Diving Nitrox on Prednisone

[Joy-S]

I'm on a 6 day course of prednisone & am scheduled to go diving tomorrow (60 foot reefs) This is a new medication for me. Does anyone know of any problems while diving air or nitrox on prednisone? Thanks

 

[JohnN]

I'm on a 6 day course of prednisone & am scheduled to go diving tomorrow (60 foot reefs) This is a new medication for me. Does anyone know of any problems while diving air or nitrox on prednisone? Thanks

You are going to get better advice by describing why you are taking prednisone, it can be used to treat a number of conditions.

 

[Joy-S]

Sorry. It was prescribed with Antibiotics to clear up a sinus and ear infection.

 

[JohnN]

Sorry. It was prescribed with Antibiotics to clear up a sinus and ear infection.

Unless your Dr. missed the mark badly, you most likely have a severe sinus infection and may have a very difficult time equalizing. No harm to try, but you should warn the DM/instructor/buddy and be prepared to call the dive very early.

 

[Joy-S]

Thank you and the more I've been thinking about it, I'll probably play it safe and reschedule.

 

[Kevrumbo]

I've done a lot of overseas Tech diving over the past seven years using mixed gases along with Eanx50 and 100% Oxygen for acclerated deco. Currently in Truk doing deep air & trimix mandatory decompression wreck diving, and was in Palau diving recreational profiles, two dives a day on Eanx32. I've had no problems regarding DCS on this particular trip (although I had a type one episode back in June on a deep dive expedition to Bikini Atoll that was treated with In-Water-Recompression).

I've used Prednisone frequently (20 to 40mg q.o.d. tapering down over a week) to help keep my Atopic Dermatitis under control while on vacation, and to help relieve severe inflammation & itching due to Miliaria (heat/sweat rash), and insect & marine stings in the tropics. The only side effect I've noticed -other than facial puffiness "Cushingoid" appearance- is frequent urination both in & out of the water, so stay hydrated (keep sipping on a water bottle especially post-dive). . .

 

[lv2dive]

If you are in a position where you are looking to a forum for advice, I think this sounds like the best choice, unless you have spoken with your dr and gotten alternate advice in the interim. I personaly certainly would not simply "stay hydrated" and hope for the best; I'd be afraid of the consequences!

Thank you and the more I've been thinking about it, I'll probably play it safe and reschedule.

 

[tracydr]

Kev, if you've had so much prednisone that you have been Cushingoid, I would make sure that you get your bones and joints checked out, both for osteoporosis and osteonecrosis. I have severe osteonecrosis in my knees as well as milder lesions in my ankles. Mainly from steroids but possibly exasperated by diving. Most times, the osteonecrosis also requires abnormal clotting problems. I have anticardiolipin antibody. Osteoporosis, though, is quite common after chronic steroids.
I had a course of steroids in 2007 that caused me to look Cushingoid.
Steroids are wonder drugs but they also have some terrible, devastating side effects.short term, diving, I'd be concerned with steroid psychosis. It's weird and there is no way to predict who will get it and when it will happen.

 

[Joy-S]

Thank you everyone. I've canceled the dive until I've finished the antibiotic & prednisone. Better safe then sorry.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Kev, if you've had so much prednisone that you have been Cushingoid, I would make sure that you get your bones and joints checked out, both for osteoporosis and osteonecrosis. I have severe osteonecrosis in my knees as well as milder lesions in my ankles. Mainly from steroids but possibly exasperated by diving. Most times, the osteonecrosis also requires abnormal clotting problems. I have anticardiolipin antibody. Osteoporosis, though, is quite common after chronic steroids.
I had a course of steroids in 2007 that caused me to look Cushingoid.
Steroids are wonder drugs but they also have some terrible, devastating side effects.short term, diving, I'd be concerned with steroid psychosis. It's weird and there is no way to predict who will get it and when it will happen.

Yeah . . .well my evil doppelganger "Kevrumbo" tends to come out & wreak havoc here on ScubaBoard when I'm on higher doses (and near a WiFi hotspot post-dive), so I guess corticosteroid "Roid Rage" could have something to do with it.

No signs of Osteonecrosis or Osteoporosis despite all the heavy deep diving i've been doing here in Truk & elsewhere over the past seven years. Other than Cervical Radiculopathy/C-spine changes that I will eventually have to undergo "Peyton Manning Surgery", the only non-immediate latent side effect I really worry about is on my already thin Corneal tissue & elevated Intraocular Pressure (left cornea ruptured last year and is still healing -but I can read my SPG & dive computer now!).