Prednisone

Consumer information

In what forms is Prednisone available?

For use in the home, it comes as a tablet, both conventional and as a delayed release version, but in the hospital or clinic, it can be delivered as an injection, both into the vein and directly into muscle.

What should you tell your doctor?

Because all steroids affect your immune system, it is important not to start taking Prednisone if you already have some other illnesses. This avoids any existing condition worsening. It is also useful to discuss how to make lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of catching other illnesses. Although you may find it socially difficult to avoid other people with illnesses and infections, it is for your own safety. Some diseases can be more serious if you catch them after taking a steroid. This means you cannot have a vaccination using a live culture.

Dosage calculation

Dosage will be adjusted or you may need special tests to decide what dosage is safe if you have any of the following conditions:

• high blood pressure or heart disease;
• stomach problems including ulcers;
• diabetes;
• liver or kidney disease;
• thyroid disorder; or
• depressive disorder.

The dosage is likely to vary between 5mg and 60mg a day depending on the condition to be treated and the nature of any other drugs you are taking. It is very important to tell your doctor if you find yourself ill or there is an unusual amount of stress in your life. This may require a change to the dosage. More importantly, do not stop suddenly. If you have been taking this drug for more than a month, it may be necessary to slowly taper the dosage to allow time for your adrenal gland to take up the load again.

What other drugs interact with Prednisone?

Be careful if you take a diuretic or aspirin on a regular basis. There is also a need for great care if you are a diabetic and take insulin. Other than this, the main problems come with blood thinners, anti-seizure medications, antifungals, and some antibiotics.

What are the side effects?

As with most powerful drugs, there is a risk of some side effects. For most people, nothing happens. The more common but mild effects are a headache and dizziness, stomach pain and nausea, changes in body shape, changes to the skin with the possibility of acne, insomnia and mood changes. If you experience any of the following, get immediate medical help: rapid weight gain, breathlessness, coughing up blood or blood in your stools, high blood pressure, problems with your vision, or an increasingly severe depression.