Taken from the PDR:
Prednisone
Pronounced: PRED-nih-sohn
Why is Prednisone prescribed?
Prednisone, a steroid drug, is used to reduce inflammation and alleviate
symptoms in a variety of disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis and
severe cases of asthma. It may be given to treat primary or secondary
adrenal cortex insufficiency (lack of sufficient adrenal hormone in the
body). It is used in treating all of the following:
Abnormal adrenal gland development
Allergic conditions (severe)
Blood disorders
Certain cancers (along with other drugs)
Diseases of the connective tissue including systemic lupus erythematosus
Eye diseases of various kinds
Flare-ups of multiple sclerosis
Fluid retention due to "nephrotic syndrome" (a condition in which damage
to the kidneys causes protein to be lost in the urine)
Lung diseases, including tuberculosis
Meningitis (inflamed membranes around the brain)
Prevention of organ rejection
Rheumatoid arthritis and related disorders
Severe flare-ups of ulcerative colitis or enteritis (inflammation of the
intestines)
Skin diseases
Thyroid gland inflammation
Trichinosis (with complications)
Most important fact about Prednisone
Prednisone lowers your resistance to infections and can make them
harder to treat. Prednisone may also mask some of the signs of an
infection, making it difficult for your doctor to diagnose the actual
problem.
How should you take Prednisone?
Take prednisone exactly as prescribed. Dosages are kept to an absolute
minimum.
If you need long-term prednisone treatment, your doctor may prescribe
alternate-day therapy, in which you take Prednisone only every other
morning. The "resting day" gives your adrenal glands a chance to produce
some hormone naturally so they will not lose the ability.
If you have been taking prednisone for a period of time, you will probably
need an increased dosage of Prednisone before, during, and after any
stressful situation. Always consult your doctor if you are anticipating
stress and think you may need a temporary dosage increase.
When stopping prednisone treatment, tapering off is better than quitting
abruptly. Your doctor will probably have you decrease the dosage very
gradually over a period of days or weeks.
You should take prednisone with food to avoid stomach upset.
If you are on alternate-day therapy or have been prescribed a single daily
dose, take prednisone in the morning with breakfast (about 8 a.m.). If you
have been prescribed several doses per day, take them at evenly spaced
intervals around the clock.
Patients on long-term Prednisone therapy should wear or carry
identification.
--If you miss a dose...
If you take your dose once a day, take it as soon as you remember. If you
don't remember until the next day, skip the one you missed.
If you take several doses a day, take the forgotten dose as soon as you
remember and then go back to your regular schedule. If you don't
remember until your next dose, double the dose you take.
If you take your dose every other day, and you remember it the same
morning, take it as soon as you remember, then go back to your regular
schedule. If you don't remember until the afternoon, do not take a dose
until the following morning, then skip a day.
--Storage instructions...
Store at room temperature.
Prednisone side effects
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity,
inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if
it is safe for you to continue taking prednisone.
Prednisone may cause euphoria, insomnia, mood changes, personality
changes, psychotic behavior, or severe depression. It may worsen any
existing emotional instability.
At a high dosage, prednisone may cause fluid retention and high blood
pressure. If this happens, you may need a low-salt diet and a potassium
supplement.
With prolonged prednisone treatment, eye problems may develop (e.g., a
viral or fungal eye infection, cataracts, or glaucoma).
If you take prednisone over the long term, the buildup of adrenal
hormones in your body may cause a condition called Cushing's syndrome,
marked by weight gain, a "moon-faced" appearance, thin, fragile skin,
muscle weakness, brittle bones, and purplish stripe marks on the skin.
Women are more vulnerable to this problem than men. Alternate-day
therapy may help prevent its development.
Why should Prednisone not be prescribed?
Do not take prednisone if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it.
You should not be treated with prednisone if you have a body-wide
fungus infection, such as candidiasis or cryptococcosis.
Special warnings about Prednisone
Do not get a smallpox vaccination or any other immunization while you
are taking prednisone. The vaccination might not "take," and could do
harm to the nervous system.
Prednisone may reactivate a dormant case of tuberculosis. If you have
inactive TB and must take prednisone for an extended time, you should
be given anti-TB medication as well.
If you have an underactive thyroid gland or cirrhosis of the liver, your
doctor will probably need to prescribe prednisone for you at a lower-
than-average dosage.
If you have an eye infection caused by the herpes simplex virus,
prednisone should be used with great caution; there is a potential danger
that the cornea will become perforated.
A few people taking prednisone develop Kaposi's sarcoma, a form of
cancer; it may disappear when the drug is stopped.
Prednisone should also be taken with caution if you have any of the
following conditions:
Diverticulitis or other disorder of the intestine
High blood pressure
Kidney disorder
Myasthenia gravis (a muscle-weakness disorder)
Osteoporosis (brittle bones)
Peptic ulcer
Ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the bowel)
Long-term treatment with prednisone may stunt growth. If this
medication is given to a child, the youngster's growth should be
monitored carefully.
Diseases such as chickenpox or measles can be very serious or even fatal
in both children and adults who are taking Prednisone. Try to avoid
exposure to these diseases.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Prednisone
Prednisone may decrease your carbohydrate tolerance or activate a latent
case of diabetes. If you are already taking insulin or oral medication for
diabetes, make sure your doctor knows this; you may need an increased
dosage while you are being treated with prednisone.
If you have a blood-clotting disorder caused by a vitamin K deficiency and
are taking prednisone, check with your doctor before you use aspirin.
You may be at risk of convulsions if you take the immunosuppressant
drug cyclosporine (Sandimmune) while being treated with prednisone.
If prednisone is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could
be increased, decreased, or altered. Check with your doctor before
combining prednisone with any of the following:
Amphotericin B (Fungizone)
Blood thinners such as Coumadin
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Estrogen drugs such as Premarin
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Oral contraceptives
Phenobarbital (Donnatal, others)
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Potent diuretics such as Lasix
Rifampin (Rifadin)
Troleandomycin (Tao)
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor
immediately. Prednisone should be taken during pregnancy or while
breastfeeding only if clearly needed and only if the benefit outweighs the
potential risks to the child.
Recommended dosage for Prednisone
Dosage is determined by the condition being treated and your response
to the drug. Typical starting doses can range from 5 milligrams to 60
milligrams a day. Once you respond to the drug, your doctor will lower
the dose gradually to the minimum effective amount. For treatment of
acute attacks of multiple sclerosis, doses of as much as 200 milligrams
per day may be given for a week, followed by 80 mg every other day for a
month.
Overdosage
Long-term high doses of prednisone may produce Cushing's syndrome
(see "Side Effects" section). Although no specific information is available
regarding short-term overdosage, any medication taken in excess can
have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose of prednisone,
seek Thanks for posting that Lorster. Over the last few years I have read a lot of blurb about the dreaded Pred. This one, I think, is the most comprehensive and explanatory. Doesn't does say - if you have blah blah blah problem - ring your doctor, but is a lot more specific and informative - and in pretty plain English as well. Thanks again
Thanks Lorster, great info. I know for sure now that I really do want off of these.................
I am sad that it works better than any other drug for me. of pred works way better than 00 of remicade.
I have never had a doc prescribe alternate day predisone even though it will help with side effects and it will allow you to get off it someday because your adrenal glands are more likely to still be functioning.
Even with all this I am willing to take a pred pack. I will never take pred for more than 2 weeks on a daily basis ever again. Bleargh I have been on the dreaded pred for a while now. I guess my body doesn't want to make enuf of it on its own. It sucks. The side effects scare me but what the heck am I supposed to do? It's like being stuck between a rock and a hard place!
How about alt day therapy? Talk to your doc about a double dose one day and none the next.
I know I don't make enough either. I wish they could find some to stimulate the adrenals just a little bit.
Okay...you have me totally freaked out! I have been on 10mg daily for 2 weeks now. How long can I take it with out my body freaking out?Hmmm I am not too good with the hairstyle thingie. However...I agree with making it lighter. That has helped me hide some of my hair loss. Sheeeesh I wonder if it is a chick thing where it goes thin? Mine is thinning on the top and front like yours is.
Genesis LOL! Brain fog by osmosis!!! My head was pretty clear today so maybe mine moved over to you lol.
Michele...my belle...don't ask my to sing the rest of this....lol. You are so pretty! Your eye color is sooooo striking!!!! I love it!! Sorry I can't be more of a help with the hair style thing. I am stuck trying to figure out what to do with my my curly mop when I cut all mine off. Our faces are shaped the same so umm...glad you are going first lol. Post your after pics please! I remember when you first cut your hair! I am taking the big plunge in a few weeks!!! Probably a good 10-11 inches. Can't go too short I have naturally curly hair!
Michele - how do you think a bob would suit you - I have had a bob for around 100 years, all I know LOL - easy to manage - I think it would suit you. A light auburn colour would look striking with your eyes.Hi , I agree with the others you are beautiful. Thinning hair will grow back if we could just get off of so much of the methotrexate, and I guess pred. sarahLorster - I just started Plaquenil. Went to my opthamologist for a base line first (I failed the left eye with a possible circulatory problem so here's another new thing to pound on, but I digress). Anyway, I hadnt seen him in the year since my RA, etc. DX, and after the exam he goes, well I see no Prednisone damage. I was flabbergasted. I was on it for five months I guess to hold me over until the MTX kicked in, but I will NEVER take Prednisone again, ever.