Why is prednisone given for only a short period of time. How long should I be on steroid treatment for?
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Why is prednisone given for only a short period of time.Taking steroids long term
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.
❾-50%}How and when to take prednisolone tablets and liquid - NHS - How long to take it for
If you notice any changes in your eyesight, such as your vision becoming blurry, be sure to let your doctor know as soon as possible. This can cause thinning of the skin, stretch marks, and the face to become rounder, but it usually clears up once steroids are stopped. If growth is slowed, they might be referred to a specialist doctor for advice. Making sensible food choices and including some physical activity in your daily routine should help you avoid putting on weight.
Steroids can weaken bones, which can lead to a condition known as osteoporosis. Your doctor may advise you to take drugs called bisphosphonates , or calcium and vitamin D supplements , along with the steroids to help prevent this. Regular exercise , especially things that involve your bones carrying the weight of your body, such as walking, can also help to reduce the risk of getting osteoporosis.
You should also make sure you get enough calcium in your diet , and avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol. Steroids can be taken along with other drugs. You may be able to have the live shingles vaccination Zostavax if you're on a low dose of steroids. Alternatively, there is a non-live shingles vaccine Shingrix that you may be able to have instead. Your healthcare team will be able to advise on this. Both alcohol and steroid tablets could upset your stomach.
If you have indigestion or other stomach problems after starting steroids, then alcohol is likely to add to the problem, so you may want to cut back on how much alcohol you drink. You can find out more about units of alcohol at www. Current guidelines say that some steroid tablets, including prednisolone, can be taken during pregnancy.
You should discuss the risks with your doctor if you have any concerns. Download steroids information booklet Download. Print this page Print. What are steroids? Related information. How is the steroid taken? What does it do? What conditions is it used for?
What is a common name for this type? By mouth — tablets, liquids, dissolvable tablets, also known as oral steroids Reduces inflammation throughout the whole body. Rheumatoid arthritis , lupus , gout , other types of inflammatory arthritis or autoimmune conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, other types of inflammatory arthritis or autoimmune conditions. Uveitis prednisolone Applied to the skin as a cream or gel, also known as topical steroids Reduces inflammation on the skin.
Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. How are they taken? You should always take medication as prescribed by the person treating you. Tablets, liquids and soluble tablets Usually once a day. Preferably in the morning. Either with or after food to prevent stomach problems.
Creams and gels Usually once or twice a day for a few weeks. Your doctor might suggest taking them less often but for a longer period.
Should only be used on affected areas of the skin. Eye drops and ointments May need to be taken regularly throughout the day. Usually one drop in each eye each time you take it. Side-effects and risks. Some of the side effects of steroids are shown below: Tablets, liquids and soluble tablets weight gain and increased appetite stomach pains, indigestion or heartburn sleep problems changes in mood bruising easily thinning of the skin stretch marks.
Creams and gels stinging or burning where the cream has been applied changes in skin colour thinning of the skin stretch marks increased hair growth where the cream has been applied. Eye drops and ointments stinging or burning in eyes after putting drops in a funny taste in the mouth after putting drops in. Some medicines interfere with the way steroid tablets work. Tell your doctor if you take any other medicines, including herbal remedies and supplements, before starting steroid tablets.
If you're already taking steroid tablets, ask your doctor or a pharmacist for advice before taking any other medicines, remedies or supplements. You can usually drink alcohol while taking steroid tablets, but do not drink too much as this may irritate your stomach.
You can also eat most foods while taking steroid tablets. Do not eat liquorice while taking prednisolone, however, as this can increase the amount of the medicine in your body. Steroid tablets may not be suitable in these cases, although your doctor may recommend them if they think the benefits outweigh any risks. Steroid tablets are not usually recommended for children as they can cause growth problems.
Steroids are a manmade version of hormones normally produced by the adrenal glands, which are 2 small glands found above the kidneys. When taken in doses higher than the amount your body normally produces, steroids reduce redness and swelling inflammation.
This can help with inflammatory conditions such as asthma and eczema. Steroids also reduce the activity of the immune system, the body's natural defence against illness and infection.
This can help treat autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus , which are caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the body. Steroid tablets are different from the anabolic steroids used illegally by some people to increase their muscle mass. Page last reviewed: 17 January Next review due: 17 January Steroid tablets. Common examples include: prednisolone betamethasone dexamethasone hydrocortisone How and when to take steroid tablets Take your medicine as instructed by your doctor.
If you miss a dose or take too much If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Coming off treatment Do not stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor. Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include: feeling extremely tired feeling and being sick dizziness loss of appetite and weight loss Your original symptoms may also come back suddenly.
Side effects of steroid tablets Taking steroid tablets for less than 3 weeks is unlikely to cause any significant side effects. Side effects of steroid tablets can include: indigestion or heartburn increased appetite, which could lead to weight gain difficulty sleeping changes in mood and behaviour, such as feeling irritable or anxious an increased risk of infections — especially chickenpox , shingles and measles high blood sugar or diabetes weakening of the bones osteoporosis high blood pressure Cushing's syndrome — which can cause symptoms such as thin skin that bruises easily, a build-up of fat on the neck and shoulders and a red, puffy, rounded face eye conditions, such as glaucoma and cataracts mental health problems, such as depression or suicidal thoughts ; get an urgent GP appointment or call if this happens Most side effects will pass once treatment stops.
Coping with side effects of steroid tablets The following tips may help reduce the side effects of steroid tablets: take your tablets in the morning with breakfast although some specially coated tablets can be taken without food — this may help prevent indigestion, heartburn and sleeping difficulties eat a healthy, balanced diet and exercise regularly — this may help prevent weight gain and osteoporosis avoid close contact with people who are ill; especially people who have measles, chickenpox or shingles — get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you may have been exposed to someone with an infection ensure your vaccines are up-to-date — but do not have any "live" vaccines , such as the shingles vaccine Your doctor may reduce your dose or suggest taking your tablets less often for example, every other day if you're having side effects.
Taking steroid tablets with other medicines, food or alcohol Some medicines interfere with the way steroid tablets work. Who can take steroid tablets Most people can take steroid tablets.
Some people are prescribed steroid medicines on an ongoing basis for the treatment of long-term conditions. Taking steroids long term is helpful to treat conditions associated with inflammation, but ongoing steroid use can cause side effects.
Prednisone is the most commonly prescribed steroid. Other examples of steroids include dexamethasone, hydrocortisone and methylprednisolone. On this page, you can find the following information:. A short course of steroids usually causes very few side effects. For example, a 1—2 week course is often prescribed to ease a severe attack of asthma or gout. This is usually taken without any problems. Side effects are more likely to occur if you take a long course of steroids more than 2—3 monthsor if you take short courses often.
Your body normally makes steroids by itself, as these are needed to be healthy. When you take oral steroids for a few weeks or more, your body may reduce or stop making its own steroids. If you then stop taking oral steroids suddenly, your body does not have any steroids.
This can cause various withdrawal symptoms until your body starts making more natural steroids over a few weeks. The withdrawal symptoms can be serious and even life threatening.
If you have been taking high dose or long-term steroids and your dose is reduced gradually, your body gradually starts its natural production of steroids and the withdrawal symptoms do not occur.
Stopping steroids suddenly can cause various withdrawal symptoms until your body starts making more natural steroids over a few weeks. A steroid withdrawal plan is a written document to help you remember how to reduce your steroid dose gradually over a few weeks. The following is an example of a steroid withdrawal plan. 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.
Looking for Where to get medical help A health professional or service Patient portals Newsletters View all. Taking steroids long term Print A A A. If you have been on a long course or high doses of steroids, it is really important to reduce the dose of steroids slowly over a few weeks or months.
Do not stop taking steroids suddenly. This can cause a severe, life-threatening condition caused called adrenal insufficiency. How to reduce my steroid dose gradually over a few weeks:.
Only take prednisone for a short period of time. Stomach discomfort. Stomach discomfort is another common prednisone side effect. As mentioned. Steroids should ideally only be used for a short period of time to get over a flare-up or while long term treatments, such as azathioprine. Find out about long-term steroids, when they are used, Taking a higher dose of steroids for a short period of time while you are ill is. Steroids are usually only given for a short time to quickly treat flare-ups you have and what dose you're prescribed, you may notice an improvement in. Steroids are a manmade version of hormones normally produced by the adrenal glands, which are 2 small glands found above the kidneys. When taken in doses higher. This may be more common in people with a previous history of mood disturbance. Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. Steroid tablets are not usually recommended for children as they can cause growth problems. If you normally wear contact lenses, you might need to avoid wearing these while having treatment with steroid eye drops. Tell your doctor if they bother you.Steroids are a man-made version of chemicals, known as hormones, that are made naturally in the human body.
Steroids are designed to act like these hormones to reduce inflammation. Your immune system produces extra fluid to fight infections or bacteria, which causes swelling, redness and heat in the affected area.
You might have noticed this if you have had a cut or wound on your skin. In some conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis , the immune system produces inflammation in the joints or other parts of the body by mistake, which can cause permanent damage if left untreated. Steroids can be used to reduce this immune reaction. It causes joint pain and inflammation.
Learn about the symptoms, causes and treatment. Steroids can be taken in a number of ways for many different types of arthritis and related conditions, as shown in the table below. Steroids are usually only given for a short time to quickly treat flare-ups of your condition. This page is about steroids that can be taken as tablets, liquids, creams and eye drops and ointments.
Information about steroid injections is covered on a different page. You might not be able to start steroids if you have an infection, or if you have any wounds on your body, as steroids might delay these getting better or cover up some of your symptoms.
Steroids might affect some medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart or blood pressure problems, or mental health issues. If you have systemic sclerosis , prednisolone could cause problems with your kidneys at certain doses, so you might not be able to take this type of steroid. Some other skin problems, such as rosacea, acne and ulcers, can be made worse by steroid creams so you might not be able to take them if you have any of these conditions.
If you normally wear contact lenses, you might need to avoid wearing these while having treatment with steroid eye drops. Steroids are taken in different ways, and the dosage may vary depending on the condition you have. The table below gives an idea of how often you might need to take steroids.
You will be given the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time, to reduce the risk of side effects. Your dose will probably be reduced gradually as your symptoms improve, or your doctor might suggest a weaker medication. As with all medicines, some people will have side effects. You might also be given a drug called a proton pump inhibitor or another medicine to protect your stomach.
Treatment with steroids may cause changes in mood — you may feel very high or very low. This may be more common in people with a previous history of mood disturbance. Taking steroid tablets for a long time can make you more likely to get infections. See your doctor or the person treating you straight away if you develop chickenpox, shingles or measles, or if you come into contact with someone who has any of these illnesses.
Sometimes these diseases can be severe in people who are taking steroids, and you might need to have other treatment before you start to get better. Steroids taken for a long time can also cause your muscles to become weaker, and they might occasionally affect periods in women.
If you're taking high doses of steroids, or if you're on them for more than three weeks, you'll need to carry a steroid card. This will have information on your dose and how long you've been taking them for.
Your doctor, rheumatology nurse or pharmacist should give you a steroid card if you need one. Make sure any change to your dose of steroid is updated on the card.
Steroid treatment can stop the body producing natural hormones, which can be dangerous if you get ill, have an accident or need an operation. Keeping the card with you will help any other doctor who treats you to manage your care correctly.
If you have any questions or concerns about this, talk to the healthcare professional who prescribed your steroids. The person treating you might change the dose of your medications if needed. Steroids can affect the eyes, for example by making glaucoma worse or causing cataracts. They can also cause a problem with your eyes known as serous chorioretinopathy see-russ core-ee-oh-ret-in-op-ath-ee , which happens when fluid collects in part of the eye.
If you notice any changes in your eyesight, such as your vision becoming blurry, be sure to let your doctor know as soon as possible. This can cause thinning of the skin, stretch marks, and the face to become rounder, but it usually clears up once steroids are stopped. If growth is slowed, they might be referred to a specialist doctor for advice.
Making sensible food choices and including some physical activity in your daily routine should help you avoid putting on weight. Steroids can weaken bones, which can lead to a condition known as osteoporosis. Your doctor may advise you to take drugs called bisphosphonates , or calcium and vitamin D supplements , along with the steroids to help prevent this. Regular exercise , especially things that involve your bones carrying the weight of your body, such as walking, can also help to reduce the risk of getting osteoporosis.
You should also make sure you get enough calcium in your diet , and avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol. Steroids can be taken along with other drugs.
You may be able to have the live shingles vaccination Zostavax if you're on a low dose of steroids. Alternatively, there is a non-live shingles vaccine Shingrix that you may be able to have instead.
Your healthcare team will be able to advise on this. Both alcohol and steroid tablets could upset your stomach. If you have indigestion or other stomach problems after starting steroids, then alcohol is likely to add to the problem, so you may want to cut back on how much alcohol you drink. You can find out more about units of alcohol at www. Current guidelines say that some steroid tablets, including prednisolone, can be taken during pregnancy.
You should discuss the risks with your doctor if you have any concerns. Download steroids information booklet Download. Print this page Print. What are steroids? Related information. How is the steroid taken? What does it do? What conditions is it used for? What is a common name for this type? By mouth — tablets, liquids, dissolvable tablets, also known as oral steroids Reduces inflammation throughout the whole body.
Rheumatoid arthritis , lupus , gout , other types of inflammatory arthritis or autoimmune conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, other types of inflammatory arthritis or autoimmune conditions. Uveitis prednisolone Applied to the skin as a cream or gel, also known as topical steroids Reduces inflammation on the skin.
Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. How are they taken? You should always take medication as prescribed by the person treating you. Tablets, liquids and soluble tablets Usually once a day. Preferably in the morning. Either with or after food to prevent stomach problems. Creams and gels Usually once or twice a day for a few weeks. Your doctor might suggest taking them less often but for a longer period.
Should only be used on affected areas of the skin. Eye drops and ointments May need to be taken regularly throughout the day. Usually one drop in each eye each time you take it. Side-effects and risks. Some of the side effects of steroids are shown below: Tablets, liquids and soluble tablets weight gain and increased appetite stomach pains, indigestion or heartburn sleep problems changes in mood bruising easily thinning of the skin stretch marks.
Creams and gels stinging or burning where the cream has been applied changes in skin colour thinning of the skin stretch marks increased hair growth where the cream has been applied. Eye drops and ointments stinging or burning in eyes after putting drops in a funny taste in the mouth after putting drops in.
Carrying a steroid card. Effects on other treatments. Having an operation. Fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding. By mouth — tablets, liquids, dissolvable tablets, also known as oral steroids. Reduces inflammation in the area of the body where the injection is given.
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