{"id":630714,"date":"2024-12-10T20:15:44","date_gmt":"2024-12-11T01:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630714"},"modified":"2024-12-10T20:15:44","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T01:15:44","slug":"prednisone-for-pneumonia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/prednisone-for-pneumonia\/","title":{"rendered":"Is prednisone good for pneumonia?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prednisone<\/span><\/a> is a <\/span>corticosteroid<\/span> prescribed by <\/span>healthcare<\/span> providers to treat various medical conditions, such as asthma, allergic reactions, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and <\/span>adrenal<\/span>, blood, or bone marrow conditions. It comes in brand-name forms like Deltasone, Prdnicot, PredniSONE Intensol, and Rayos. Prednisone reduces inflammation (redness, heat, pain, swelling), suppresses the immune system, and replaces cortisol. According to medical experts, in rare instances, <\/span>prednisone<\/span> may be used to treat <\/span>severe pneumonia<\/span>, but the <\/span>steroid<\/span> medication comes with many risks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Does <\/span>prednisone<\/span> help with pneumonia?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Pneumonia is a common lung infection that <\/span>causes lung air sacs to fill with fluid or pus<\/span><\/a>, making breathing difficult. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, including cough, fever, chills, and trouble breathing. Several causes of pneumonia exist, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. If left untreated, pneumonia can lead to more severe and life-threatening conditions, such as respiratory failure, <\/span>sepsis<\/span>, <\/span>septic shock<\/span>, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taher Saifullah, MD, MS<\/span><\/a>, a pain management specialist and the founder of <\/span>Spine & Pain Institute Los Angeles<\/span><\/a>, says that in certain instances, <\/span>prednisone<\/span> may help treat pneumonia. \u201cWhile it doesn\u2019t cure the infection directly, it helps with the inflammation in the lungs,\u201d he explains. \u201cBy reducing lung swelling, <\/span>prednisone<\/span> can make breathing easier and relieve some chest discomfort, which can be especially important if pneumonia is causing a lot of inflammation.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>research<\/span><\/a>, using <\/span>prednisone<\/span> as <\/span>adjunctive corticosteroid therapy<\/span> may be safe and effective for patients with <\/span>community-acquired pneumonia<\/span> (CAP). Researchers from <\/span>clinical trials<\/span> suggest that <\/span>corticosteroids<\/span> like <\/span>prednisone<\/span> can reduce time to <\/span>clinical stability<\/span> and <\/span>length of hospital stay<\/span>. CAP is <\/span>one of the most common <\/span>respiratory infections<\/span><\/a> outside a <\/span>healthcare<\/span> facility. The leading causes of CAP are Streptococcus pneumoniae, influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydophila pneumoniae.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another <\/span>research study<\/span><\/a> reviewing <\/span>randomized controlled trials<\/span> (RCTs) suggests that <\/span>corticosteroids<\/span> like <\/span>prednisone<\/span> may reduce pulmonary inflammation in adolescent and <\/span>adult patients<\/span> with <\/span>severe pneumonia<\/span>, reducing the risk of <\/span>respiratory failure<\/span> and, thus, the <\/span>mortality rate<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Systematic reviews<\/span> and <\/span>meta-analyses<\/span><\/a> suggest that <\/span>low-dose<\/span> steroids<\/span>, such as <\/span>methylprednisolone<\/span>, can be effective in treating <\/span>acute respiratory distress syndrome<\/span> (<\/span>ARDS<\/span>). <\/span>ARDS<\/span> occurs when the lungs are severely injured<\/span><\/a> and can\u2019t supply enough oxygen to the body\u2014respiratory infections like pneumonia, COVID-19, and sepsis cause it. ARDS is severe respiratory depression requiring ICU care and a ventilator.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what does <\/span>prednisone<\/span> do for pneumonia? According to John Lowe, MD, a physician at <\/span>Restore Care<\/span><\/a> in Ogden, Utah, the prescription drug imitates a hormone called cortisol, which decreases inflammation and mutes your body\u2019s immune response. \u201c[<\/span>Prednisone<\/span>] attaches to glucose corticoid receptors situated in different cells, thereby inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory <\/span>cytokines<\/span> and decreasing the activity of the immune system,\u201d he explains. \u201cThis action assists in limiting the degree of the <\/span>inflammatory response<\/span> of the body, which eventually gives relief from symptoms such as pain and swelling in several conditions, including pneumonia, which involves severe lung inflammation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

How fast does <\/span>prednisone<\/span> work for pneumonia?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Dr. Saifullah says <\/span>prednisone<\/span> starts working in the body within a few hours, but it can take up to 24 hours for people to start feeling relief from pneumonia symptoms. \u201cIt can take a couple of days to see the full effect, especially in terms of breathing and reduced lung inflammation,\u201d he says. \u201cEveryone responds a little differently, so some might feel relief sooner, while others take a bit longer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Certain factors can influence how quickly <\/span>corticosteroid therapy<\/span> works in your system. \u201cOlder adults, people with chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease, and those with weakened immune systems might experience slower results,\u201d Dr. Saifullah says. \u201cPeople with pre-existing lung conditions like asthma or <\/span>chronic obstructive pulmonary disease<\/span> (COPD) might also take a bit longer to feel the full effects, as their lungs are already more inflamed or sensitive.\u201d He adds that your body rate, metabolic rate, and medication response can also play a role.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re taking <\/span>prednisone<\/span> for pneumonia, here are some tips for reducing <\/span>adverse events<\/span>, according to Dr. Saifullah:<\/span><\/p>\n