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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. The goal of treatment in IBD is always to induce remission with a maintenance drug that has fewer side effects and discontinue the prednisone.
While prednisone is very effective, the list of potential side effects of prednisone is extensive. These range from facial "mooning" the face taking on a moon-like swollen shape , acne , and increased hair growth hirsutism to increased appetite, mood swings , difficulty sleeping, and more. Any time healthcare providers start patients on steroids, the short- and long-term adverse effects of prednisone should be discussed.
Some common side effects of prednisone include:. Tell your doctor if any of these side effects are severe or do not go away. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects:. As the prednisone dosage is tapered down below 10 mg a day and eventually discontinued, the temporary side effects will lessen and reverse. It should be noted, however, that some potential adverse effects of prednisone are permanent, and discontinuing the drug will not reverse them.
These include:. No one wants to be put on prednisone but there's no denying that, for many people, it gets results and calms inflammation quickly. Anyone with concerns about prednisone side effects should discuss them with a healthcare provider. There may be ways to avoid certain side effects, such as by taking doses earlier in the day to lessen the effect on sleep. It's also important to discuss how long the prednisone will be needed and what the plan is to stop the prednisone altogether.
Knowing the answers to these questions can help in getting through a course of prednisone without quite so many struggles with side effects. If you have been taking prednisone long-term or in high doses, you may be experiencing withdrawal symptoms. It is important to follow your healthcare provider's instructions for tapering your prednisone dose.
Do not stop taking it abruptly. Medicines that interact with them 4. Side effects. Introduction Corticosteroids, often known as steroids, are an anti-inflammatory medicine prescribed for a wide range of conditions. Corticosteroids are available in different forms, including: tablets oral steroids injections — which can be into blood vessels, joints or muscles inhalers — such as mouth or nasal sprays lotions, gels or creams topical steroids What are corticosteroids used for?
Corticosteroids are mainly used to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. They are used to treat conditions such as: asthma allergic rhinitis and hay fever urticaria hives atopic eczema chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD painful and inflamed joints, muscles and tendons lupus inflammatory bowel disease IBD — including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica multiple sclerosis MS Corticosteroids can also be used to replace certain hormones that are not being produced by the body naturally — for example, in people with Addison's disease.
Possible side effects Corticosteroids will only be prescribed if the potential benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. Potential side effects of long-term treatment include: increased appetite — potentially leading to weight gain acne thinned skin that bruises easily increased risk of infections mood changes, mood swings and depression diabetes high blood pressure osteoporosis weak and brittle bones withdrawal symptoms caused by suppression of the adrenal glands If you have troublesome side effects after taking corticosteroids, don't stop taking your medication until your doctor says it's safe to do so, because of the possibility of these unpleasant withdrawal effects.
Cautions and interactions For most people, including pregnant or breastfeeding women, steroid inhalers and injections are safe. Accessing medicines self-help guide Visit our self-help guide on accessing medicines if you have difficulty getting the medicines you need. Who can use them For most people, steroid inhalers and steroid injections should not cause any troublesome side effects.
Steroid tablets Corticosteroid tablets are the most powerful type of steroid medication, because they can affect the whole body. Steroid tablets should be used with caution in people with: liver problems, such as liver disease — corticosteroids may not be broken down by the liver at a normal rate, leading to increased levels of the medication in the blood mental health or behavioural problems, such as depression or alcohol dependence — corticosteroids can have unpredictable effects on behaviour and mood wounds — oral corticosteroids can delay wound healing They should also be used with caution in people with a health condition that could be made worse by taking oral corticosteroids, including: heart failure a recent heart attack high blood pressure diabetes epilepsy glaucoma underactive thyroid gland osteoporosis obesity psychosis stomach ulcers In these situations, you will only be prescribed oral corticosteroids if the benefits of treatment clearly outweigh any potential risks.
Steroid injections Most people can safely have corticosteroid injections, but they should be avoided or used with caution if you have an ongoing infection or a blood clotting disorder such as haemophilia. Steroid inhalers and sprays There is generally no reason why someone shouldn't be able to use a steroid inhaler or steroid spray, but these should be used with caution in people with ongoing infections, such as tuberculosis TB.
Pregnancy Corticosteroids are generally safe to use during pregnancy. Breastfeeding If a woman needs to take steroid tablets while she is breastfeeding, a type called prednisolone is usually recommended, because it is thought to have the least chance of causing the baby any adverse effects.
Medicines that interact with them Corticosteroids can interact with other medicines, and the effects of either medicine can be altered as a result. Anticoagulant medicines Anticoagulant medicines are medications that make the blood less sticky. Anticonvulsants Anticonvulsants are medicines used to prevent seizures fits and are often used to treat epilepsy , but they can reduce the effectiveness of corticosteroids.
Diabetes medication Corticosteroids can decrease the effectiveness of medications used to treat diabetes. HIV medication Corticosteroids, including steroid inhalers, can sometimes interact with a type of medication known as protease inhibitors such as ritonavir used to treat HIV. Live vaccines Some vaccinations contain a weakened form of the infection they are designed to protect against.
A sick day plan gives you advice on how to manage your usual steroid medicine if you are unwell. If you are on long-term steroids and are unwell with an infection or injury, or are having an operation, you must contact your doctor.
Your dose of steroid may need to be increased for a short time. When you become ill, your body would naturally increase the output of steroid hormones from your adrenal glands. Therefore, if you are taking replacement steroids, it is essential to mimic or copy this effect by increasing your dose of steroids.
Taking a higher dose of steroids for a short period of time while you are ill is necessary and is not harmful.
❾-50%}Prednisone and other corticosteroids: Balance the risks and benefits - Mayo Clinic
Corticosteroid drugs — including cortisone, hydrocortisone and prednisone — are useful in treating many conditions, such as rashes, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. But these drugs also carry a risk of various side effects. When prescribed in doses that exceed your body's usual levels, corticosteroids suppress inflammation.
This can reduce the signs and symptoms of inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, asthma or skin rashes. Corticosteroids also suppress your immune system, which can help control conditions in which your immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues. Corticosteroid drugs are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease IBD , asthma, allergies and many other conditions. These drugs also help suppress the immune system in order to prevent organ rejection in transplant recipients.
Corticosteroids also treat Addison's disease, a relatively rare condition where the adrenal glands aren't able to produce even the minimum amount of corticosteroid that the body needs. Corticosteroids are administered in many different ways, depending on the condition being treated:. Corticosteroids carry a risk of side effects, some of which can cause serious health problems. When you know what side effects are possible, you can take steps to control their impact. Because oral corticosteroids affect your entire body instead of just a particular area, this route of administration is the most likely to cause significant side effects.
Side effects depend on the dose of medication you receive and may include:. When using an inhaled corticosteroid, some of the drug may deposit in your mouth and throat instead of making it to your lungs.
This can cause:. If you gargle and rinse your mouth with water — don't swallow — after each puff on your corticosteroid inhaler, you may be able to avoid mouth and throat irritation. Some researchers have speculated that inhaled corticosteroid drugs may slow growth rates in children who use them for asthma. Injected corticosteroids can cause temporary side effects near the site of the injection, including skin thinning, loss of color in the skin, and intense pain — also known as post-injection flare.
Other signs and symptoms may include facial flushing, insomnia and high blood sugar. Doctors usually limit corticosteroid injections to three or four a year, depending on each patient's situation.
Corticosteroids may cause a range of side effects. But they may also relieve the inflammation, pain and discomfort of many different diseases and conditions. Talk with your doctor to help you better understand the risks and benefits of corticosteroids and make informed choices about your health. 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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Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. 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. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. Medical management of Crohn's disease. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. PLoS One. Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD.
She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age Digestive Health. Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Amber J. Learn about our editorial process. Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals.
These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. Shadi Hamdeh, MD.
Medically reviewed by Shadi Hamdeh, MD. Learn about our Medical Expert Board. Symptoms of Prednisone Withdrawal. Frequently Asked Questions Why do I have side effects after stopping prednisone? Does prednisone have lingering effects? What are the mental-health side effects of prednisone?
How to Lessen the Side Effects of Prednisone. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine 1 Sept UW Medicine.
Types of medicine. Corticosteroids, often known as steroids, are an anti-inflammatory medicine prescribed for a wide range of conditions. They're a man-made version of hormones normally produced by the adrenal glands two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys. Corticosteroids can also be used to replace certain hormones that are not being produced by the body naturally — for example, in people with Addison's disease.
Corticosteroids will only be prescribed if the potential benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. They will also be prescribed at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. There aren't usually any severe side effects if you take steroid injections, a steroid inhaler, or a short course of steroid tablets.
However, prolonged treatment at high doses — particularly with steroid tablets — can cause problems in some people. If you have troublesome side effects after taking corticosteroids, don't stop taking your medication until your doctor says it's safe to do so, because of the possibility of these unpleasant withdrawal effects.
Your dose may need to be reduced slowly over a few weeks or months, and you may have to have tests to ensure that your adrenal glands are still working properly before stopping corticosteroids altogether, if you have been taking them for a long time.
Read more about the side effects of corticosteroids. For most people, including pregnant or breastfeeding women, steroid inhalers and injections are safe. However, they will still only be used if a doctor thinks the potential benefits outweigh the risks. As steroid tablets are more likely to cause side effects, there are some circumstances when they shouldn't be used or should only be used with caution. These circumstances include:. Read more about who can use corticosteroids and interactions of corticosteroids.
Visit our self-help guide on accessing medicines if you have difficulty getting the medicines you need. For most people, steroid inhalers and steroid injections should not cause any troublesome side effects.
Steroid tablets are generally prescribed with more caution, as these can potentially cause more problems. Corticosteroid tablets are the most powerful type of steroid medication, because they can affect the whole body. They shouldn't be used if you have an ongoing widespread infection, because they could make it more severe. However, you should continue to take corticosteroids if you develop an infection while already being treated, unless advised otherwise.
They should also be used with caution in people with a health condition that could be made worse by taking oral corticosteroids, including:. In these situations, you will only be prescribed oral corticosteroids if the benefits of treatment clearly outweigh any potential risks. Most people can safely have corticosteroid injections, but they should be avoided or used with caution if you have an ongoing infection or a blood clotting disorder such as haemophilia.
There is generally no reason why someone shouldn't be able to use a steroid inhaler or steroid spray, but these should be used with caution in people with ongoing infections, such as tuberculosis TB. Corticosteroids are generally safe to use during pregnancy. However, they're not usually recommended unless the potential benefits outweigh the risks. For example, steroid tablets may be recommended if you're pregnant and have severe asthmabecause the risk to your baby from uncontrolled asthma is higher than from the medication.
There is no evidence that using a steroid inhaler during pregnancy increases the risk of problems such as birth defects, so you can usually continue to use this as normal while you're pregnant. If a woman needs to take steroid tablets while she is breastfeeding, a type called prednisolone is usually recommended, because it is thought to have the least chance of causing the baby any adverse effects.
As a precaution, it's usually recommended that a breastfeeding mother waits three to four hours after taking a tablet before feeding her baby. Steroid injections, inhalers and sprays are not thought to pose a risk to babies being breastfed. Corticosteroids can interact with other medicines, and the effects of either medicine can be altered as a result.
There is less chance of this happening with steroid injections or sprays, although it can occasionally happen if they're used at high doses and for a long time. Some of the more common interactions are listed below, but this is not a complete list. If you want to check your medicines are safe to take with corticosteroids, ask your GP or pharmacist, or read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
Anticoagulant medicines are medications that make the blood less sticky. They are often prescribed to people with a history of blood clots or an increased risk of developing them. Combining corticosteroids with anticoagulant medicines can sometimes make anticoagulants less effective. Alternatively, it can increase their blood-thinning effect, which can cause bleeding inside the digestive system.
Anticonvulsants are medicines used to prevent seizures fits and are often used to treat epilepsybut they can reduce the effectiveness of corticosteroids.
Depending on how frequent and severe your seizures are and the condition the steroids are being used to treat, you may be advised to temporarily stop taking anticonvulsants. Corticosteroids can decrease the effectiveness of medications used to treat diabetes. If you need to take both of these medications, your blood glucose levels will usually be checked more regularly and your dose of diabetes medication may need to be adjusted.
Corticosteroids, including steroid inhalers, can sometimes interact with a type of medication known as protease inhibitors such as ritonavir used to treat HIV. The HIV medication may increase the level of corticosteroid in your body, which might increase your risk of experiencing side effects. Some vaccinations contain a weakened form of the infection they are designed to protect against.
These are known as live vaccines. Examples of live vaccines include:. As corticosteroids can weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to infection, you should avoid any live vaccine until at least three months after your course of corticosteroids has finished.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs are a group of commonly used painkillers, such as ibuprofenthat are available over the counter at pharmacists. Combining NSAIDs and corticosteroids can increase your risk of developing stomach ulcers and internal bleeding. If you need to take both medications, you may be given an additional medication called a proton pump inhibitor PPI to reduce the risk of stomach ulcers.
Some of the main side effects are listed below, but this is not a complete list. To learn about all the possible side effects of your medication, read the patient information leaflet that comes with it.
Inhaled steroids usually have few or no side effects if used at normal doses. However, they can sometimes cause:. Rinsing your mouth out with water after using your medication can help to prevent oral thrush, and using a device called a spacer with your medication can help to prevent many of the other problems. There is also some evidence that steroid inhalers used by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD can increase the risk of chest infections such as pneumonia.
Inhaled steroids at high doses can sometimes cause some of the more serious side effects that are more often linked with steroid tablets see belowbut this is rare. Steroids that are injected into muscles and joints may cause some pain and swelling at the site of the injection. However, this should pass within a few days. Steroid injections can also cause muscle or tendon weakness, so you may be advised to rest the treated area for a few days after the injection.
Other possible side effects can include infections, blushing, and thinning and lightening of the skin in the area where the injection is given. Because of the risk of side effects, steroid injections are often only given at intervals of at least 6 weeks and a maximum of 3 injections into one area is usually recommended. Steroids that are injected into a blood vessel intravenous steroids may sometimes cause some of the more widespread side effects described below. Short, occasional courses of steroid tablets taken for no longer than three weeks are very unlikely to cause troublesome side effects.
Most side effects should improve if you're able to reduce your dosage or eventually stop taking the medication. You may have regular checks and tests for conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and glaucoma if you need to take steroid tablets on a long-term basis.
Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window. Last updated: 07 January Home Tests and treatments Medicines and medical aids Types of medicine Types of medicine. Corticosteroids See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1.
Introduction 2. Who can use them 3. Medicines that interact with them 4. Side effects. Introduction Corticosteroids, often known as steroids, are an anti-inflammatory medicine prescribed for a wide range of conditions. Corticosteroids are available in different forms, including: tablets oral steroids injections — which can be into blood vessels, joints or muscles inhalers — such as mouth or nasal sprays lotions, gels or creams topical steroids What are corticosteroids used for?
Corticosteroids are mainly used to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. They are used to treat conditions such as: asthma allergic rhinitis and hay fever urticaria hives atopic eczema chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD painful and inflamed joints, muscles and tendons lupus inflammatory bowel disease IBD — including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica multiple sclerosis MS Corticosteroids can also be used to replace certain hormones that are not being produced by the body naturally — for example, in people with Addison's disease.
Possible side effects Corticosteroids will only be prescribed if the potential benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. Potential side effects of long-term treatment include: increased appetite — potentially leading to weight gain acne thinned skin that bruises easily increased risk of infections mood changes, mood swings and depression diabetes high blood pressure osteoporosis weak and brittle bones withdrawal symptoms caused by suppression of the adrenal glands If you have troublesome side effects after taking corticosteroids, don't stop taking your medication until your doctor says it's safe to do so, because of the possibility of these unpleasant withdrawal effects.
Cautions and interactions For most people, including pregnant or breastfeeding women, steroid inhalers and injections are safe. Accessing medicines self-help guide Visit our self-help guide on accessing medicines if you have difficulty getting the medicines you need.
Who can use them For most people, steroid inhalers and steroid injections should not cause any troublesome side effects. Steroid tablets Corticosteroid tablets are the most powerful type of steroid medication, because they can affect the whole body. Steroid tablets should be used with caution in people with: liver problems, such as liver disease — corticosteroids may not be broken down by the liver at a normal rate, leading to increased levels of the medication in the blood mental health or behavioural problems, such as depression or alcohol dependence — corticosteroids can have unpredictable effects on behaviour and mood wounds — oral corticosteroids can delay wound healing They should also be used with caution in people with a health condition that could be made worse by taking oral corticosteroids, including: heart failure a recent heart attack high blood pressure diabetes epilepsy glaucoma underactive thyroid gland osteoporosis obesity psychosis stomach ulcers In these situations, you will only be prescribed oral corticosteroids if the benefits of treatment clearly outweigh any potential risks.
Steroid injections Most people can safely have corticosteroid injections, but they should be avoided or used with caution if you have an ongoing infection or a blood clotting disorder such as haemophilia. Steroid inhalers and sprays There is generally no reason why someone shouldn't be able to use a steroid inhaler or steroid spray, but these should be used with caution in people with ongoing infections, such as tuberculosis TB.
Pregnancy Corticosteroids are generally safe to use during pregnancy. Breastfeeding If a woman needs to take steroid tablets while she is breastfeeding, a type called prednisolone is usually recommended, because it is thought to have the least chance of causing the baby any adverse effects.
Medicines that interact with them Corticosteroids can interact with other medicines, and the effects of either medicine can be altered as a result. Anticoagulant medicines Anticoagulant medicines are medications that make the blood less sticky.
Anticonvulsants Anticonvulsants are medicines used to prevent seizures fits and are often used to treat epilepsybut they can reduce the effectiveness of corticosteroids. Diabetes medication Corticosteroids can decrease the effectiveness of medications used to treat diabetes.
HIV medication Corticosteroids, including steroid inhalers, can sometimes interact with a type of medication known as protease inhibitors such as ritonavir used to treat HIV. Live vaccines Some vaccinations contain a weakened form of the infection they are designed to protect against.
poorly controlled diabetes. eyesight problems. eyesight problems. thinner bones (osteoporosis). high blood pressure (hypertension). Reprint Permissions A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.Shadi Hamdeh, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist. He is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center and is based in Kansas. How long prednisone side effects last depends on factors such as your dose and how long you've been taking the medication. Most go away once the dose is lowered or the steroid is stopped altogether.
However, others—like vision problems and osteoporosis—may be permanent. Typically, if a healthcare provider prescribes prednisone, it's because the benefits outweigh the risks. They will try to prescribe the lowest dose for the shortest amount of time possible to mitigate side effects, but some people may need higher doses or longer use for the medication to be effective. This article discusses the potential side effects of prednisone and when you should call your doctor. It also explains which prednisone side effects are likely to resolve and which ones may not.
A short course of 10 milligrams mg of prednisone a day may not cause side effects. In fact, the body naturally produces a substance equivalent to about 5 mg of prednisone.
However, a dosage of 10 to 20 mg a day for a month or more—or a dosage of more than 20 mg a day for any length of time—could. Once prednisone is discontinued, many side effects go away. How long it will take to get the dose low and finally down to nothing depends on the length of time that prednisone was used and how much you take. The longer the prednisone was taken and the higher the dose, the longer it will take you to taper off the medication, and the longer you may have certain side effects.
Tapering off of prednisone too quickly can cause its own side effects, including a return of your symptoms, headaches, dizziness, weakness, mood swings, and more.
It can also lead to adrenal crisis, a life-threatening condition in which your levels of the hormone cortisol are too low.
Prednisone is used to treat respiratory illnesses such as upper respiratory tract infections, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD , emphysema, and pulmonary fibrosis. It is also used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid diseases, neurological conditions such as myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, and certain diseases of the kidney such as glomerulosclerosis. In some cases, such as for acute inflammation like an upper respiratory tract infection, the course of prednisone might be short; it's only used for a few days or weeks.
However, people with IBD or other inflammatory conditions may find their healthcare providers have prescribed them prednisone for months or even years. The goal of IBD treatment is typically to wean a patient off the steroids, but sometimes it can be difficult.
Some people can taper their drug dosage down to a certain point, but then symptoms return, and they must bump it back up again. The goal of treatment in IBD is always to induce remission with a maintenance drug that has fewer side effects and discontinue the prednisone. While prednisone is very effective, the list of potential side effects of prednisone is extensive. These range from facial "mooning" the face taking on a moon-like swollen shape , acne , and increased hair growth hirsutism to increased appetite, mood swings , difficulty sleeping, and more.
Any time healthcare providers start patients on steroids, the short- and long-term adverse effects of prednisone should be discussed. Some common side effects of prednisone include:.
Tell your doctor if any of these side effects are severe or do not go away. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects:. As the prednisone dosage is tapered down below 10 mg a day and eventually discontinued, the temporary side effects will lessen and reverse. It should be noted, however, that some potential adverse effects of prednisone are permanent, and discontinuing the drug will not reverse them.
These include:. No one wants to be put on prednisone but there's no denying that, for many people, it gets results and calms inflammation quickly. Anyone with concerns about prednisone side effects should discuss them with a healthcare provider.
There may be ways to avoid certain side effects, such as by taking doses earlier in the day to lessen the effect on sleep. It's also important to discuss how long the prednisone will be needed and what the plan is to stop the prednisone altogether. Knowing the answers to these questions can help in getting through a course of prednisone without quite so many struggles with side effects. If you have been taking prednisone long-term or in high doses, you may be experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
It is important to follow your healthcare provider's instructions for tapering your prednisone dose. Do not stop taking it abruptly. It can. While most side effects of prednisone resolve after you stop taking it, some may be permanent.
These include vision problems like cataracts and glaucoma, and problems with bone health, including thinning bones osteoporosis and bone death. Mental health issues that can be triggered by prednisone include extreme mood changes, anger, depression, inappropriate happiness, insomnia, and personality changes.
More extreme reactions, though rare, can also occur. Adverse side effects associated with prednisone in the treatment of patients with oral inflammatory ulcerative diseases. J Am Dent Assoc. A practical guide to the monitoring and management of the complications of systemic corticosteroid therapy. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. Korean J Fam Med. Diagnostics Basel. Safety and pharmacodynamic dose response of short-term prednisone in healthy adult subjects: a dose ranging, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord. Medical management of Crohn's disease. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. PLoS One. Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age Digestive Health. Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Amber J. Learn about our editorial process. Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals.
These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. Shadi Hamdeh, MD. Medically reviewed by Shadi Hamdeh, MD. Learn about our Medical Expert Board. Symptoms of Prednisone Withdrawal. Frequently Asked Questions Why do I have side effects after stopping prednisone?
Does prednisone have lingering effects? What are the mental-health side effects of prednisone? How to Lessen the Side Effects of Prednisone. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine 1 Sept UW Medicine. Corticosteroids for Arthritis. University of Washington—Seattle Dec 30 See Our Editorial Process. Meet Our Medical Expert Board. Share Feedback. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Related Articles.
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