Day 1: Administer 30 mg on day 1 as 10 mg (2 tablets) at breakfast, 5 mg (1 tablet) at lunch, 5 mg (1 tablet) at dinner, and 10 mg (2 tablets) at bedtime.
Official answer. It's best to take prednisone as a single dose once a day straight after breakfast. For example if your dose is 30mg daily, it's usual to take 6 tablets (6 x 5mg) all at the same time after breakfast.
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.
How long will it take to work? Prednisone generally works very quickly — usually within one to four days — if the prescribed dose is adequate to reduce your particular level of inflammation. Some people notice the effects of prednisone hours after taking the first dose.
Take this medication by mouth, with food or milk to prevent stomach upset, as directed by your doctor. Take the tablet form of this medication with a full glass of water (8 ounces/240 milliliters) unless your doctor directs you otherwise.
Glucocorticoid-Responsive Conditions
5-60 mg/day orally in a single daily dose or divided every 6 to 12 hours.
Official answer. If you are taking Prednisone just once a day, take it in the morning with breakfast. The morning is best as it mimics the timing of your body's own production of cortisone. Taking your dose of prednisone too late in the evening may cause difficulty sleeping.
Prednisone has a tendency to raise the level of glucose, or sugar, in the blood, which can cause increased body fat or diabetes in some people. It is important to avoid "simple" carbohydrates and concentrated sweets, such as cakes, pies, cookies, jams, honey, chips, breads, candy and other highly processed foods.
Side effects of corticosteroids taken by mouth
A buildup of fluid, causing swelling in your lower legs. High blood pressure. Problems with mood swings, memory, behavior, and other psychological effects, such as confusion or delirium. Upset stomach.
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.
Although daily doses of oral steroids are commonly divided, a single dose each morning causes less adrenal suppression and is more convenient to take.
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, become established. If you are starting a course of steroids, then you should complete the full reducing course, which is generally prescribed for eight weeks.
Sleep disturbance: Prednisone keeps some people awake. This is because it affects the hormones that help you feel energized (cortisol) and sleepy (melatonin). So it's common for people to report difficulty sleeping while they're taking prednisone.
In diseases that require long-term treatment, prednisone can be given as alternate day therapy (ADT). ADT is safer than every day therapy, and it may continue as long as necessary, depending on your response and development of side effects or complications.
Taking prednisone too late in the evening can cause sleeplessness and insomnia, too. Make sure you also take your dose of prednisone with food, and just FYI, grapefruit juice has no effect on prednisone. Prednisone has long-lasting effects and is usually prescribed once daily.
If a person experiences insomnia while taking prednisone, taking the medication in the morning may help minimize the disruption to the sleep-wake cycle. Alternatively, a doctor may suggest splitting the dose between morning and night.
Early in treatment (within several days), prednisone may increase feelings of well-being, anxiety, hypomania or mild euphoria. With long-term therapy, however, people may develop depression. Psychosis, referred to as corticosteroid-induced psychosis, can occur at doses of 20 mg or more per day with long-term use.
Increase in Energy. Prednisone can cause an increase in energy. You may also develop insomnia, or difficulty sleeping. Taking the medication in the morning may help to prevent this.
Fluid retention can cause weight gain but as steroids are reduced, fluids will usually reduce as well, along with some of the weight gain. Drinking plenty of water and exercising can help with fluid retention.
Avoid stimulants, such as caffeine, because these can worsen insomnia, a side effect of prednisone.
Day 1: Administer 30 mg on day 1 as 10 mg (2 tablets) at breakfast, 5 mg (1 tablet) at lunch, 5 mg (1 tablet) at dinner, and 10 mg (2 tablets) at bedtime.
Prednisone does not usually cause sleepiness but may make you feel dizzy, irritable with mood swings, or cause you to have trouble sleeping (insomnia). If your dose is stopped too quickly or if you take prednisone for a long period of time you may feel severely fatigued.
It's not a high dose if you are on 20 and do the tapering down procedure. If you take 20 mg as your normal treatment every day, that is a lot of prednisone.
How to Properly Take Prednisone. Prednisone should never be taken on an empty stomach. It is usually best to take it in the morning, after breakfast and before 9 a.m. If your child needs to take prednisone more than once a day, be sure he or she eats before taking the other doses.