- Prednisone side effects and how to avoid them
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Prednisone (Oral Route) Side Effects - Mayo Clinic
- Gastrointestinal side effects of prednisone
Gastrointestinal side effects of prednisone. 8 Prednisone Side Effects + How to Minimize Them
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This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Drugs and Supplements Prednisone Oral Route. Products and services. Thank you for subscribing! If you typically have normal blood sugar levels, file this side effect under no big deal. What you can do: If you have diabetes, double down on controlling and monitoring your blood sugar. Curiously enough, prednisone raises white blood cell counts on lab tests, Dr.
These are immunity cells that protect you from disease. What you can do: Take a breath, and stay calm. Long-term steroid use longer than a month can lead to loss of bone density, which also ups your risk for bone fractures. What you can do: Talk with your doctor about your personal risk. But if somebody is younger and on chronic prednisone, then we would do bone density tests earlier and begin osteoporosis treatment if necessary.
What you can do: Your doctor can change your dose or add another medication to counteract any effects on your mood. And keep loved ones in the loop so they can give you any extra support you need. Most steroid side effects only occur when people take prednisone long-term. 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.
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.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Prednisone is a strong anti-inflammatory steroid and jack-of-all-trades that is prescribed to treat conditions such as:. What you can do: Practice healthy lifestyle habits, including getting enough sleep and eating healthfully.
Ford says. Ford notes. While prednisone is not a stimulant, it can make you feel more alert or jittery. If you typically have normal blood sugar levels, file this side effect under no big deal.
What you can do: If you have diabetes, double down on controlling and monitoring your blood sugar. Curiously enough, prednisone raises white blood cell counts on lab tests, Dr. These are immunity cells that protect you from disease. What you can do: Take a breath, and stay calm. Long-term steroid use longer than a month can lead to loss of bone density, which also ups your risk for bone fractures.
What you can do: Talk with your doctor about your personal risk. But if somebody is younger and on chronic prednisone, then we would do bone density tests earlier and begin osteoporosis treatment if necessary. What you can do: Your doctor can change your dose or add another medication to counteract any effects on your mood.
And keep loved ones in the loop so they can give you any extra support you need. Most steroid side effects only occur when people take prednisone long-term. For non-chronic issues, you might take it only for a couple of weeks. Ford explains. Then the prednisone stays in your system long enough at lower levels so the whole reaction can turn itself off. For longer-term prescriptions, doctors may taper down dosages gradually to get them as low as possible without the return of symptoms.
The right prednisone dosage helps your body fire on all cylinders and reduces potential side effects. Ford cautions. See how to counteract eight common prednisone side effects, including fluid retention, and learn how proper prednisone dosages can help.
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cough or hoarseness. trouble sleeping. Understanding corticosteroid drugs and how to reduce side effects. the prednisone, but might consdier adding a medication for stomach. Indigestion: Prednisone can lead to stomach irritation for some people. This is much more likely to happen if you're also taking nonsteroidal. People who take prednisone increase their risk of developing. You're less likely to get side effects if you take a relatively low dose of prednisolone daily. It does not cause physical dependence, but it does suppress adrenal gland function, an important source of hormones including cortisol. Self-care tips: Simply being aware that steroids can have an effect on your mood can sometimes make it less of a problem. 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.Common prednisone side effects Serious side effects Insomnia Weight gain Hair loss Constipation Side effects timeline Contraindications Warnings Interactions How to avoid side effects How to treat side effects.
Prednisone is a generic prescription drug prescribed for many medical conditions including allergic reactions , inflammatory arthritis , cancer, autoimmune diseases, irritable bowel syndrome IBS , lung disorders, endocrine disorders, blood disorders, connective tissue disorders, and organ transplants.
As a corticosteroid , prednisone primarily affects the immune system to reduce inflammation. Unfortunately, it also has a rich variety of side effects. At a low dose for a short time, prednisone can provide tremendous benefits without serious problems. High-dose or long-term treatment may be needed for certain conditions, but is also associated with more side effects.
Not all prednisone side effects are avoidable, but they may be minimized or managed. Prednisone has a long list of common side effects affecting just about every system in the body.
Most people—about 2 in every 3—will experience some side effects when taking prednisone. Common side effects include:. Serious side effects are more likely when taken in high doses or for a long time. These include:. When taken over the long term, serious side effects might also involve:. While the incidence is not known , sleep problems are a common complaint in people taking prednisone.
It may not always affect total sleep time , but people taking prednisone may wake up during the night more than usual and feel less rested in addition to having problems falling asleep. People can try to take prednisone early in the day and practice good sleep hygiene.
If sleep quality becomes a problem, ask for medical advice from a healthcare professional. When taken continuously for a long enough time, corticosteroids are associated with weight gain. Fluid retention also adds weight, but this will go away when steroid treatment is stopped. In some people, prednisone and other corticosteroids may accelerate hair thinning, but the incidence is unknown. However, they may also cause unwanted hair growth.
Talk to a healthcare provider if hair loss or unwanted growth is becoming problematic. Some people experience constipation when taking prednisone. Constipation can be managed through fluid intake, fiber intake, and medications, so talk to a healthcare provider if constipation is a problem when taking prednisone. Women may be more vulnerable to prednisone side effects. Studies have shown that men eliminate prednisolone, the active version of prednisone, from the body faster than women, which may be a factor.
Age may also be a factor because women past menopause clear prednisolone from the body more slowly than premenopausal women. No matter the reason, always get medical advice when the problems seem to outweigh the benefits of a drug.
When a prednisone tablet is taken, it is rapidly and almost fully absorbed into the body, and will reach peak concentration in one or two hours. Some side effects such as headache, insomnia, abdominal pain, and mood problems can come on within that short period. Others such as fluid retention, skin problems, and increased appetite will take a few days or weeks to become a problem.
Some side effects are experienced more commonly by people taking prednisone for longer periods of time, including weight gain, facial puffiness, and thinning hair. Many of the most serious side effects occur with long-term use or high doses. The body clears prednisolone, the active version of prednisone, pretty slowly. The half-life ranges anywhere from 18 to 36 hours, so it may take a few days for side effects like headache, mood swings, or irritability to start getting better.
Some side effects, such as weight gain, swelling, hair loss, or skin problems may take a few weeks or months to return to normal. Even after prednisone has been stopped, some side effects may have long-term consequences, such as bone loss, muscle damage, glaucoma, cataracts, and heart failure.
Some medical conditions make taking prednisone too risky. Risks and benefits of prednisone should be discussed with the pregnant person. When possible, long-term treatment and treatment during early pregnancy should be avoided. Corticosteroids like prednisone can harm a fetus by causing adrenal gland problems or cleft palate. Women who are breastfeeding are given prednisone, but often at the lowest possible dose.
Although prednisone is present in the breast milk of mothers on prednisone treatment, the amounts are small, and no adverse effects on nursing babies have yet been reported. The FDA has determined that prednisone is safe and effective in treating some medical conditions in infants, children, and teens. Prednisone has a variety of effects that can worsen some medical conditions.
Try to avoid exposure to infections and certain vaccines while taking prednisone. In addition, people with reduced thyroid function or cirrhosis of the liver may be more likely to experience prednisone side effects. Prednisone may be less effective when given to people with overactive thyroid. Prednisone is not used as a recreational drug. It does not cause physical dependence, but it does suppress adrenal gland function, an important source of hormones including cortisol.
Its sudden discontinuation can cause withdrawal symptoms. The adrenal gland may not fully function for weeks or months after treatment has ended. Healthcare professionals typically stop prednisone by using a gradually decreasing dose over several weeks to prevent withdrawal symptoms. There is no maximum dosage for prednisone, but do not take more than instructed. Prednisone can cause problems in high doses or when taken for a long time.
If the prescribed dose is exceeded, call a poison helpline for advice. Because it affects so many systems in the body, prednisone can have a variety of drug interactions. These combinations can affect the safety or effectiveness of prednisone, the other drugs, or both. In particular, live vaccines such as chickenpox vaccine can never be used when a person is taking prednisone or other corticosteroids. Because prednisone suppresses the immune system, it increases the risk of infection by these vaccines.
Because prednisone suppresses the immune system, other drugs that may be a problem include:. In essence, prednisone worsens the conditions these drugs treat. Some drugs increase the risk of side effects and may need extra monitoring for problems including:.
Side effects are common when taking corticosteroids like prednisone. A few tips can help keep them at a minimum. Take prednisone tablets as prescribed.
The dose can vary widely, from just a few milligrams to more than for some very serious conditions. Most doses are between 5 and 60 mg per day. Understand the proper dose and follow the dosing schedule rigorously. Use an alarm or app to help remember doses. As with all medications, the best way to avoid side effects is to make sure the prescribing healthcare provider knows about all past and present medical conditions, especially :. Another way to avoid side effects is to keep a list of all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements being taken and let the prescriber read it over.
In particular, make sure the prescribing healthcare provider is informed about any recent live vaccines or plans for vaccines. Taking prednisone with a meal or snack will help prevent or minimize stomach pain and other gastrointestinal side effects. Another good way to avoid digestive system problems, particularly ulcers, is to avoid alcohol and NSAIDs like aspirin or ibuprofen.
To avoid weight gain from steroid treatment, eat a healthy diet and increase exercise levels. A nutritionist or dietitian can help and they will likely advise a diet high in lean protein.
When taking prednisone long-term, weight-bearing exercise can help prevent or minimize bone density loss. Fluid retention can be minimized by adopting a low-salt diet.
By keeping excess fluid from building up, other side effects such as swelling and weight gain can also be minimized. To avoid bone loss while taking prednisone over a long time, take calcium and vitamin D supplements.
Again, a nutritionist or dietitian can help, as well as having a regular exercise routine. While taking prednisone, try to stay away from people with infections. Wash your hands regularly. Wearing a mask is always a good idea. Make sure to get medical help at any sign of an infection. Corticosteroids like prednisone can cause some unpleasant and even serious withdrawal problems, so follow the tapering dose schedule given by the prescriber. If prednisone is causing problems, talk to a healthcare professional before stopping the drug abruptly.
When side effects do become a problem, there are ways to either help minimize the problem or prevent further problems. Infections can become serious when taking prednisone. Immediately inform a healthcare professional at any sign of infection. Make sure to tell family and friends about possible mood changes and irritability before taking prednisone.
If sleeping is a problem, the prescriber may suggest taking the dose of prednisone earlier in the day. Practice good sleep hygiene by going to bed at the same time each night, turning out the light, and removing any distractions before or after going to bed.
Antacids can also help. Avoid alcohol and other medications that can bother the stomach. Get medical help if you vomit blood or blood clots, if stools become black and tarry, or if abdominal pain does not go away. Talk to a healthcare professional at any sign of low potassium including muscle weakness, cramps, heart flutters, constipation, or increased urinary frequency.
Prednisone affects the hormone system that keeps the adrenal gland functioning at full capacity.
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