikolai Voronin
  • BBC

Subscribe to our newsletter “Context”: it will help you sort things out.

Photo credit, EPA

Unlike the usual SARS, sore throats or flu, Covid-19 is a new infection, the treatment for which is often selected “by touch” even by doctors with many years of experience. A bizarre combination of antivirals, antibiotics, or vitamins can help or make things worse. Even a specialist cannot be completely sure of the effectiveness of the selected therapy, since there are no drugs for the treatment of coronavirus at home with scientifically proven effectiveness.

However, many people have a mild infection and are unwilling (or unable) to see a doctor. A particularly difficult situation with the availability of medical care has developed in those Russian regions where the second wave of coronavirus actually became the first.

The question arises as to whether one can simply buy medicines from the treatment regimens found on the Internet or received from acquaintances – and be treated at home on their own.

Treatment plan in messenger

“My aunt didn’t send her husband to the hospital, she took the protocol of treatment and treated at home, even bought an oxygen bottle at home. What’s the point of going to hospitals in inhuman conditions to lie in the corridors and drink pills? So stay at home and take the same pills”, – writes on “Twitter” one of the users.

The epidemiological situation in the regions really leaves much to be desired, especially outside the regional centers: there are fewer resources than in large cities, and many people sometimes have to wait a long time first for testing, and then for professional medical care. There are simply not enough doctors for all the sick; often you have to spend several hours in a queue, being in a closed room with other people and risking infecting them.

It is not surprising that in such conditions, many begin to self-medicate on the basis of the “treatment regimens” they have with recovering acquaintances, and simply in social networks. Often, out of good intentions, they are recommended by close people whom you trust by default.

In the last couple of months, social media users have been actively sharing Covid-19 “treatment protocols” with friends from both Russian and foreign doctors of varying degrees of authority. These regimens tend to have a lot of drugs and even specific dosages – but it can be dangerous to use them without consulting a doctor.

“Given that Covid-19 is a new and little-studied infection, treatment algorithms are changed and improved once every one or two months,” says Ilya Akinfiev, Ph.D. even using a real recommendation, one can [virtually] act according to the old and ineffective scheme.

The situation is aggravated by the availability of many medicines in Russian pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription (even if formally they cannot be sold without a prescription). In October and November in Russia, against the backdrop of a sharp increase in cases, there was a shortage of certain drugs in pharmacies – in particular, antibiotics, antiviral and anticoagulants. Even vitamins D and C are hard to find.

  • Medicines have disappeared from Russian pharmacies. What and why?

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According to Akinfiev, buying drugs “just in case” leads to this situation. “As a result, patients who really need them will not be able to receive medicines in a timely manner,” he explains.

In several schemes that patients with Covid-19 received from doctors (available from the BBC), there is a wide range of drugs. So, in one of the schemes there is an immunomodulator with unproven effectiveness against anything abroad, used in Russia for the treatment of tuberculosis – Glutoxim. The drug is prescribed as an intramuscular injection – apparently, it is assumed that the patient (or patient) will do the injections on their own.

The prescription contains other drugs of dubious effectiveness – for example, Amiksin. It is often prescribed for the treatment of viral infections in Russia and Ukraine, although the international Pubmed database lacks any information on human studies of the antiviral efficacy of this substance.

The same prescription contains the anticoagulant “Angioflux” and dietary supplement “Microhydrin”. And although such a treatment regimen can be fully justified as an individual medical recommendation for a particular patient, for other infected people this therapy can be not only useless, but also dangerous. For example, it is known that taking immunomodulators carries the risk of developing autoimmune and oncological diseases.

In another scheme, you can see the influenza drug Arpeflu and the broad-spectrum antibiotic Amoxiclav, as well as the antihistamine Loratadin, cough medicines ACC and Rengalin, and vitamin C.

Another protocol that the patient received from the “cool doctor” prescribed the broad-spectrum antibiotic Ceftriaxone, used to treat community-acquired pneumonia, Tavanic, and the anticoagulant Clexane.

Zinc and vitamins C and D can often be found in Covid-19 treatment regimens.

“Dietary supplements and traditional medicine have absolutely nothing to do with the treatment of coronavirus infection,” Akinfiev emphasizes. According to him, treatment with traditional medicine and going to the doctor after a long self-treatment is “some feature of our mentality.” He notes that now this trend has intensified.

“This [self-treatment] is indeed a very important issue and problem,” says Lilit Arakelyan, an infectious disease specialist at Moscow Hospital No. 40 in Kommunarka. in its various dosages, people who decide to prescribe drugs to themselves often do not even know what exactly to be treated for.

She notes that a fever is not always a sign of a coronavirus infection. “Now there is a seasonal rise in the incidence of SARS, influenza and other viral infections, where a completely different treatment is needed. And if the flu or, for example, a herpes infection is treated like a coronavirus infection, then the body can be very much harmed,” says Arakelyan.

Photo copyright, Kirill Kukhmar/TASS

Photo caption,

Many Russian cities have run out of medicines due to stockpiling

It is important to understand that each treatment regimen is selected individually – and ideally after talking with the patient about his chronic diseases and those drugs that he is already taking, as well as after analysis for vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

According to Akinfiev, each patient may have contraindications to the drug, and only a doctor can adjust therapy without reducing effectiveness. In addition, some drugs have side effects, for which the doctor may prescribe studies. “There is a whole group of drugs indicated in the algorithms, the appointment of which is permissible only in a hospital, since round-the-clock medical supervision is necessary,” the doctor says.

Prescribing therapy too early or too late can harm a patient, he says.

Which medications are especially dangerous to prescribe to yourself?

The two most common “doctor’s advice” options in treatment protocols are antibiotics and drugs that prevent blood clots (anticoagulants).

An example of therapy that should not be started too early and especially without a doctor’s prescription is taking antibiotics. According to the protocols of the Ministry of Health, they are needed only if a bacterial infection joins the coronavirus. It is impossible to prescribe them “just in case”, since they worsen the microflora of the body, which, in turn, can lead to a decrease in immunity.

However, even doctors often prescribe antibiotics in advance in case of a bacterial infection. You can’t do this, because you can never know in advance which bacterium will join and what complication may arise – sinusitis, pneumonia, otitis or something else, Maria, an otolaryngologist from Rostov-on-Don, explains on her Facebook page. Evdokimov. “Broad-spectrum antibiotic” does not mean that it acts on all bacteria at once. When the infection has already developed, we can roughly understand what bacteria it can be caused by,” the doctor writes.

As a global consequence of the fascination of the whole world with antibiotics, the appearance of superinfections resistant to them has become. Such an infection sometimes cannot be cured even with a combination of several antibiotics. These infections can infect others, and theoretically there is a possibility that the immune system will cope with it itself – but about the same as in the 19th and early 20th centuries before the invention of penicillin.

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“The use of anticoagulants has become the standard for hospital treatment of covid. The issue of prescribing these drugs to outpatients remains very controversial,” cardiologist Anton Rodionov writes on his Facebook page. – Previously, I spoke quite categorically against the use of these drugs at home, but the peculiarity of the second wave in the regions was the forced need to treat quite seriously ill patients at home. However, it is still inappropriate to prescribe them to everyone in a row.”

Often prescribed anticoagulants do not so much “thinn the blood”, as people say, but prevent its coagulation. As a result, the patient receives a high risk of bleeding, including internal bleeding. Therefore, such drugs have a lot of contraindications and side effects.

“Now everyone is talking about glucocorticosteroids (hormones) – prednisolone and dexamethasone,” adds Lilit Arakelyan. virus and, accordingly, the severe course of the disease.

Also, according to her, you should not get carried away with cough medicines. “Mucolitics, if used incorrectly, can increase coughing, increase hypoxia ( lack of oxygen in the tissues – BBC ) and increase the amount of sputum secreted, which clogs the tracheobronchial tree and makes breathing difficult,” the doctor said.

What is unique about coronavirus?

There are no universal recipes – even in the case of well-known diseases – that would suit everyone and everyone. Any professional doctor prescribes treatment based on the available therapy options, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient. In the case of coronavirus, it is even more difficult.

“Even with a mild course of coronavirus infection, there are three different schemes described in the federal guidelines,” notes Arakelyan. “We are all unique and the new coronavirus infection proceeds differently in different age groups. And even starting therapy differs depending on the characteristics patient.”

It is worth recalling that despite the aggressive advertising of some “antiviral” drugs and the entry into the Russian market of several “anti-coronavirus” drugs at once, there are no drugs with proven efficacy for the outpatient treatment of this infection.

The only exception is the drug dexamethasone, but it is prescribed only for severe patients and only in a hospital setting.

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“There are still very few effective antiviral drugs, and even the available effective ones do not always work – this is a feature of viral infections. The advantages of viruses are that the immune system is more often able to cope with them on its own, the disadvantages – if it cannot cope, it is more difficult to treat” , – says Maria Evdokimova.

Thus, it must be understood that any treatment for coronavirus patients is prescribed solely to relieve symptoms – and ideally try to prevent the complications that the disease can give to other organs, without allowing serious side effects.

In the absence of specific drugs, taking any medication to treat or prevent covid is actually a lottery (with rather expensive tickets), the chances of winning in which are close to zero. But possible complications can be very serious and significantly worsen the patient’s condition.

The main thing is not to panic and think thrice before listening to the recommendations of people who are not doctors, even if they refer to reputable doctors.

Doctor talks about the side effects of dexamethasone

The anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone, which has been shown to be effective in complications of COVID-19, has side effects such as an increased tendency to thrombosis and the ability to cause stomach ulcers. Therefore, only specialists should appoint it. Honored Doctor of Russia Mikhail Kagan told TASS about this.

Dexamethasone is a steroid drug with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. It is used to treat rheumatoid diseases, asthma, allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and many other diseases. According to the results of the RECOVERY clinical trial, which involved more than 6,000 patients with coronavirus infection, dexamethasone reduced the mortality rate in patients with COVID-19 who were on mechanical ventilation by a third.

After that, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) called these results a “scientific breakthrough”. However, the study has not yet been independently peer reviewed and has not been published in any scientific journal. The authors promise to do it in the near future.

Why dexamethasone should be taken with caution

“[Side effects] are the same as other drugs in this group – increased tendency to thrombosis, increased blood pressure, increased blood glucose levels, the ability to cause stomach ulcers, and so on. This is a serious drug

The doctor explained that the drug, according to preliminary results of the study, does not affect the virus itself, it only reduces the excessive inflammation that occurs in the body after infection

As a prophylaxis and in the first week after infection with coronavirus, Kagan did not recommend using this drug, as it suppresses the immune system. “It can only help the virus,” the doctor explained.

In general, as Kagan explained, dexamethasone has been known to mankind since the 1960s and has long been registered for the treatment of autoimmune diseases in all countries, including the USSR and Russia. Corticosteroids are the basis of traditional therapy for many autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, glomerulonephritis, bronchial asthma, Kawasaki syndrome, autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, and others.

The use of corticosteroids for coronavirus infection is logical, the doctor noted, but there were no unequivocal recommendations, since there was no evidence of the effectiveness of this drug against COVID-19 before. In addition, doctors are aware of the risks of using such steroids. At the same time, in the seventh version of the interim guidelines of the Ministry of Health “Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a new coronavirus infection” dated June 3, there was a recommendation that this drug can be used in severe cases of the disease, Kagan noted.

“It should be noted that in the UK, the dose of dexamethasone was used significantly lower than recommended by our Ministry of Health – 6 mg per day (in domestic recommendations – 20 mg per day. I think that the British managed to find the optimal dose, which already provides a positive effect and minimizes side effects,” the doctor concluded.

How clinical trials were conducted

The RECOVERY study, which began in March 2020, involved more than 6.4 thousand patients with coronavirus infection. Of these, 2.1 thousand people were randomly selected who were given dexamethasone 6 mg daily for ten days, with the rest of the participants treated as usual.