For difficult to manage conditions, prednisone can still be a miraculous medication. In general, the risk of side effects depends on the length of time you take prednisone and the amount you take.
You can help limit side effects by taking the medication exactly as prescribed and reporting any problems to your doctor. The amount of weight gain varies from individual to individual. In addition to causing weight gain, prednisone also tends to redistribute body fat to places that are undesirable, particularly the face moon face , back of the neck buffalo hump , and abdomen.
The higher the dose and the longer the treatment, the greater the effect. To some extent these changes can be minimized by exercise and the dietary changes described below. If you find this confusing, a consultation with a registered dietitian or nutritionist may be helpful. Ask your doctor for a recommendation.
Raising Blood Sugar Another reason to avoid sugary foods is the fact that prednisone has a tendency to raise the level of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. In most individuals, this has little significance. Overweight individuals, pregnant women, and those with a family history of diabetes may also be at risk. Some diabetics who have been previously controlled by diet or pills may have to switch to insulin for a short time.
Fortunately, this rise in blood sugar usually resolves when the prednisone dose is decreased or discontinued. Make sure your doctor knows if you are diabetic and all patients on prednisone should have periodic blood sugar tests.
Every day old bone cells die and new ones are created to take their place. Prednisone increases the loss of bone and slows the formation of new bone cells. Eventually, this may result in a decrease in bone density, or osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a common condition in adult Americans causing over 1. Prednisone may cause osteoporosis even in people who are not usually at high risk such as males and young people. In people susceptible to osteoporosis, prednisone may accelerate the process of bone loss and increases the risk of fracture of the spine or hip. Other risk factors include:. If you are on long term prednisone, you must aggressively counteract your increased risk as noted below.
Avascular necrosis Fortunately, this side effect of high dose prednisone is not common. This syndrome causes pain with weight-bearing and some loss of joint function.
Many patients with avascular necrosis require joint replacements. In most cases, keeping the skin as clean as possible and using topical antiacne medications will control the problem. Patients on prednisone also often notice that they bruise easily, even with only slight trauma. Other skin problems include slow wound healing, redness of the face plethora , stretch marks, night sweats, and increased facial hair.
People on prednisone should keep their skin clean and protected and avoid skin trauma including sunburn. When inflammation occurs in the stomach lining, it is called gastritis. If severe, a peptic ulcer may develop.
This is especially true if the patient is a past history of ulcers or regularly takes other anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or prescription medications for arthritis.
If persistent symptoms of nausea or heartburn develop while on prednisone, your doctor can prescribe stronger medications that easily controls stomach inflammation. Mood swings People on prednisone commonly experience changes in mood, particularly when they are taking high doses. One day, they may feel euphoric for no apparent reason.
Many have difficulty sleeping at night. At other times, there may be unexplained feelings of anxiety or a lack of concentration. It is common to feel tired and blue for a few days each time the dose of prednisone is being tapered downward. In most patients, these effects are mild, but can be very disturbing — both for the patient and their family. Be prepared. If you experience mental changes during prednisone therapy, be reassured that you are not crazy and that these changes will subside as the medication is withdrawn.
It is important to anticipate this problem and to discuss it with your friends and family. Try to minimize the stresses in your life. He may have to adjust your dosage or suggest stress reduction counseling. In some cases, it may be necessary to take medications for anxiety or antidepressants for a short while. If insomnia is a problem, try taking a short nap in the afternoon.
Eye changes High dose or long-term use of prednisone can cause two types of eye problems — cataracts and glaucoma. Cataracts are deposits in the lens of the eye and are part of the normal aging process. They are more common after long term prednisone usage and there is nothing you can do to prevent them. Fortunately, the cataracts caused by prednisone are usually small and usually not the type that interfere with normal vision. Prednisone can also increase the pressure of the fluid inside the eyeball, a painless condition known as glaucoma.
If eyeball pressure rises high enough, vision may be permanently damaged. Blindness can result. However, once diagnosed, glaucoma can be treated with prescription eyedrops. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If your next dose of prednisone should be taken soon, just take that dose.
Don't double up, or take more than one dose at a time. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had any of the following conditions:. Prednisone may interact with the following medications:. The FDA has classified prednisone as a type C drug. This means that it is not known what effect pregnancy will have on an unborn baby.
Notify the prescribing healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking prednisone. Prednisone does pass into breast milk and could affect a nursing infant. In most cases, it is advisable to taper off prednisone as soon as symptoms subside.
We're providing tips on how to take better care of your gut. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. If you are taking prednisone to treat a long-lasting disease, the medication may help control your condition but will not cure it.
Continue to take prednisone even if you feel well. Do not stop taking prednisone without talking to your doctor. If you suddenly stop taking prednisone, your body may not have enough natural steroids to function normally. This may cause symptoms such as extreme tiredness, weakness, slowed movements, upset stomach, weight loss, changes in skin color, sores in the mouth, and craving for salt.
Call your doctor if you experience these or other unusual symptoms while you are taking decreasing doses of prednisone or after you stop taking the medication.
Prednisone is also sometimes used with antibiotics to treat a certain type of pneumonia in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this drug for your condition.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Your doctor may instruct you to follow a low-salt, high potassium, or high calcium diet. Your doctor may also prescribe or recommend a calcium or potassium supplement. Follow these directions carefully. Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while you are taking this medication.
When you start to take prednisone, ask your doctor what to do if you forget to take a dose. Write down these instructions so that you can refer to them later.
Call your doctor or pharmacist if you miss a dose and do not know what to do. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Prednisone may slow growth and development in children. Your child's doctor will watch his or her growth carefully. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving prednisone to your child. Prednisone may increase the risk that you will develop osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking prednisone and about things that you can do to decrease the chance that you will develop osteoporosis.
For patients that take prednisone or other glucocorticosteroids for an extended period of time over two weeks , it is recommended that they slowly taper off the medication when it is recommended by a physician that they stop the medication.
If the glucocorticosteroid is stopped abruptly, it can cause suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis , which can lead to an adrenal crisis and be life-threatening. While on prednisone, because it is used to turn down the immune system, you may be at greater risk for developing an infection of some sort. It is important to maintain proper hygiene and avoid friends and family who have measles or the chickenpox during your treatment. Based on the information from your question it appears like your prescriber is recommending a dose of 4 tablets a day.
This should be taken all at once in the morning and with a small meal to avoid the potential side effects of prednisone. Be sure to ask your doctor about tapering off prednisone if you are on it for an extended period of time. His areas of expertise include pharmacovigilance and drug safety.
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