Taking prednisolone for a long time can lead to side effects such as: thinner bones (osteoporosis) poorly controlled diabetes. eyesight problems.
Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, heartburn, trouble sleeping, increased sweating, or acne may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Prednisone dosage for adults
Dosages will vary widely depending on the type and severity of the medical condition being treated, from as little as 2.5 mg a day to as high as 1250 mg per day (for 3-5 days). Many conditions will require that doses be determined by body weight or body surface area.
It's normal to feel some mild symptoms for about a week or two as you taper off prednisone. Don't take any OTC pain medicine or prescription drugs without asking your doctor first. Psychological withdrawal symptoms could last for 2 to 8 weeks.
Prednisone tapering (general recommendations): Oral: Reduce prednisone dose by 10 mg every 3 to 7 days (as immune-mediated adverse reaction allows) until the dose is 10 mg/day, then reduce dose by 5 mg every 3 to 7 days.
How long prednisone side effects last depends on factors such as your dose and how long you've been taking the medication. Most go away once the dose is lowered or the steroid is stopped altogether. 1 However, others—like vision problems and osteoporosis—may be permanent.
Short-term treatment (7–14 days) with oral prednisone is used for many acute inflammatory and allergic conditions.
Fluid retention is one of prednisone's most famous side effects. “'Moon face' is common, which is swelling in the face that can occur after you've been on steroids for a long time,” Dr. Ford notes. “You can also get swelling in the legs and midsection.”
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.
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.
Weight gain is a common side effect of prednisone. Prednisone can also cause a redistribution of fat to the face, back of the neck and the abdomen, although these changes vary from person to person. Generally speaking, the higher the dose and the longer the treatment, the greater the changes.
This medicine may cause changes in mood or behavior for some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you have depression, mood swings, a false or unusual sense of well-being, trouble with sleeping, or personality changes while taking this medicine.
Prednisone Increases Your Risk of Infection
Infections are more common in people taking prednisone because it suppresses your immune system. This makes it harder for your body to fight off infection.
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.
When taken in doses higher than the amount your body normally produces, steroids reduce redness and swelling (inflammation). This can help with inflammatory conditions such as asthma and eczema. Steroids also reduce the activity of the immune system, which is the body's natural defence against illness and infection.
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.
Common side effects of daily low dose prednisone include elevated blood pressure, swelling, changes in blood sugar, increased appetite, weight gain, insomnia, osteoporosis (thinning of bones), irregular menstrual periods, and mood changes.
When taken for extended periods, prednisone interferes with the body's natural production of cortisol. As a result, it is not recommended to stop prednisone abruptly. Doing so can cause body aches, fatigue, fever, and other uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
You can reduce the risk of certain side effects like insomnia by taking the drug earlier in the day. Other side effects like weight gain, mood swings, and osteoporosis may be reduced with lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and improved sleep habits.
Adult: 40 mg orally every 12 hours for 5 days, then 40 mg orally every 24 hours for 5 days, then 20 mg every 24 hours for 11 days.
Common short-term side effects include changes in appetite, mood, energy, and sleep. Long-term prednisone treatment can lead to weight gain, osteoporosis, and cataracts. Diarrhea is not a side effect of prednisone. But other gastrointestinal symptoms are possible, like increased appetite and indigestion.
When your moon face is caused by prednisone or another steroid, the simplest treatment is often to reduce your dosage. Your doctor can put you on a lower dose. Over time, being on a lower dose will reduce the appearance of moon face.
Water retention, increased appetite, and decreased physical activity contribute to weight gain while taking prednisone. You may be able to prevent weight gain by eating a low-sodium, low-calorie diet and being physically active every day.