About 10 days I got a flu shot, like I always do. Three days later I got a Tdap booster shot (diptheria, pertusis....). A couple days after that, I felt some chest congestion and a slight cough, so I took my weekly MTX and Enbrel. The next day, my cough was painful, chest was tight, and I was wheezing terribly. I couldn't sleep for the incessant coughing. This began on Friday and my family doc is off on weekends. So I saw her today, Monday. She gave me Azithromycin, Methylprednisolone, an inhaler and cough syrup.
I know I am not supposed to take the PsA drugs if I have an infection, but it was not apparent at the time. Did the MTX and Enbrel cause my mild symptoms to increase? Will it take much longer to recover? Is there any additional measures I can try to speed up my recovery? Does Methylprednisolone cause many side effects? and is it beneficial?
The methylprednisolone is a steroid, but for short term use it shouldn't be problematic. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned about it. I probably would have done the same thing as you did. What day do you take your meds? Maybe next time you're not certain, touch base with the doctor first?
I talked to my Rheumatologist"s nurse, and she said to take the meds my family doctor gave me and that the steroid would also help with my PsA inflammation; but I should not take MTX or Enbrel until the bronchitis is gone. I usually take it on Thursday. I see my family doc Monday. I feel much better today, except my face is bright red from the steroid. They scare me because my face swelled and my BP went sky high for weeks after I had S I Joint injections. The pharmacist said I should still take them and that the redness is common and should go away, but if it gets worse, call the doc.
I take Methylprednisolone, medrol, during my flares instead of prednisone. I have not had any problems as of yet, though long term steroid use has side effects, I just don’t know what they are. I am not a doctor or health professional but personally, I would have taken my meds also without hesitation. Though, with our over active immune system, I wonder if our system would be better off fighting the cold at the early stage rather than after its a full blown infection… Perhaps, that may be something to think about next time… Feel better soon.
I have a tracheotomy, and I have had bronchitis many times over the years. I was worried about getting infections when I first started the PsA drugs, but I haven't had one infection in the 2.5 years I have been on them. This the first.