Prednisone is prescribed to treat many different types of inflammatory conditions, everything fromskin rashestoinflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Prednisone may be given for only a short time, such as over a few days to much longer periods. Some people who take prednisone for chronic conditions have trouble stopping the drug because the symptoms return every time the dose is lowered.This is called steroid-dependent, and most healthcare providers agree it’s not an optimal form of treatment. In most cases, getting the condition under control and stopping the prednisone as soon as possible is the ultimate goal.
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What Are the Side Effects of Prednisone?
Side effectsof prednisone that can prove troublesome include increased appetite,weight gain,acne,mood changes, and difficulty sleeping. The more serious side effects of prednisone includecataracts, glaucoma,osteoporosis, and bone damage in the hips.These side effects are permanent and occur only after long-term use. If you have concerns about these side effects, you should speak to your practitioner regarding these risks.
How Is Prednisone Taken?
Prednisone is a drug that must betapered downslowly over a number of days, and in some cases, even over weeks or months.The length of time it takes to stop the prednisone will be dependent upon how long it was taken in the first place: If it’s only taken for a few days or weeks, a taper might not be needed.
In order to prevent the stomach upset that sometimes occurs with prednisone, it can be taken with a meal or a snack.
Why Is Prednisone Prescribed?
Prednisone may be prescribed for many conditions including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis,allergic rhinitis (hay fever),rheumatoid arthritis,andankylosing spondylitis.
What Do You Do If You Miss a Dose?
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.
Precautions
Taking prednisone can be problematic in certain circumstances. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had any of the following:
*A systemic fungal infection is a contraindication for prednisone use. The others on this list have warnings associated with them.
What Medications Can Prednisone Interact With?
Prednisone may interact with the following medications:
Can You Take Prednisone With Advil (Ibuprofen)?
Is Prednisone Safe During Pregnancy?
The FDA has classified prednisone as a type C drug. This means that it is not known exactly what effect it has on a fetus when takenduring pregnancy.Notify the prescribing healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking prednisone. Prednisone does pass into breast milk and could affect a nursing infant.
How Long Can Prednisone Be Taken Safely?
In most cases, it is advisable to taper off prednisone as soon as symptoms subside.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Oakley RH, Cidlowski JA.The biology of the glucocorticoid receptor: New signaling mechanisms in health and disease.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013;132(5):1033-1044. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2013.09.007University of Michigan Health.Prednisone.Liu D, Ahmet A, Ward L, et al.A practical guide to the monitoring and management of the complications of systemic corticosteroid therapy.All Asth Clin Immun. 2013;9(1):30. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-9-30Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center.Prednisone.Fields TF.Steroid side effects: How to reduce drug side effects of corticosteroids. Hospital for Special Surgery.Dorrington AM, Selinger CP, Parkes GC, Smith M, Pollok RC, Raine T.The historical role and contemporary use of corticosteroids in inflammatory bowel disease.Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis. 2020;14(9):1316-1329. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa053Hox V, Lourijsen E, Jordens A, et al.Benefits and harm of systemic steroids for short- and long-term use in rhinitis and rhinosinusitis: An EAACI position paper.Clin Transl Allergy. 2020;10(1):1. doi:10.1186/s13601-019-0303-6Stacy JM, Greenmyer JR, Beal JR, Sahmoun AE, Diri E.The efficacy of low dose short-term prednisone therapy for remission induction in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients.Adv Rheumatol. 2021;61(1):50. doi:10.1186/s42358-021-00205-4Haibel H, Fendler C, Listing J, Callhoff J, Braun J, Sieper J.Efficacy of oral prednisolone in active ankylosing spondylitis: Results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled short-term trial.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2014;73(1):243-246. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-203055MedlinePlus.Prednisone.DailyMed.Prednisolone.Van Matre ET, Satyanarayana G, Page II RL, Levi ME, Lindenfeld J, Mueller SW.Pharmacokinetic drug–drug interactions between immunosuppressant and anti-infective agents: antimetabolites and corticosteroids.Ann Transplant. 2018;23:66-74. doi:10.12659%2FAOT.906164Ryu RJ, Easterling TR, Caritis SN, et al.Prednisone pharmacokinetics during pregnancy and lactation.The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2018;58(9):1223-1232. doi:10.1002/jcph.1122
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Oakley RH, Cidlowski JA.The biology of the glucocorticoid receptor: New signaling mechanisms in health and disease.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013;132(5):1033-1044. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2013.09.007University of Michigan Health.Prednisone.Liu D, Ahmet A, Ward L, et al.A practical guide to the monitoring and management of the complications of systemic corticosteroid therapy.All Asth Clin Immun. 2013;9(1):30. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-9-30Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center.Prednisone.Fields TF.Steroid side effects: How to reduce drug side effects of corticosteroids. Hospital for Special Surgery.Dorrington AM, Selinger CP, Parkes GC, Smith M, Pollok RC, Raine T.The historical role and contemporary use of corticosteroids in inflammatory bowel disease.Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis. 2020;14(9):1316-1329. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa053Hox V, Lourijsen E, Jordens A, et al.Benefits and harm of systemic steroids for short- and long-term use in rhinitis and rhinosinusitis: An EAACI position paper.Clin Transl Allergy. 2020;10(1):1. doi:10.1186/s13601-019-0303-6Stacy JM, Greenmyer JR, Beal JR, Sahmoun AE, Diri E.The efficacy of low dose short-term prednisone therapy for remission induction in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients.Adv Rheumatol. 2021;61(1):50. doi:10.1186/s42358-021-00205-4Haibel H, Fendler C, Listing J, Callhoff J, Braun J, Sieper J.Efficacy of oral prednisolone in active ankylosing spondylitis: Results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled short-term trial.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2014;73(1):243-246. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-203055MedlinePlus.Prednisone.DailyMed.Prednisolone.Van Matre ET, Satyanarayana G, Page II RL, Levi ME, Lindenfeld J, Mueller SW.Pharmacokinetic drug–drug interactions between immunosuppressant and anti-infective agents: antimetabolites and corticosteroids.Ann Transplant. 2018;23:66-74. doi:10.12659%2FAOT.906164Ryu RJ, Easterling TR, Caritis SN, et al.Prednisone pharmacokinetics during pregnancy and lactation.The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2018;58(9):1223-1232. doi:10.1002/jcph.1122
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Oakley RH, Cidlowski JA.The biology of the glucocorticoid receptor: New signaling mechanisms in health and disease.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013;132(5):1033-1044. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2013.09.007University of Michigan Health.Prednisone.Liu D, Ahmet A, Ward L, et al.A practical guide to the monitoring and management of the complications of systemic corticosteroid therapy.All Asth Clin Immun. 2013;9(1):30. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-9-30Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center.Prednisone.Fields TF.Steroid side effects: How to reduce drug side effects of corticosteroids. Hospital for Special Surgery.Dorrington AM, Selinger CP, Parkes GC, Smith M, Pollok RC, Raine T.The historical role and contemporary use of corticosteroids in inflammatory bowel disease.Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis. 2020;14(9):1316-1329. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa053Hox V, Lourijsen E, Jordens A, et al.Benefits and harm of systemic steroids for short- and long-term use in rhinitis and rhinosinusitis: An EAACI position paper.Clin Transl Allergy. 2020;10(1):1. doi:10.1186/s13601-019-0303-6Stacy JM, Greenmyer JR, Beal JR, Sahmoun AE, Diri E.The efficacy of low dose short-term prednisone therapy for remission induction in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients.Adv Rheumatol. 2021;61(1):50. doi:10.1186/s42358-021-00205-4Haibel H, Fendler C, Listing J, Callhoff J, Braun J, Sieper J.Efficacy of oral prednisolone in active ankylosing spondylitis: Results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled short-term trial.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2014;73(1):243-246. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-203055MedlinePlus.Prednisone.DailyMed.Prednisolone.Van Matre ET, Satyanarayana G, Page II RL, Levi ME, Lindenfeld J, Mueller SW.Pharmacokinetic drug–drug interactions between immunosuppressant and anti-infective agents: antimetabolites and corticosteroids.Ann Transplant. 2018;23:66-74. doi:10.12659%2FAOT.906164Ryu RJ, Easterling TR, Caritis SN, et al.Prednisone pharmacokinetics during pregnancy and lactation.The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2018;58(9):1223-1232. doi:10.1002/jcph.1122
Oakley RH, Cidlowski JA.The biology of the glucocorticoid receptor: New signaling mechanisms in health and disease.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013;132(5):1033-1044. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2013.09.007
University of Michigan Health.Prednisone.
Liu D, Ahmet A, Ward L, et al.A practical guide to the monitoring and management of the complications of systemic corticosteroid therapy.All Asth Clin Immun. 2013;9(1):30. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-9-30
Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center.Prednisone.
Fields TF.Steroid side effects: How to reduce drug side effects of corticosteroids. Hospital for Special Surgery.
Dorrington AM, Selinger CP, Parkes GC, Smith M, Pollok RC, Raine T.The historical role and contemporary use of corticosteroids in inflammatory bowel disease.Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis. 2020;14(9):1316-1329. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa053
Hox V, Lourijsen E, Jordens A, et al.Benefits and harm of systemic steroids for short- and long-term use in rhinitis and rhinosinusitis: An EAACI position paper.Clin Transl Allergy. 2020;10(1):1. doi:10.1186/s13601-019-0303-6
Stacy JM, Greenmyer JR, Beal JR, Sahmoun AE, Diri E.The efficacy of low dose short-term prednisone therapy for remission induction in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients.Adv Rheumatol. 2021;61(1):50. doi:10.1186/s42358-021-00205-4
Haibel H, Fendler C, Listing J, Callhoff J, Braun J, Sieper J.Efficacy of oral prednisolone in active ankylosing spondylitis: Results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled short-term trial.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2014;73(1):243-246. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-203055
MedlinePlus.Prednisone.
DailyMed.Prednisolone.
Van Matre ET, Satyanarayana G, Page II RL, Levi ME, Lindenfeld J, Mueller SW.Pharmacokinetic drug–drug interactions between immunosuppressant and anti-infective agents: antimetabolites and corticosteroids.Ann Transplant. 2018;23:66-74. doi:10.12659%2FAOT.906164
Ryu RJ, Easterling TR, Caritis SN, et al.Prednisone pharmacokinetics during pregnancy and lactation.The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2018;58(9):1223-1232. doi:10.1002/jcph.1122
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