Prednisone Contributions by FoundHealth

Below are the side effects that should be immediately reported to the doctor:

• swelling, rapid weight gain
• shortness of breath
• vision changes
• severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure
• signs of bleeding such as bloody or tarry stools, or coughing up blood;
• signs and symptoms of pancreatitis: severe pain in the upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate
• signs and symptoms of low potassium: confusion, irregular heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness
• dangerously high blood pressure which may present as severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in the ears, chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, or seizure.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• If you have been taking this medicine for several weeks, talk with healthcare provider before stopping. You may want to gradually withdraw this medicine.

• Do not run out of this medicine.

• Wear disease medical alert identification.

• Talk with healthcare provider before receiving any vaccinations. Use with this medicine may either increase the risk of serious infection or make the vaccination less effective.

• Avoid exposure to chickenpox and measles.

• Do not take antacids within 2 hours of this medicine.

• If you have diabetes, talk with healthcare provider. This medicine can increase blood sugar.

• If you have glaucoma or cataracts, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have high blood pressure, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you are being treated for any infection, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have osteoporosis, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have stomach ulcers, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have tuberculosis, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have a weakened heart, talk with healthcare provider.

• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use this medicine.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor).

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• High blood sugar. Usually reverses when stopped.

• Risk of infection. Avoid people with infections, colds, or flu.

• Belly pain.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Weight gain.

• Mood changes.

• Change in body fat distribution.

• Weakened bones with long-term use.

• Muscle weakness.

• Skin changes (acne, stretch marks, slow healing, hair growth).

• Cataracts or glaucoma with long-term use.

• For females, vaginal yeast infection. Report itching or discharge.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

The less serious side effects that may occur with prednisone use include:

• sleep problems, mood changes
• acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration
• delayed wound healing
• increased sweating
• headache, dizziness
• nausea, stomach pain, bloating
• changes in the shape or location of body fat especially in the arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist

Before using this prednisone tell your doctor if you have bleeding problems, history of blood clots, bone loss, diabetes, underactive thyroid, eye diseases, heart problems, high blood pressure, kidney disease, mental or mood conditions, infections pr gastrointestinal conditions

Prednisone must be taken exactly as prescribed. The doctor may occasionally change the dose to ensure best results. Steroid needs may change if your body is under severe stress such as a serious illness, fever, infection, surgery or a medical emergency. It is important to tell your doctor if you have such conditions.

Prednisone use can alter the results of certain medical tests. Any medical professional who treats should be informed that you are using this medicine.

Patients are advised against abrupt discontinuation of prednisone. Do not stop using taking prednisone suddenly to prevent unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor can tell you about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Patients taking oral prednisone are advised to limit alcoholic beverages. Alcohol may further increase the risk of stomach or intestinal bleeding.

To reduce the risk of side effects, corticosteroids are typically prescribed in low doses or for short periods.

Drug interactions

Below are some of the medicines that may interact with prednisone:

• Seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin). These drugs enhance the metabolism of prednisone thus decreasing its effectiveness.
• Diuretics. These drugs are known to decrease the effectiveness of corticosteroids.
• Aspirin. Coadministration with corticosteroid may decrease salicylates' serum concentration as and therapeutic effects.
• Warfarin. Prednisone can make warfarin less effective. Close monitoring of coagulation parameters is recommended.
• Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune). Concomitant use of cyclosporine and prednisone may increase the toxicity of both drugs.
• Insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents. Corticosteroids decrease the effects of insulin and blood sugar lowering agents.
• Ketoconazole (Nizoral). Using prednisone and ketoconazole may result in an increased risk of corticosteroid side effects.
• Macrolide antibiotics. These antibiotics decrease the clearance of prednisone.
• Rifampin. Taking rifampicin reduces blood levels of prednisone by increasing its breakdown in the liver. To avoid therapeutic failure, prednisone dosage may need to be increased.

• Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.

• Feeling extremely tired, weak, or irritable; trembling; having a fast heartbeat, confusion, sweating, or dizziness if you missed a dose or recently stopped this medicine.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Significant weight gain.

• Sudden change in vision.

• If exposure to chickenpox has occurred and you have not had chickenpox or been vaccinated against it.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

(PRED ni sone)

PredniSONE Intensol™; Sterapred® DS [DSC]; Sterapred® [DSC]

Apo-Prednisone®; Novo-Prednisone; Winpred™

Ednapron; Meticorten; Norapred; Prednidib

Corticosteroid, Systemic

• This medicine does not mix well with many medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.

• If you have an allergy to prednisone or any other part of this medicine.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

• If you have a severe infection.

• Prednisone replaces an important chemical produced in the body.

• It blocks the allergic reaction by minimizing or preventing the body's reaction to the allergen.

• It prevents or reduces irritation and swelling.

• It decreases the body's harmful response to diseases affecting the immune system.

• Take this medicine in the morning if taking once a day.

• Take this medicine with food to prevent stomach upset.

• A liquid (concentrate, syrup) is available if you cannot swallow pills.

• Those who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before and after medicine is given.

• Take calcium and vitamin D as recommended by healthcare provider.

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.

• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

• Check blood sugar as directed by healthcare provider.

• Store at room temperature.

• Protect tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

Created: 2006-10-13 15:16:07.0

Modified: 2010-03-25 14:03:44.0

Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.

• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.

• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.

• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.

• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

• This medicine is used to relieve allergy symptoms.

• This medicine is used to treat Addison's disease.

• This medicine is used to treat arthritis.

• This medicine is used to treat asthma.

• This medicine is used to treat brain swelling.

• This medicine is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

• This medicine is used to treat diseases where the anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressant properties are needed.

• This medicine is used to treat inflamed areas of the body.

• This medicine is used to treat leukemia.

• This medicine is used to treat lymphoma.

• This medicine is used to treat organ transplantation.

• This medicine is used to treat sarcoidosis.

• This medicine is used to treat a variety of skin rashes.

• This medicine is used to treat spinal cord injuries.

• This medicine is used to treat ulcerative colitis.