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
poster:SLS
thread:36312
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000603/msgs/36341.html