Prednisone for Poison Ivy | Please Taper Slowly! | The People's Pharmacy.Poison Ivy Contact Dermatitis | Time of Care

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Review articles recommend 10 to 21 days of treatment with topical or oral corticosteroids for moderate to severe contact dermatitis due to plants strength of recommendation [SOR]: C , based on review articles.

The primary reason given for the duration of 2 to 3 weeks is to prevent rebound dermatitis. Evidence for the best treatment of rhus dermatitis is negligible. Most recommendations stem from review articles and expert opinion.

Rhus dermatitis is one example of a disorder for which we must fall back on our logic and personal experience. Most experts recommend oral corticosteroids over intramuscular corticosteroid suspensions, which may not provide high enough concentrations in the skin SOR C.

However, 40—80 mg of intramuscular triamcinolone or an equivalent is an alternative to oral treatment, especially if adherence is an issue. Pruritus can be treated with oral antihistamines. Secondary infection, which is common with vesiculobullous involvement, is treated with appropriate oral antibiotics.

Instructions to Authors. Publication Ethics. Informed Consent. Copyright and Permission. Journal Contact. Publishing Charge. Submission to First Decision. A slow taper over a week or two is generally recommended. Dropping the dose too rapidly can lead to symptoms of adrenal dysfunction such as muscle weakness, fatigue, dizziness, fainting, headache, nausea, loss of appetite and low blood sugar. Side effects of prednisone or other strong steroids can include insomnia, irritability and mood swings, fluid retention, elevated blood pressure, headache and dizziness.

Be alert for more serious complications such as blood clots or susceptibility to infections BMJ , April 12, You may want to use a low-salt substitute containing potassium chloride on your food to replenish potassium. To learn more about the dark side of prednisone when it is used for long periods of time you may want to click on this link. Prednisone is a valuable medication for many serious conditions, but prednisone side effects can be serious, including sepsis and psychological reactions.

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options. Have you ever had BAD poison ivy? Doctors prescribe prednisone for poison ivy rashes. It works but requires a gradual taper over 1 to 2 weeks. Joe Graedon. Prednisone for Poison Ivy: A.

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Poison ivy prednisone taper

 

Journals Policy Permission. Journal of Clinical Medicine Research. Instructions to Authors. Publication Ethics. Informed Consent. Copyright and Permission. Journal Contact. Publishing Charge. Submission to First Decision. Acceptance Rate. Acceptance to Publication. Background: Toxidendron poison ivy, oak, and sumac contact dermatitis is a common complaint in the outpatient primary care setting with little evidence-based guidance on best treatment duration.

Methods: This randomized, controlled trial examined the efficacy and side effects of a 5-day regimen of 40 mg oral prednisone daily short course compared to the same 5-day regimen followed by a prednisone taper of 30 mg daily for 2 days, 20 mg daily for 2 days, 10 mg daily for 2 days, and 5 mg daily for 4 days over a total of 15 days long course in patients with severe poison ivy dermatitis.

Results: In 49 patients with severe poison ivy, non-adherence rates, rash return, medication side effects, and time to improvement and complete healing of the rash were not significantly different between the two groups. Patients receiving the long course regimen were significantly less likely to utilize other medications Application of this information to clinical practice will save return visits and reduce excess non-prescription medication administration to individual patients.

J Clin Med Res. User Username Password Remember me. Print this article. How to cite item. Finding References. Review policy. Email this article Login required. Abstract Background: Toxidendron poison ivy, oak, and sumac contact dermatitis is a common complaint in the outpatient primary care setting with little evidence-based guidance on best treatment duration.

Keywords Toxidendron; Poison ivy; Contact dermatitis; Steroid taper. Remember me. Submit Manuscript. Editorial Board. Conflict of Interest.

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    Depending on the degree of contact i. I never used to get poison ivy, but last weekend I cleared out a lot of weeds and vines from my backyard.

Many review articles refer to rebound dermatitis when using courses of oral steroids such as Medrol dosepaks for fewer than 14 days. One case report noted failure of a tapering dose over 5 days of oral methylprednisolone for treatment of poison ivy contact dermatitis. The systemic treatments listed include oral or intramuscular corticosteroids, but no discussion of duration is mentioned.

UpToDate discusses avoidance of the offending substance for 2 to 4 weeks, use of topical corticosteroids of medium to strong potency for a limited time without defining the duration , and use of systemic corticosteroids in severe cases, prescribing a course of prednisone at 40 mg daily for 4 to 6 days followed by 20 mg for 4 to 6 days.

Because the rash may persist for more than 2 weeks, it makes sense to prescribe oral steroids for longer than 5 or 7 days. Secondary infection, which is common with vesiculobullous involvement, is treated with appropriate oral antibiotics. Mosby Elsevier, , pp Home Pharmacy Mnemonics Resources. Search for:. Acceptance Rate.

Acceptance to Publication. Background: Toxidendron poison ivy, oak, and sumac contact dermatitis is a common complaint in the outpatient primary care setting with little evidence-based guidance on best treatment duration. Methods: This randomized, controlled trial examined the efficacy and side effects of a 5-day regimen of 40 mg oral prednisone daily short course compared to the same 5-day regimen followed by a prednisone taper of 30 mg daily for 2 days, 20 mg daily for 2 days, 10 mg daily for 2 days, and 5 mg daily for 4 days over a total of 15 days long course in patients with severe poison ivy dermatitis.

Results: In 49 patients with severe poison ivy, non-adherence rates, rash return, medication side effects, and time to improvement and complete healing of the rash were not significantly different between the two groups. Patients receiving the long course regimen were significantly less likely to utilize other medications Application of this information to clinical practice will save return visits and reduce excess non-prescription medication administration to individual patients.

Urushiol is the oily resin that triggers contact dermatitis. Even someone who thinks he is immune to this toxic substance can develop an allergy late in life. This reader is now taking prednisone for poison ivy because of such a reaction. I never used to get poison ivy, but last weekend I cleared out a lot of weeds and vines from my backyard. The result: I am covered with an awful rash. Does this mean that I am now susceptible to poison ivy going forward?

My doctor prescribed prednisone after a telemedicine consultation. It seems to be helping. What should I know about this drug? Yes, you should absolutely consider yourself sensitized to poison ivy now.

People can develop this allergic contact dermatitis at any point in their lives. Surveyors, national park rangers and telephone linemen have discovered this the hard way. These hard-working folks have to be very careful to avoid plants that secrete urushiol.

Scant evidence exists for the best duration of steroid therapy for contact dermatitis due to plants rhus. Review articles recommend 10 to 21 days of treatment with topical or oral corticosteroids for moderate to severe contact dermatitis due to plants strength of recommendation [SOR]: Cbased on review articles.

The primary reason given for the duration of 2 to 3 weeks is to prevent rebound dermatitis. Evidence for the best treatment of rhus dermatitis is negligible. Most recommendations stem from review articles and expert opinion.

Rhus dermatitis is one example of a disorder for which we must fall back on our logic and personal experience. Since the painful itchy blisters and erythema from the oleoresin may take up to 1 week to appear, and because the rash may persist for more than 2 weeks, it makes sense to prescribe oral steroids in severe cases for longer than the usual 5- to 7-day burst.

Habif, a popular dermatology text, suggests gradually tapering steroids from 60 to 10 mg over a day course. No published studies compare varying durations of treatment with steroids for contact dermatitis due to plants, including rhus.

Many review articles refer to rebound dermatitis when using courses of oral steroids such as Medrol dosepaks for fewer than 14 days. One case report noted failure of a tapering dose over 5 days of oral methylprednisolone for treatment of poison ivy contact dermatitis.

The systemic treatments listed include oral or intramuscular corticosteroids, but no discussion of duration is mentioned. UpToDate discusses avoidance of the offending substance for 2 to 4 weeks, use of topical corticosteroids of medium to strong potency for a limited time without defining the durationand use of systemic corticosteroids in severe cases, prescribing a course of prednisone at 40 mg daily for 4 to 6 days followed by 20 mg for 4 to 6 days.

Because the rash may persist for more than 2 weeks, it makes sense to prescribe oral steroids for longer than 5 or 7 days. Skip to main content. Clinical Inquiries. What is the best duration of steroid therapy for contact dermatitis rhus? J Fam Pract. Meadows, MLS. PDF Download. Evidence-based answers from the Family Physicians Inquiries Network.

Prednisone Taper for Rashes prednisone is stopped too soon when prescribed for certain types of rashes, such as poison ivy, a rebound rash may occur. Oral prednisone is often used in treatment of severe poison ivy of 40mg oral prednisone followed by prednisone taper (2 days 30mg. One review recommends a tapering dose of oral prednisone to prevent rebound recurrence if the rash affects >25% of the body surface area, has severe blistering. Oral corticosteroids such as prednisone can bring relief to a bad case of poison ivy within about 24 hours. The dose should be tapered gradually over a week or. Short bursts of low-potency oral corticosteroids such as a methylprednisolone dose pack have a high rate of relapse as the taper finishes, so the expert. Submit Manuscript. J Clin Med Res. About the Author Joe Graedon Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. Results: In 49 patients with severe poison ivy, non-adherence rates, rash return, medication side effects, and time to improvement and complete healing of the rash were not significantly different between the two groups. Prednisone is a life saver in my case. Clinical Inquiries.

There is erythema with multiple bullae and vesicles, some of which are in a streaked linear distribution on the arms. This is a type IV T cell—mediated allergic reaction, so it typically takes at least 12 hours and often 2—3 days before the reaction is fully manifested. Depending on the degree of contact i. Also, delayed contact with resin from contaminated clothing, gloves, or pets may result in new lesions appearing over several days.

Brushing against the leaves of the plant causes the linear streaking pattern characteristic of poison ivy dermatitis. It has been demonstrated that the resin can be inactivated with any type of soap, thereby preventing the reaction, but the sooner the better. Therapy depends on the severity of the reaction. Group I—II fluorinated agents are at the strongest end of the spectrum and are not recommended for use on the face or intertriginous areas.

Short bursts of low-potency oral corticosteroids such as a methylprednisolone dose pack have a high rate of relapse as the taper finishes, so the expert consensus is to use a higher dosage tapered over a longer period, generally 10—14 days, in order to prevent a relapse.

Most experts recommend oral corticosteroids over intramuscular corticosteroid suspensions, which may not provide high enough concentrations in the skin SOR C. However, 40—80 mg of intramuscular triamcinolone or an equivalent is an alternative to oral treatment, especially if adherence is an issue.

Pruritus can be treated with oral antihistamines. Secondary infection, which is common with vesiculobullous involvement, is treated with appropriate oral antibiotics. Mosby Elsevier, , pp Home Pharmacy Mnemonics Resources. Search for:.