Managing prednisone in clients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Prednisone improves airflow in selected individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Because of the nature of its adverse effects and because not all clients benefit, the first step in management is giving clients a steroid trial. The decision to continue therapy is based on subjective improvement and objective improvement shown by pulmonary function tests. If therapy is continued, caregivers must find a maintenance dose so that clients receive benefit with less risk of adverse effects.