What is the difference in a Steroid and an Antibiotic?

[JadenLayne]

My Dr. prescribed me both a Steroid and an Antibiotic for my bronchitus do I need both? What is the difference?

The Steroid is a Metrol Pack and the Antibiotic is Augmentin.

Do I need both of these? They are quite expensive even with my insurance. Do they do the same thing?

 

[hiwaygal]

I believe the steroid will reduce inflammation in your respiratory tract while the antibiotic will kill the infection.

That's why you need both.

 

[sam517]

Yes, the steroid is to reduce the inflammation in your lungs and the antibiotic is to kill the infection. Be sure to continue both untill they are all gone so you don't relapse.

 

[Crankyshank]

The steroid is to help your breathing. The antibiotic is to kill the infection.

Whether or not you need both is really up to you and your Dr. I personally don't take steroids unless absolutely necessary when I have bronchitis because of problems when I was on prednisone when I was younger, but I don't know how bad your breathing test was.

 

[nuke]

Definately get the antibiotic. The steriod will help the breathing. If you do start the steriod follow the directions on the pack.

 

[laurie31]

Yes, they are completely different things.

A steroid will reduce inflammation - swelling- in your airways so you can breathe better. The antibiotic will kill the bacteria causing the infection. A steroid will have no effect on a germ and the antibiotic will not open up your breathing passages. Call your MD and see if you can get samples if money is a factor.

HOpe you feel better soon!

 

[debster812]

Even though I know you laugh at the 'call your doctor' crowd, (as in the case of your foot thread last week) in this case, I think it's pretty necessary. You've had two posts today, with all sorts of questions on the myriad of meds you were prescribed today. I'd just call back to the office, speak to the Dr. or the Nurse handling calls, and ask for them to explain them all again. Or at the very least talk to the pharmacist. Sounds like you got a lot, and that you have a bad case of bronchitis. I wouldn't mess around with it, it could easily get worse if you don't follow the doctor's instructions.

 

[Cool-Beans]

As said, steroids open up your airways, helping you to breathe. I'm unfamiliar with Metrol (if I've given it, I don't remember...did you mean Medrol?), but that's what steroids do. Antibiotics go after the infection that started the mess. Augmentin is amoxicillin and is commonly used for respiratory stuff.

Try to kick this while it is still bronchitis. You don't want a pneumonia.

Drink lots of water - it helps loosen the mucus. Unless the coughing is painful, don't fight it. It is doing its job, helping to rid you of the crap. Get your rest, take your vitamins.

I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I don't know if this will help you, but it made things cheaper for my husband last year. Instead of the Medrol Dosepak, the doctor wrote the prescription for prednisone and had him take 6 pills the first day, 5 the second, 4 the third, so on and so forth. It was cheaper than the Medrol, for the same thing (just taking more pills per day for the same effect)

Can't hurt to ask the pharmacy....

Jen

 

[themarquis]

If they are both so expensive to the point that you don't think you'll buy them, then stand up for yourself, call the doc, and tell them to either give you samples or prescribe cheaper meds. There are several antibiotics one could take for bronchitis, and probably more than one steroid. Docs sometimes prescribe whatever is the new hot thing or whatever the drug rep has been pushing lately. There is older, generic stuff out there that will get the job done. Don't just second-guess the doc and decide not to take them. Bronchitis isn't a buffet where you can just decide for yourself what meds you like and what you don't.

 

[minkydog]

I don't know if this will help you, but it made things cheaper for my husband last year. Instead of the Medrol Dosepak, the doctor wrote the prescription for prednisone and had him take 6 pills the first day, 5 the second, 4 the third, so on and so forth. It was cheaper than the Medrol, for the same thing (just taking more pills per day for the same effect)

Can't hurt to ask the pharmacy....

Jen

I second this. Prednisone is a fairly cheap drug. It's the same thing that's in the medrol dose-pak. My son just bought the generic augmentin yesterday--he has no pharmacy coverage. It was $16.00.

From one of those "call your doctor" types--call your doctor.

 

[JadenLayne]

Thanks everyone!

First I want to clear up that I don't laugh at all the "Call Your Doctor" types. Not about something like this. This is far worse than my foot. My foot is actually fine and only has a little soreness. I honestly didn't think and still don't that I needed to call my Dr. about my foot. On this I do!

I'm all for calling my Dr. when it's serious, just not for every little thing (like my foot.)

Thank you all, I'm going to call him and see about getting the generic kind and the Prednisone!

 

[Cool-Beans]

You can get the generic brand without the doctor prescribing it by asking the pharmacy for it. Unless the doctor specifically noted that you CAN'T get a generic, you don't need to involve him.