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.
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.
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance for unwanted effects.
There is no “safe” dose of prednisone. Prednisone over time increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and infection.
The dosage and length of treatment are based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Your doctor may direct you to take prednisolone 1 to 4 times a day or take a single dose every other day. It may help to mark your calendar with reminders or use a pill box.
Official answer. There is no set limit on how long you can safely take prednisone. It depends on the dose of prednisone and the condition being treated. It may be prescribed short term or long term.
However, prolonged use can cause immunosuppression, muscle wasting, bone changes, fluid shifts, and personality changes. For these reasons, prednisone is usually only prescribed short-term.
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance for unwanted effects.
Health care providers usually limit corticosteroid injections to three or four a year, depending on each person's situation.
Serious side effects associated with higher doses and long-term use (greater than 1 month) are impaired wound healing, decreased growth (in children), decreased muscle production, fat deposits, stomach ulcers or bleeding, vision problems, higher risk for infection, and in rare cases life-threatening allergic reactions.
Because prednisone has a half-life that is longer than some other glucocorticoids, overlapping doses or taking too much of it in successive doses increases the risk of an overdose. Prednisone overdose symptoms include: Abdominal pain. Burning or itchy skin.
A gradual reduction in prednisone dosage gives your adrenal glands time to resume their usual function. The amount of time it takes to taper off prednisone depends on the disease being treated, the dose and duration of use, and other medical considerations. A full recovery can take a week to several months.
Prednisone generally works very quickly — usually within one to four days — if the prescribed dose is adequate to reduce your particular level of inflammation.
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.
The fear of using corticosteroids is so common that it has its own name: corticophobia. For topical steroids, this fear stems from well-known and severe adverse effects like Cushing syndrome and permanent skin atrophy.
Steroid injections are often only given at intervals of at least 6 weeks. A maximum of 3 injections into one area is usually recommended. Steroids that are injected into a blood vessel (intravenous steroids) may cause more widespread side effects.
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. You may need to take it for longer, even for many years or the rest of your life.
Most often, oral corticosteroids are prescribed for roughly 1 to 2 weeks — and only for very severe symptoms. But for certain chronic health conditions, corticosteroids may be necessary for months or even years. The longer you take steroids, the more likely it's that you'll have 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 months), or if you take short courses often.
Short-term treatment (7–14 days) with oral prednisone is used for many acute inflammatory and allergic conditions.
The elimination time for prednisone increases with age. In children, prednisone remains in the body for up to 14 hours. In adults, it remains up to 22 hours.
If you miss multiple doses, your prednisone prescription may not work as well. And in rare cases, missing more than a few days of prednisone can lead to steroid withdrawal. This resembles adrenal insufficiency. This can happen if your body has grown accustomed to receiving prednisone.
Official answer. 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.
How to tell if the drug is working: You should experience less pain and swelling. There are also other signs that show that prednisone is effective, depending on the condition being treated. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about whether this medication is working.