Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommonWith Long-Term UseRisk of InfectionStopping Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common
With Long-Term Use
Risk of Infection
Stopping Treatment
Low cost and rapid relief are two key benefits ofPrednisone, acorticosteroidused to treat asthma,inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and several other conditions. But the list of Prednisone side effects is long, and it’s important to be aware of them before and while taking the drug.
Prednisone side effects are common and can include insomnia, abnormal hair growth, fatigue, thinning of the skin, constipation, and more.While some are manageable, others can be intolerable or even permanent. And some that can develop after months or years of use, like swallowing difficultiesand irregular heartbeat, can be quite serious.
Because the potential for side effects is high and increases the longer you use the drug, prednisone should only be used on a short-term basis.
This article lists the common and severe side effects of prednisone. It also explains why abruptly stopping prednisone is unsafe.
Easy bruising is one of the many side effects associated with prednisone.Lea Paterson / Science Photo Library / Getty Images
What You Should Know Before Taking Prednisone
Common Side Effects of Prednisone
Because prednisone can alter the balance of hormones in the body, metabolic side effects can develop that affect everything from your skin texture to your brain and digestive function.
Many of these side effects are reversible once the treatment is stopped. Some, like the thinning of the skin, may not be.
Some of the more common side effects associated with prednisone use include:
Gastrointestinal Side Effects of Prednisone
Prednisone and other corticosteroids can cause the following gastrointestinal side effects:
How to Reduce Prednisone Side Effects
Prednisone Side Effects From Long-Term Use
The risk of severe side effects tends to increase the longer you take prednisone. The prolonged use (or overuse) of prednisone is associated with an increased risk of the following side effects:
Signs of Severe Allergic ReactionCall 911 or seek immediate emergency care if you experience symptoms of a severe, whole-body allergy known asanaphylaxisafter taking prednisone, including:Sudden rash or hivesShortness of breathWheezingIrregular heartbeatDizziness or faintingSwelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throatA feeling of impending doomIf left untreated, anaphylaxis can lead toanaphylactic shockand death.
Signs of Severe Allergic Reaction
Call 911 or seek immediate emergency care if you experience symptoms of a severe, whole-body allergy known asanaphylaxisafter taking prednisone, including:Sudden rash or hivesShortness of breathWheezingIrregular heartbeatDizziness or faintingSwelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throatA feeling of impending doomIf left untreated, anaphylaxis can lead toanaphylactic shockand death.
Call 911 or seek immediate emergency care if you experience symptoms of a severe, whole-body allergy known asanaphylaxisafter taking prednisone, including:
If left untreated, anaphylaxis can lead toanaphylactic shockand death.
These may be infections you acquire from others or the reactivation of infections that your body was previously able to control.
The risk of infection increases with the dose or duration of therapy and may include:
The risk of other types of infection may also increase, particularly if there is underlyingimmunosuppression.
Benefits and Risks of Immunosuppressants
Discontinuing Treatment
You can stop taking prednisone if you are not able to tolerate these side effects, but this should never be done suddenly or without a healthcare provider’s guidance.
Abruptly stopping prednisone can lead to a serious condition known as anadrenal crisis. Without prednisone to act as a cortisol substitute, the body may not have enough of the hormone to function properly.
Symptoms of an acute adrenal crisis include:
Severe cases can lead tohypovolemic shock,coma, and even death.
Tapering Prednisone
To avoid adrenal crisis, a prednisone dose should be decreased gradually over a period of time under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
The tapering schedule for prednisone can vary depending on the dose you were prescribed and how long you were on treatment.
People on long-term therapy often need months to get off the drug completely.
Never alter the prescribed dose or duration of prednisone therapy without your healthcare provider’s OK.
Prednisone Taper
Prednisone can be a very effective drug if used appropriately. If your healthcare provider prescribes prednisone, take the drug as directed.
If you experience any side effects or have signs of infection, let your healthcare provider know without delay. Never stop treatment or reduce the dose because it “makes you feel better.” Doing so may not only undermine the aims of treatment but trigger a potentially serious adrenal crisis.
6 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.Oray M, Abu Samra K, Ebrahimiadib N, Meese H, Foster CS.Long-term side effects of glucocorticoids.Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2016;15(4):457-65. doi:10.1517/14740338.2016.1140743.MedlinePlus.Prednisone.National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Prednisone tablet: Drug label information.Youssef J, Novosad SA, Winthrop KL.Infection risk and safety of corticosteroid use.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2016 Feb;42(1):1570-76. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2015.08.004Dineen R, Thompson CJ, Sherlock M.Adrenal crisis: prevention and management in adult patients.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab. 2019;10:2042018819848218. doi:10.1177/2042018819848218Amrein K, Martucci G, Hahner S.Understanding adrenal crisis.Intensive Care Med. 2017;44(5):652-55. doi:10.1007/s00134-017-4954-2
6 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.Oray M, Abu Samra K, Ebrahimiadib N, Meese H, Foster CS.Long-term side effects of glucocorticoids.Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2016;15(4):457-65. doi:10.1517/14740338.2016.1140743.MedlinePlus.Prednisone.National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Prednisone tablet: Drug label information.Youssef J, Novosad SA, Winthrop KL.Infection risk and safety of corticosteroid use.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2016 Feb;42(1):1570-76. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2015.08.004Dineen R, Thompson CJ, Sherlock M.Adrenal crisis: prevention and management in adult patients.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab. 2019;10:2042018819848218. doi:10.1177/2042018819848218Amrein K, Martucci G, Hahner S.Understanding adrenal crisis.Intensive Care Med. 2017;44(5):652-55. doi:10.1007/s00134-017-4954-2
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.
Oray M, Abu Samra K, Ebrahimiadib N, Meese H, Foster CS.Long-term side effects of glucocorticoids.Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2016;15(4):457-65. doi:10.1517/14740338.2016.1140743.MedlinePlus.Prednisone.National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Prednisone tablet: Drug label information.Youssef J, Novosad SA, Winthrop KL.Infection risk and safety of corticosteroid use.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2016 Feb;42(1):1570-76. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2015.08.004Dineen R, Thompson CJ, Sherlock M.Adrenal crisis: prevention and management in adult patients.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab. 2019;10:2042018819848218. doi:10.1177/2042018819848218Amrein K, Martucci G, Hahner S.Understanding adrenal crisis.Intensive Care Med. 2017;44(5):652-55. doi:10.1007/s00134-017-4954-2
Oray M, Abu Samra K, Ebrahimiadib N, Meese H, Foster CS.Long-term side effects of glucocorticoids.Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2016;15(4):457-65. doi:10.1517/14740338.2016.1140743.
MedlinePlus.Prednisone.
National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Prednisone tablet: Drug label information.
Youssef J, Novosad SA, Winthrop KL.Infection risk and safety of corticosteroid use.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2016 Feb;42(1):1570-76. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2015.08.004
Dineen R, Thompson CJ, Sherlock M.Adrenal crisis: prevention and management in adult patients.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab. 2019;10:2042018819848218. doi:10.1177/2042018819848218
Amrein K, Martucci G, Hahner S.Understanding adrenal crisis.Intensive Care Med. 2017;44(5):652-55. doi:10.1007/s00134-017-4954-2
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