- Steroid Side Effects: How to Reduce Corticosteroid Side Effects
Looking for:
Prednisone causing body aches.Side effects of prednisolone tablets and liquid |
Side effects of prednisolone tablets and liquid - NHS - Side Effects
- Prednisone (Oral Route) Side Effects - Mayo Clinic
Back to Prednisolone tablets and liquid. The higher the dose of prednisolone that you take and the longer you take it for, the greater the chance of side effects. You're less likely to get side effects if you take a relatively low dose of prednisolone daily. If you have been taking prednisolone for more than a few weeks, check with your doctor before stopping it suddenly to reduce your chances of withdrawal side effects.
Some side effects, such as stomach upset or mood changes, can happen straight away. Others, such as getting a rounder face, happen after weeks or months. These common side effects of prednisolone happen in more than 1 in people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:. If you have to take prednisolone for more than a few weeks, it's likely that you'll put on weight. Prednisolone can make you hungrier and also can make you retain more water in your body. Try to eat well without increasing your portion sizes.
Regular exercise will also help to keep your weight stable. Once you stop taking prednisolone, your appetite and the way your body retains water should return to normal. Take prednisolone with food to reduce the chances of stomach problems.
It may also help if you avoid rich or spicy food while you're taking this medicine. If symptoms carry on, ask your doctor if you may benefit from taking an additional medicine to protect your stomach. If you're feeling restless when you're trying to sleep, take prednisolone in the morning so the levels are the lowest at bedtime. Try wearing loose clothing and use a strong anti-perspirant. If this does not help, talk to your doctor as you may be able to try a different medicine.
Prednisolone can affect your mood in different ways. Talk to your doctor if you are finding it hard to cope. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and any of these side effects bother you or last more than a few days.
You are more likely to have a serious side effect if you take a higher dose of prednisolone or if you have been taking it for more than a few weeks. Go to Call if you're worried about a child under the age of 5 years. You may notice mood changes and mental health problems while taking prednisolone. Talk to your doctor or contact if you have any mood changes including:. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to prednisolone.
You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. Taking prednisolone at higher doses for a long time can slow down the normal growth of children and teenagers.
Your child's doctor will monitor their height and weight carefully for as long as they're taking this medicine. This will help them spot any slowing down of your child's growth and change their treatment if needed. Even if your child's growth slows down, it does not seem to have much effect on their eventual adult height.
Talk to your doctor if you're worried. They'll be able to explain the benefits and risks of giving your child prednisolone. These are not all the side effects of prednisolone. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. Page last reviewed: 24 February Next review due: 24 February Side effects of prednisolone tablets and liquid.
Common side effects These common side effects of prednisolone happen in more than 1 in people. There are things you can do to help cope with them: Weight gain If you have to take prednisolone for more than a few weeks, it's likely that you'll put on weight. Take prednisolone in the morning so the levels are the lowest at bedtime. Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.
Visit Yellow Card for further information.
❾-50%}- Prednisone causing body aches
If you're feeling restless when you're trying to sleep, take prednisolone in the morning so the levels are the lowest at bedtime. Try wearing loose clothing and use a strong anti-perspirant. If this does not help, talk to your doctor as you may be able to try a different medicine.
Prednisolone can affect your mood in different ways. Talk to your doctor if you are finding it hard to cope. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and any of these side effects bother you or last more than a few days. You are more likely to have a serious side effect if you take a higher dose of prednisolone or if you have been taking it for more than a few weeks.
Go to Call if you're worried about a child under the age of 5 years. You may notice mood changes and mental health problems while taking prednisolone. Talk to your doctor or contact if you have any mood changes including:.
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to prednisolone. You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. Taking prednisolone at higher doses for a long time can slow down the normal growth of children and teenagers.
Your child's doctor will monitor their height and weight carefully for as long as they're taking this medicine. This will help them spot any slowing down of your child's growth and change their treatment if needed. Even if your child's growth slows down, it does not seem to have much effect on their eventual adult height. Talk to your doctor if you're worried. They'll be able to explain the benefits and risks of giving your child prednisolone.
These are not all the side effects of prednisolone. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. Page last reviewed: 24 February Next review due: 24 February Even with slower withdrawal of steroids, some of these symptoms are possible, but usually in milder forms.
At times, rapid withdrawal of steroids can lead to a more severe syndrome of adrenal insufficiency. This can cause symptoms and health problems such as drops in blood pressure, as well as chemical changes in the blood such as high potassium or low sodium. Sometimes this can be set off by injuries or a surgical procedure. Because of this, make sure your doctors always know if you have been treated with steroids in the past, especially in the past year, so they can be on the alert for the development of adrenal insufficiency at times such as a surgical procedure.
Long-term steroids can suppress the protective role of your immune system and increase your risk of infection. Steroids may increase your risk of developing ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding, especially if you take these medications along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen or aspirin. If you are on low-dose aspirin for heart protection, your physician may want you to continue this when you take the prednisone, but might consdier adding a medication for stomach protection during the course of steroids.
Steroid therapy can cause thinning of the bones osteopenia and osteoporosis , and increase the risk of bone fractures. At the beginning or before your steroid therapy, many patients will be asked to have a bone density test, especially if the steroid dose is high. If density is low, the bone density study It will be repeated in the future to assess the effectiveness of measures you will be using to prevent bone loss.
Steroids affect your metabolism and how your body deposits fat. This can increase your appetite, leading to weight gain, and in particular lead to extra deposits of fat in your abdomen.
Steroids, especially in doses over 30 milligrams per day, can affect your mood. Just being aware that steroids can do this sometimes makes it less of a problem. Sometimes, this side effect requires that the steroid dosage be decreased.
When the steroids are absolutely necessary, sometimes another medication can be added to help with the mood problem. Make sure your family knows about this possible side effect. Because cortisone is involved in regulating the body's balance of water, sodium, and other electrolytes, using these drugs can promote fluid retention and sometimes cause or worsen high blood pressure.
Since cortisone is involved in maintaining normal levels of glucose sugar in the blood, long-term use may lead to elevated blood sugar or even diabetes. It is possible that steroids may increase the rate of "hardening of the arteries," which could increase the risk of heart disease. This risk is probably much more significant if steroids are taken for more than a year, and if taken in high dose.
By ; Theodore R. Understanding corticosteroid side effects With long-term use, corticosteroids can result in any of the following side effects. Increased doses needed for physical stress Steroid use for over two weeks can decrease the ability of your body to respond to physical stress.
Self-care tips: Discuss this possibility with the surgeon or dentist, etc. Your physician or surgeon may not feel you need to take the extra steroid at the time of surgery, but if they know you have been on corticosteroids they can watch you more carefully after surgery. Self-care tips: If you get symptoms like these when you taper your steroids, discuss them with the doctor. Your physician will work with you to continually try to taper your steroid dose, at a safe rate of decrease, depending on how you are doing.
On each visit, discuss with the physician whether it is possible to decrease your steroid dose. Note that even if you are having a steroid side effect, however, steroids still must be tapered slowly. When used for less than two weeks, more rapid tapering of steroids is generally possible Infection Long-term steroids can suppress the protective role of your immune system and increase your risk of infection.
Self-care-tips: Since steroids can decrease your immunity to infection, you should have a yearly flu shot as long as you are on steroids. Your physician will take your age and risk factors into account when deciding which vaccinations you need. If you have a history of tuberculosis, exposure to tuberculosis, or a positive skin test for tuberculosis, report this to your doctor.
Gastrointestinal symptoms Steroids may increase your risk of developing ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding, especially if you take these medications along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
Self-care tips: Report to your physician any severe, persisting abdominal pain or black, tarry stools. Take the steroid mediation after a full meal or with antacids , as this may help reduce irritation of the stomach.
Steroids can increase your appetite. Osteoporosis Steroid therapy can cause thinning of the bones osteopenia and osteoporosis , and increase the risk of bone fractures. See this reference from the National Institutes of Health about how much calcium you need for your sex and age, and how to get as much as possible from diet.
The minimal daily requirement of vitamin D is international units UI daily, and most people on corticosteroids should take this amount. Your physician may check your vitamin D level and see if you actually need a higher dose.
Smoking and alcohol increase the risk of osteoporosis, so limiting these is helpful. Weight-bearing exercise walking, running, dancing, etc is helpful in stabilizing bone mass. Assess risk of falls. Make a thorough examination of your home and correct situations that might result in a fall, such as eliminating scatter rugs and any obstacles between bedroom and bathroom, and installing night lights.
Weight gain Steroids affect your metabolism and how your body deposits fat. Self-care tips: Watch your calories and exercise regularly to try to prevent excessive weight gain. But don't let weight gain damage your self-esteem. Know that the weight will be easier to take off in the six months to a year after you discontinue steroids.
How to think about the suggestions below: Any suggestion here which is not clear or which you think may not apply to you should be discussed with the your physician. Note also that the side effects of steroids very much depend on the dose and how long they are taken.
If your dose is low, your risk of serious side effect is quite small, especially if precautions, as discussed below, are taken. Reading about these side effects may make you uncomfortable about taking steroids. You should be well aware of the risks before starting these medications. However, please be reassured that many people take steroids with minor or no side effects.
Please also remember that steroids are often extremely effective and can be life-saving. If any of the suggestions here is unclear, or seems irrelevant to you, please discuss it with your physician. With long-term use, corticosteroids can result in any of the following side effects. However, taking care of yourself as discussed below may reduce the risks. Steroid use for over two weeks can decrease the ability of your body to respond to physical stress. A higher dose of steroid may be needed at times of major stress, such as surgery or very extensive dental work or serious infection.
This could be needed for as long as a year after you have stopped steroids. Taking these anti-inflammatory steroids can suppress the hypothalamus, as well as the pituitary gland, which are all involved the process of stimulating the adrenal gland to make cortisol.
For example, the pituitary gland production of ACTH which stimulate the adrenal to make cortisol can be inhibited. The adrenal gland itself can also show some suppression of its ability to make cortisol. Rapid withdrawal of steroids may cause a syndrome that could include fatigue, joint pain, muscle stiffness, muscle tenderness, or fever. These symptoms could be hard to separate from those of your underlying disease.
Even with slower withdrawal of steroids, some of these symptoms are possible, but usually in milder forms. At times, rapid withdrawal of steroids can lead to a more severe syndrome of adrenal insufficiency. This can cause symptoms and health problems such as drops in blood pressure, as well as chemical changes in the blood such as high potassium or low sodium. Sometimes this can be set off by injuries or a surgical procedure. Because of this, make sure your doctors always know if you have been treated with steroids in the past, especially in the past year, so they can be on the alert for the development of adrenal insufficiency at times such as a surgical procedure.
Long-term steroids can suppress the protective role of your immune system and increase your risk of infection. Steroids may increase your risk of developing ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding, especially if you take these medications along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDssuch as ibuprofen or aspirin.
If you are on low-dose aspirin for heart protection, your physician may want you to continue this when you take the prednisone, but might consdier adding a medication for stomach protection during the course of steroids.
Steroid therapy can cause thinning of the bones osteopenia and osteoporosisand increase the risk of bone fractures. At the beginning or before your steroid therapy, many patients will be asked to have a bone density test, especially if the steroid dose is high. If density is low, the bone density study It will be repeated in the future to assess the effectiveness of measures you will be using to prevent bone loss.
Steroids affect your metabolism and how your body deposits fat. This can increase your appetite, leading to weight gain, and in particular lead to extra deposits of fat in your abdomen. Steroids, especially in doses over 30 milligrams per day, can affect your mood.
Just being aware that steroids can do this sometimes makes it less of a problem. Sometimes, this side effect requires that the steroid dosage be decreased. When the steroids are absolutely necessary, sometimes another medication can be added to help with the mood problem.
Make sure your family knows about this possible side effect. Because cortisone is involved in regulating the body's balance of water, sodium, and other electrolytes, using these drugs can promote fluid retention and sometimes cause or worsen high blood pressure. Since cortisone is involved in maintaining normal levels of glucose sugar in the blood, long-term use may lead to elevated blood sugar or even diabetes. It is possible that steroids may increase the rate of "hardening of the arteries," which could increase the risk of heart disease.
This risk is probably much more significant if steroids are taken for more than a year, and if taken in high dose. By ; Theodore R. Understanding corticosteroid side effects With long-term use, corticosteroids can result in any of the following side effects. Increased doses needed for physical stress Steroid use for over two weeks can decrease the ability of your body to respond to physical stress. Self-care tips: Discuss this possibility with the surgeon or dentist, etc.
Your physician or surgeon may not feel you need to take the extra steroid at the time of surgery, but if they know you have been on corticosteroids they can watch you more carefully after surgery.
Self-care tips: If you get symptoms like these when you taper your steroids, discuss them with the doctor. Your physician will work with you to continually try to taper your steroid dose, at a safe rate of decrease, depending on how you are doing.
On each visit, discuss with the physician whether it is possible to decrease your steroid dose. Note that even if you are having a steroid side effect, however, steroids still must be tapered slowly. When used for less than two weeks, more rapid tapering of steroids is generally possible Infection Long-term steroids can suppress the protective role of your immune system and increase your risk of infection.
Self-care-tips: Since steroids can decrease your immunity to infection, you should have a yearly flu shot as long as you are on steroids. Your physician will take your age and risk factors into account when deciding which vaccinations you need.
If you have a history of tuberculosis, exposure to tuberculosis, or a positive skin test for tuberculosis, report this to your doctor. Gastrointestinal symptoms Steroids may increase your risk of developing ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding, especially if you take these medications along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDssuch as ibuprofen or aspirin.
Self-care tips: Report to your physician any severe, persisting abdominal pain or black, tarry stools. Take the steroid mediation after a full meal or with antacidsas this may help reduce irritation of the stomach. Steroids can increase your appetite. Osteoporosis Steroid therapy can cause thinning of the bones osteopenia and osteoporosisand increase the risk of bone fractures. See this reference from the National Institutes of Health about how much calcium you need for your sex and age, and how to get as much as possible from diet.
The minimal daily requirement of vitamin D is international units UI daily, and most people on corticosteroids should take this amount. Your physician may check your vitamin D level and see if you actually need a higher dose.
Smoking and alcohol increase the risk of osteoporosis, so limiting these is helpful. Weight-bearing exercise walking, running, dancing, etc is helpful in stabilizing bone mass. Assess risk of falls. Make a thorough examination of your home and correct situations that might result in a fall, such as eliminating scatter rugs and any obstacles between bedroom and bathroom, and installing night lights.
Weight gain Steroids affect your metabolism and how your body deposits fat. Self-care tips: Watch your calories and exercise regularly to try to prevent excessive weight gain.
But don't let weight gain damage your self-esteem. Know that the weight will be easier to take off in the six months to a year after you discontinue steroids. Insomnia Steroids may impair your ability to fall asleep, especially when they are taken in the evening. Self-care tips: If possible, the physician will try to have you take your entire daily dose in the morning.
This may help you sleep better at night evening doses sometimes make it difficult to fall asleep. Mood changes Steroids, especially in doses over 30 milligrams per day, can affect your mood. Self-care tips: Simply being aware that steroids can have an effect on your mood can sometimes make it less of a problem. But, at times, this side will require that the steroid dosage be decreased.
If maintaining the same steroid dosage is absolutely necessary, sometimes another medication can be added to help with the mood problem. Make sure your family and friends know about this possible side effect so they will know what's going on if you respond to them in unexpected ways. Ideally, tell your family and friends about this possible side effect as you start the medication, so that they can help you detect any changes in your behavior.
Fluid retention and elevated blood pressure Because cortisone is involved in regulating the body's balance of water, sodium, and other electrolytes, using these drugs can promote fluid retention and sometimes cause or worsen high blood pressure.
Self-care tips: Watch for swelling of your anklesand report this to your doctor. Occasional patients benefit from diuretics water pills. Low sodium diet helps reduce fluid accumulation and may help control blood pressure.
Have your blood pressure monitored regularly while you are on steroids, especially if you have a history of high blood pressure. Steroids can raise blood pressure in some patients. Elevated blood sugar Since cortisone is involved in maintaining normal levels of glucose sugar in the blood, long-term use may lead to elevated blood sugar or even diabetes.
Self-care tips: Your blood sugar should be followed while you are on steroids, especially if you are a diabetic, since corticosteroids can raise blood sugar.
Eye problems Steroids can sometimes cause cataracts or glaucoma increased pressure in the eye. Self-care tips: If you have a history of glaucoma or cataract follow up closely with the ophthalmologist while on steroids. If you develop any visual problems while on steroids, you will need to see the ophthalmologist.
Temporarily blurred vision when you start corticosteroids is often not a serious problem, but ophthalmology evaluation should always be arranged if you experience other, new visual symptoms while taking steroids.
Atherosclerosis hardening of the arteries It is possible that steroids may increase the rate of "hardening of the arteries," which could increase the risk of heart disease.
Self-care tips: Low cholesterol diet may help. If you develop signs suggesting heart problem, such as chest pain, get medical attention quickly. Work with your physician to address any heart risks that can be modified, such as exercise, weight and cholesterol level. Aseptic necrosis Steroids, particularly at higher doses for long periods of time, can sometimes lead to damage to bones, called aseptic necrosis also known as osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis.
This can happen in a number of joints, but the hip is the most common. Self-care tips: Hip pain, especially if you have no known hip arthritis, could be an early sign of this damage. Report this to your doctor. In-person and virtual physician appointments.
bloody, black, or tarry stools. Prednisone and other corticosteroids can cause muscle weakness in the legs and arms. Severe cases may require hospitalization. Stopping treatment and performing. severe fatigue; weakness; body aches; joint pain. Depending on how long you've been taking prednisone, your withdrawal symptoms may last from a few weeks. Prednisone and other corticosteroids can cause muscle weakness in the legs and arms. Severe cases may require hospitalization. Stopping treatment and performing. You'd think that battling muscle cramps, mood swings, Side effects make life on prednisone miserable, but I'll keep pushing through. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Take prednisolone in the morning so the levels are the lowest at bedtime. If you develop any visual problems while on steroids, you will need to see the ophthalmologist.Drug information provided by: IBM Micromedex. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.
Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:.
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. 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. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you.
If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. 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. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
See more conditions. Drugs and Supplements Prednisone Oral Route. Products and services. Thank you for subscribing! Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry.
Comments
Post a Comment