urgent asthma/breastfeeding/prednisolone info neede - where from?

Gingham_Ribbon

I'm a bit of a prat and I wondered if someone knew where to get information. (Please don't give me medical advice or the thread will be deleted.)

I had an asthma attack a few days ago and it's flared up again overnight. I was told at the asthma clinic that I could take steroids through the nebuliser rather than using my oral ones as I'm breastfeeding. They said I would have to wait 4 hours to feed but after that I would be okay. I didn't want to take them at the time as I thought I could manage without - but I can't.

The out of hours service are hopeless and don't know what I'm talking about. Asthma UK lines are closed and the hospital won't talk to me unless I come in and I am unfit to drive.

Does anyone know where I can get advice from an actual asthma nurse on a weekend? I don't appreciate speaking to someone on a help desk who says, 'I'll just look in my medicine bible'. I've already done that myself. My husband is feeding expressed milk to our baby with a spoon at the moment and I know I can feed him if I HAVE to while on the steroids but I'd rather avoid it if possible.

Justie

I think the only advice you'll get will be of the variety of someone looking up the drug and telling you the details given about how it effects breastfeeding which you can also get here http://emc.medicines.org.uk/ The other person to ask is the midwife/health visitor who you should be able to get hold of at the weekend. It may be worth speaking to a breastfeeding counsellor at the NCT as well although I don't know if they have drug information. Sorry I can't be any more help than that.

DrFluffy

The BNF says it should be used with caution. The specific notes re: pred and breast feeding state:

Systemic effects in infant unlikely with maternal dose of prednisolone up to 40 mg daily; monitor infant's adrenal function with higher doses—the amount of inhaled drugs in breast milk is probably too small to be harmful

Gingham_Ribbon

Can't get through on the NCT line. Any other ideas on where I can find an asthma nurse on a Saturday? (My health visitor is not available at weekends and he's too old to come under the care of the midwife.)

Thanks for the help so far.

DrFluffy

Are you managed by your GP/practice nurse, or do you go to hospital for regular follow up?

DrFluffy

From: http://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/pharmacy/breastfeeding/topic5/searching.html#text

Prednisolone

• Hale advises that if possible, the mother should wait for four hours after taking the drug before feeding her infant and to limit the duration of exposure, again if possible. The theoretical infant dose is 23.4 microgrammes per kg per day. Short-term use is safe, with 40mg for five days being unlikely to cause problems for the infant, allowing the mother to continue to breastfeed. Stopping breastfeeding should be the last resort in view of the link between asthma and formula milk.

DrFluffy

The 'Hale' refered to is: Hale, Medications and Mother’s Milk.

Nile

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

Does anyone know where I can get advice from an actual asthma nurse on a weekend? I don't appreciate speaking to someone on a help desk who says, 'I'll just look in my medicine bible'. I've already done that myself. My husband is feeding expressed milk to our baby with a spoon at the moment and I know I can feed him if I HAVE to while on the steroids but I'd rather avoid it if possible.

Hello Gingham Ribbon

I'm sorry I can't help you with the asthma nurse info you need but was just wondering whether speaking to a Pharmacist would help you? You could ring a chemist and ask to speak to the Pharmacist..........to save you going out.;)

I know what you mean about speaking to someone on a help desk (NHS Direct) but it is possible that they have an asthma nurse on duty...........worth a try?

I hope you're soon feeling (and breathing) better.

Regards

Nile

Gingham_Ribbon

Thanks! No joy anywhere with a nurse. but i'd heard the 4 hourr thing already and it's been that thanks to dh and his spoon! i've decided to get rid of the milk i've made in the last few hours so i won't say what i'm doing while typing this:eek:

Gingham_Ribbon

DrFluffy wrote: »

Are you managed by your GP/practice nurse, or do you go to hospital for regular follow up?

Both I get seen by a respiritory prof every few weeks depending on how i am and see the nurse at the gp's for a follow up in between and if i need the nebuliser.

DrFluffy

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

Both I get seen by a respiritory prof every few weeks depending on how i am and see the nurse at the gp's for a follow up in between and if i need the nebuliser.

It might be worth seeing if you can contact one of his team? Or call his secretary first thing on Monday, and leave a message...