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Prednisone (Oral Route) Proper Use - Mayo Clinic.
How to take prednisone twice a day
For example, if your dose is 40mg daily, your doctor may tell you to take 8 tablets 8 x 5mg all at the same time. Take prednisolone with breakfast so it does not upset your stomach.
Taking prednisolone in the morning also means it's less likely to affect your sleep. If your prednisolone tablets are labelled as "enteric coated" or "gastro resistant", you can take these with or without food but make sure to swallow them whole.
Do not take indigestion medicines 2 hours before or after taking enteric coated or gastro resistant tablets. Sometimes, your doctor may advise you to take prednisolone on alternate days only.
You may need to take it for longer, even for many years or the rest of your life. If you miss a dose of prednisolone, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the following day, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time. If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.
You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. It can be dangerous to stop taking prednisolone suddenly, especially if you have been on a high dose for a long time.
Your health condition may flare up again. You may also get withdrawal side effects including:. These side effects are most likely to happen if you have taken prednisolone for more than a few weeks or you take more than 40mg daily.
Your doctor will probably want to reduce your dose gradually over several weeks to prevent these side effects. Do not stop taking prednisolone without talking to your doctor — you will need to reduce the dose gradually. Page last reviewed: 24 February Next review due: 24 February How and when to take prednisolone tablets and liquid.
It's important to take prednisolone as your doctor has advised. Fortunately, effective medications are available to combat this problem should it occur. Prednisone is one of the most powerful medicines prescribed and has many beneficial actions, but as noted above there can be many potential problems.
Side effects are usually dose-dependent. This means the more prednisone you take over a longer period of time, the greater the risk of side effects. Therefore, once your condition comes under control, your doctor will usually suggest that the dose be gradually reduced. The goal is to get off the medication entirely although this is not possible in every case. Just as taking prednisone can cause side effects, reducing the dose may cause problems as well. Prednisone is not addicting like a narcotic, but many patients experience withdrawal symptoms as the dose is reduced.
These often include muscle soreness, joint pain, fatigue, and depression. Know that these effects are also temporary and worth bearing to allow a cutback in your dose. If you experience any unusual symptoms as your prednisone dose is reduced, contact your doctor. It may be necessary to temporarily increase your steroid dose until you are feeling better and then taper the dose more slowly. Notify your doctor if you suffer from severe depression, diabetes, or high blood pressure. Be sure to inform him if you are taking diuretics water pills , digoxin, Coumadin, phenobarbital, or medications for arthritis.
Let your doctor know if you may be pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the near future. Low dose prednisone can be used in pregnancy if necessary. However, it is best to avoid all potent prescription drugs during pregnancy whenever possible.
Prednisone is a type of steroid medication that resembles cortisone, a hormone naturally produced by the body. It is a powerful drug with many helpful properties and, when used properly, prednisone saves lives.
But as with all medications, side effects may occur. Before prescribing prednisone, your doctor considers alternatives and carefully weighs the benefits against the risks.
You can best limit problems with this medication by taking it exactly as prescribed and seeing your doctor for regular follow-up visits. If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your doctor. Leave a Reply Click here to cancel reply. You must be logged in to post a comment. We believe the more you know about your medications, the better.
This leaflet has been written to help you understand more about what prednisone is and the importance of taking it properly. If any of the information below causes you special concern or if you want additional information about prednisone and its use, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Remember to keep all prescription drugs out of reach and sight of children when not in use. Store all medicines in their original labeled containers and always read the label before using. What is prednisone?
What prednisone is not Prednisone is not the same as the dangerous anabolic steroids used by weight lifters to increase muscle mass. How does prednisone work? The exact mechanism of how prednisone works is not known. Taking prednisone properly Unless instructed otherwise, prednisone should be taken all at once with breakfast. Prednisone is not to be taken randomly during the day. This minimizes the risk of adrenal gland suppression and atrophy.
When high doses are required, the dose may have to be split between morning and evening doses for short periods of time. In some patients prednisone can be given at twice the dose every other morning. Prednisone is best taken with food. Prednisone can irritate the stomach lining and therefore should be taken with food which serves as a buffer and reduces the irritation.
Tell your doctor if you have a tendency to form peptic ulcers since this may require special care. Take the dose as prescribed. There is no fixed rule for the correct dose of prednisone. Each case is different. Your doctor will determine what initial dose is best for you depending on the activity of your disease, your age, weight, any other medical conditions you may have, and your response to treatment.
Fine tuning of your prednisone dosage will take place as your doctor follows your progress. The goal, of course, is to control your illness with the lowest effective dose of prednisone possible for the shortest period of time. Your doctor will routinely reassess what dose is necessary for you.
This is not a casual drug and taking it inconsistently can be very dangerous. If you forget a dose, it is safe to take the normal dose of the medication as soon as you remember and resume your normal schedule the following morning. If you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose. Do not abruptly stop taking this medication on your own. If prednisone is taken for months and years, the adrenal glands within the body lose their ability to produce steroids naturally.
In fact, the adrenal glands can shrink in size. When you travel, always carry a supply of medication with you. When flying, keep all your medications in your carry-on baggage. If you have taken prednisone for more than a month, you may require an extra dose during physically stressful situations such as major surgery or severe infections.
Usually the dose need be raised for only a day or so. This may be true even up to one year after you have discontinued the medication.
This point is well known to doctors, but it is important for you to remember if you are away from your doctor and require major surgery or develop a severe infection. If you are on long term prednisone therapy, carry a notice with you on a Medic-Alert bracelet or in your wallet. Medic-Alert Foundation can be contacted a their website at www. Be sure that all your doctors know that you are taking chronic prednisone therapy.
What are the side effects? Avoid salt Most of us consume much more salt sodium chloride than our body needs. Normally, our kidneys keep our body in balance any excess salt is excreted in the urine.
Prednisone causes sodium retention and potassium loss which may lead to fluid retention, weight gain, bloating and low blood potassium levels. In some patients, this can cause high blood pressure or worsen a pre-existing condition. We suggest a no-added salt diet and avoidance of highly salted pre-packaged convenience foods. Use fresh herbs whenever possible.
Read food labels. Instead use low-salt spices to add flavor to your meals. Ask your doctor about using salt-substitutes which are helpful since they contain extra potassium.
It may be helpful to add high potassium foods such as bananas, citrus fruits, melons, and tomatoes to your diet. Be sure that your blood pressure and blood tests are checked regularly. Avoid fat Most Americans also eat too much fat. Fat has over twice the calories per gram than proteins and carbohydrates. By limiting the fat in your diet, you automatically reduce the calories and may lower your blood cholesterol at the same time. With the new food labels, it is easy these days to find low-fat items in your supermarket.
Avoid simple carbohydrates Most foods contain some fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Carbohydrates sugars and starches can be either simple molecules or complex molecules. Avoid simple carbohydrates which are digested too quickly and leave you hungry. Complex carbohydrates are more satisfying since they must be broken down by the digestive process and are absorbed more slowly into your system.
Simple carbohydrates are foods like candy, cakes, pies, white bread Complexwould include whole wheat bread, rice, beans, sweet potatoes, high fiber cereals, sugar-free candies. Small frequent feedings To combat increased hunger, snack frequently on low-calorie foods such as fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products, low salt rice cakes, and sugar free candies. Instead of three large meals, eat smaller more frequent meals. Eating out When eating out, tell the waiter what you need.
Just ask directly for what you want. In our health conscious culture, most restaurants are used to special requests — just tip accordingly. When flying, call the airlines and request a low-fat low-salt meal in advance. They are quite prepared to help you. Eating salty high fat or sugary foods occasionally is not going to make much difference. Just enjoy them in moderation and be more careful the next day. Eat calcium rich foods Increasing the amount of calcium in your diet can lessen the risk of osteoporosis.
Your goal should be mg per day. Low fat dairy products skim milk, low fat yogurt, fat free cottage cheese are a good source of calcium. Many new products are even fortified with extra calcium. Certain vegetables are a good source of calcium including kale, turnips, collard greens, and broccoli. Another simple way to add extra calcium is by taking Tums tablets that contain calcium carbonate.
Take two tablets during a meal twice a day. Take vitamin D Just eating more calcium is not enough. Vitamin D is required to help calcium be absorbed into your system and strengthen your bones. Vitamin D is obtained by exposure of your skin to sunshine, vitamin D fortified foods, and taking a vitamin supplement. We suggest about mg per day — more can be harmful. Take two tablets twice daily with food. This will provide an extra mg.
It is also recommended that you take a multivitamin supplement daily. Exercise Prednisone can also cause muscle weakness and atrophy. A low impact daily exercise program will help burn up more calories, improve your sense of well-being, and help prevent muscle and bone loss.
❾-50%}A comparison of oral prednisolone given as single or multiple daily doses for active proctocolitis.How and when to take prednisolone tablets and liquid - NHS
The goal, of course, is to control your illness with the lowest effective dose of prednisone possible for the shortest period of time. Your doctor will routinely reassess what dose is necessary for you. This is not a casual drug and taking it inconsistently can be very dangerous. If you forget a dose, it is safe to take the normal dose of the medication as soon as you remember and resume your normal schedule the following morning.
If you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose. Do not abruptly stop taking this medication on your own. If prednisone is taken for months and years, the adrenal glands within the body lose their ability to produce steroids naturally. In fact, the adrenal glands can shrink in size.
When you travel, always carry a supply of medication with you. When flying, keep all your medications in your carry-on baggage. If you have taken prednisone for more than a month, you may require an extra dose during physically stressful situations such as major surgery or severe infections. Usually the dose need be raised for only a day or so. This may be true even up to one year after you have discontinued the medication.
This point is well known to doctors, but it is important for you to remember if you are away from your doctor and require major surgery or develop a severe infection. If you are on long term prednisone therapy, carry a notice with you on a Medic-Alert bracelet or in your wallet.
Medic-Alert Foundation can be contacted a their website at www. Be sure that all your doctors know that you are taking chronic prednisone therapy. What are the side effects? Avoid salt Most of us consume much more salt sodium chloride than our body needs. Normally, our kidneys keep our body in balance any excess salt is excreted in the urine.
Prednisone causes sodium retention and potassium loss which may lead to fluid retention, weight gain, bloating and low blood potassium levels. In some patients, this can cause high blood pressure or worsen a pre-existing condition.
We suggest a no-added salt diet and avoidance of highly salted pre-packaged convenience foods. Use fresh herbs whenever possible. Read food labels. Instead use low-salt spices to add flavor to your meals. Ask your doctor about using salt-substitutes which are helpful since they contain extra potassium. It may be helpful to add high potassium foods such as bananas, citrus fruits, melons, and tomatoes to your diet.
Be sure that your blood pressure and blood tests are checked regularly. Avoid fat Most Americans also eat too much fat. Fat has over twice the calories per gram than proteins and carbohydrates.
By limiting the fat in your diet, you automatically reduce the calories and may lower your blood cholesterol at the same time. With the new food labels, it is easy these days to find low-fat items in your supermarket. Avoid simple carbohydrates Most foods contain some fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates sugars and starches can be either simple molecules or complex molecules. Avoid simple carbohydrates which are digested too quickly and leave you hungry. Complex carbohydrates are more satisfying since they must be broken down by the digestive process and are absorbed more slowly into your system.
Simple carbohydrates are foods like candy, cakes, pies, white bread Complexwould include whole wheat bread, rice, beans, sweet potatoes, high fiber cereals, sugar-free candies. Small frequent feedings To combat increased hunger, snack frequently on low-calorie foods such as fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products, low salt rice cakes, and sugar free candies. Instead of three large meals, eat smaller more frequent meals. Eating out When eating out, tell the waiter what you need.
Just ask directly for what you want. In our health conscious culture, most restaurants are used to special requests — just tip accordingly. When flying, call the airlines and request a low-fat low-salt meal in advance. They are quite prepared to help you. Eating salty high fat or sugary foods occasionally is not going to make much difference. Just enjoy them in moderation and be more careful the next day.
Eat calcium rich foods Increasing the amount of calcium in your diet can lessen the risk of osteoporosis. Your goal should be mg per day. Low fat dairy products skim milk, low fat yogurt, fat free cottage cheese are a good source of calcium. Many new products are even fortified with extra calcium. Certain vegetables are a good source of calcium including kale, turnips, collard greens, and broccoli.
Another simple way to add extra calcium is by taking Tums tablets that contain calcium carbonate. Take two tablets during a meal twice a day. Take vitamin D Just eating more calcium is not enough. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expertise on managing health.
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You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. All rights reserved. Of those receiving a once daily regimen, 17 improved and six did not. Nine patients had no side-effects. Further assessment showed no difference between the two groups either in response rate or side-effects produced. Dosage and strength The dose of prednisolone you'll take depends on your health problem and whether you are taking it as a short course or for longer.
Changes to your dose Your dose may go up or down. Your dose may go up if your symptoms get worse. How to take it Unless your doctor or pharmacist gives you different instructions, it's best to take prednisolone as a single dose once a day, with breakfast.
How long to take it for This depends on your health problem or condition. You may only need a short course of prednisolone for up to 1 week.
If you forget to take it If you miss a dose of prednisolone, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one. Stopping prednisolone It can be dangerous to stop taking prednisolone suddenly, especially if you have been on a high dose for a long time. You may also get withdrawal side effects including: severe tiredness weakness body aches joint pain These side effects are most likely to happen if you have taken prednisolone for more than a few weeks or you take more than 40mg daily.
Back to Prednisolone tablets and liquid. The dose of prednisolone you'll take depends on your health problem and whether you are taking it as a short course or for longer. The usual dose varies between 5mg and 60mg daily but occasionally higher doses may be prescribed. The strength of tablets range from 1mg to 25mg. There are 2 strengths of liquid with either 1mg or 10mg in every 1ml.
In children, the dose may be lower than for an adult with the same problem because it is calculated based on their height and weight. Once your health problem or condition starts to get better, it's likely that your dose will go down. Your doctor may reduce your dose before you stop treatment completely. This is to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms. Unless your doctor or pharmacist gives you different instructions, it's best to take prednisolone as a single dose once a day, with breakfast.
For example, if your dose is 40mg daily, your doctor may tell you to take 8 tablets 8 x 5mg all at the same time. Take prednisolone with breakfast so it does not upset your stomach.
Taking prednisolone in the morning also means it's less likely to affect your sleep. If your prednisolone tablets are labelled as "enteric coated" or "gastro resistant", you can take these with or without food but make sure to swallow them whole.
Do not take indigestion medicines 2 hours before or after taking enteric coated or gastro resistant tablets. Sometimes, your doctor may advise you to take prednisolone on alternate days only. You may need to take it for longer, even for many years or the rest of your life. If you miss a dose of prednisolone, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the following day, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time.
If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.
It can be dangerous to stop taking prednisolone suddenly, especially if you have been on a high dose for a long time. Your health condition may flare up again. You may also get withdrawal side effects including:. These side effects are most likely to happen if you have taken prednisolone for more than a few weeks or you take more than 40mg daily. Your doctor will probably want to reduce your dose gradually over several weeks to prevent these side effects. Do not stop taking prednisolone without talking to your doctor — you will need to reduce the dose gradually.
Page last reviewed: 24 February Next review due: 24 February How and when to take prednisolone tablets and liquid. It's important to take prednisolone as your doctor has advised.
Dosage and strength The dose of prednisolone you'll take depends on your health problem and whether you are taking it as a short course or for longer. Changes to your dose Your dose may go up or down.
Your dose may go up if your symptoms get worse. How to take it Unless your doctor or pharmacist gives you different instructions, it's best to take prednisolone as a single dose once a day, with breakfast. How long to take it for This depends on your health problem or condition. You may only need a short course of prednisolone for up to 1 week. If you forget to take it If you miss a dose of prednisolone, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one.
Stopping prednisolone It can be dangerous to stop taking prednisolone suddenly, especially if you have been on a high dose for a long time. You may also get withdrawal side effects including: severe tiredness weakness body aches joint pain These side effects are most likely to happen if you have taken prednisolone for more than a few weeks or you take more than 40mg daily.
Important: Important Do not stop taking prednisolone without talking to your doctor — you will need to reduce the dose gradually.
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time. Oral: 1 mg/kg (maximum dose: 60 to 80 mg/day) once daily or 2 mg/kg (maximum dose: mg) every other day; duration of therapy depends on. For immediate-release tablets only: To reduce side effects, twice the usual dose of this drug may be taken every other morning. This is called. Children younger than 12 years: Although daily doses of oral steroids are commonly divided, a single dose each morning causes less adrenal suppression and is more convenient to take. Ask your doctor for a recommendation. This leaflet has been written to help you understand more about what prednisone is and the importance of taking it properly. All rights reserved. After menopause, estrogen levels drop and women become more susceptible to osteoporosis. Avoid simple carbohydrates which are digested too quickly and leave you hungry. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor.Prednisone is a steroid. Steroids are a group of hormones with similar chemical structures. They are normally produced by your adrenal glands, located on top of your kidneys, and your reproductive organs ovaries and testicles. Steroids help control metabolism, inflammation, immune function, salt and water balance, development of sexual characteristics and your ability to withstand the stress of illness and injury.
One of the steroids produced by the outer portion of the adrenal glands is called cortisone. Introduced in , prednisone is a man-made replica of cortisone. The adrenal glands normally produces an amount of steroids equivalent to about 5 mg. Prednisone is also used to help prevent rejection of organ transplants.
Prednisone is not the same as the dangerous anabolic steroids used by weight lifters to increase muscle mass. It is not a sex hormone like testosterone or estrogen and does not cause sexual dysfunction. Prednisone is not addictive. It does not cause drowsiness and in the usual doses will not affect your driving or working. There is no special food interaction and mild alcohol consumption is not a problem on prednisone.
In , physicians at the Mayo Clinic were the first to use steroids to treat disease. They gave cortisone to patients crippled by severe rheumatoid arthritis and were amazed by the results after just a few days of use. Problems soon emerged.
Patients taking cortisone in doses high enough to relieve inflammation routinely experienced harmful side effects. Physicians now recognize that prolonged use of cortisone-like drugs like prednisone can cause many side effects.
But when serious disease occurs, the benefit of prednisone usually outweighs the potential risks. 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. Patients on prednisone should see their eye doctor at least once a year for a complete eye examination.
Prednisone does not make an individual more likely to get a flu or catch a cold. But, it can increase susceptibility to chickenpox varicella and other herpes viruses. Individuals, who have recovered from tuberculosis, or TB, can experience reactivation of the disease when on prednisone. If you have not previously had chickenpox, tell your doctor. Do not take prednisone if you have tuberculosis active or inactive , shingles or other herpes infection of eyes, lips, or genitals. You should not be vaccinated against any infectious disease while you are on prednisone especially live polio vaccine.
Allergy skin tests and TB skin tests will usually be invalid while you are on prednisone. A small number of patients on prednisone develop yeast infections of the mouth thrush or vagina. Fortunately, effective medications are available to combat this problem should it occur.
Prednisone is one of the most powerful medicines prescribed and has many beneficial actions, but as noted above there can be many potential problems. Side effects are usually dose-dependent. This means the more prednisone you take over a longer period of time, the greater the risk of side effects. Therefore, once your condition comes under control, your doctor will usually suggest that the dose be gradually reduced.
The goal is to get off the medication entirely although this is not possible in every case. Just as taking prednisone can cause side effects, reducing the dose may cause problems as well. Prednisone is not addicting like a narcotic, but many patients experience withdrawal symptoms as the dose is reduced. These often include muscle soreness, joint pain, fatigue, and depression.
Know that these effects are also temporary and worth bearing to allow a cutback in your dose. If you experience any unusual symptoms as your prednisone dose is reduced, contact your doctor. It may be necessary to temporarily increase your steroid dose until you are feeling better and then taper the dose more slowly.
Notify your doctor if you suffer from severe depression, diabetes, or high blood pressure. Be sure to inform him if you are taking diuretics water pills , digoxin, Coumadin, phenobarbital, or medications for arthritis.
Let your doctor know if you may be pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the near future. Low dose prednisone can be used in pregnancy if necessary.
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