Benefits and Risks of Prednisone

The synthetic hormone prednisone is used to treat a number of ailments. Prednisone is a corticosteroid that is taken orally. It resembles the natural hormone 'cortisol' produced by adrenal glands. It is a glucocorticoid and plays an important role in regulation of the entire body functioning. It is a fact that prednisone offers several health benefits, but if you are thinking of taking prednisone, it is necessary to know the adverse effects that are associated with its use.

Prednisone Benefits

• Regulates the function of whole immune system.
• Reduces stress.
• Promotes metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins.
• Reduces swelling and inflammation.
• Alleviates the symptoms of allergic reactions.
• Stabilizes blood electrolyte levels.
• It is used to treat psoriatic arthritis, bursitis, acute gouty arthritis, osteoarthritis.
• It works great for various autoimmune diseases in both humans and animals.
• It works great for respiratory disorders like pulmonary tuberculosis, aspiration pneumonitis, etc.
• It is used to treat eye diseases, hematologic disorders, neoplastic diseases, collagen diseases, etc.
• It is also used to treat various diseases in cats, dogs and horses.
• It is prescribed to patients diagnosed with dermatological diseases like severe psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, etc.
• It helps alleviate symptoms of allergies and diseases like bronchial asthma, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, etc.
• It is used to treat endocrine disorders like congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Hypercalcemia associated with cancer, nonsuppurative thyroiditis, etc.

Improper dosage of prednisone, or wrong way of taking and stopping prednisone, can lead to several side effects.

Prednisone Side Effects

• Adrenal suppression, affects the function of adrenal glands
• Weight gain
• Excessive fatigue
• Insomnia, Mania, Euphoria
• Osteoporosis (low bone density)
• Type II diabetes
• Glaucoma
• The person may develop prednisone dependency
• Weak immune system
• Cushing's syndrome
• Reduction in sex drive
• Depression
• Digestion problems
• Pain in the stomach, hips, shoulders
• Increased appetite
• Occurrence of acne
• Hiccups in children
• Lot of sweating
• Mood swings
• Cataract problems, blurred vision
• Swollen face and hyper activeness in children
• Discoloration of skin
• Weak muscles
• Headache, vomiting
• Fast growth in children, hyperactivity
• Peptic ulcers in children
• Interaction with routine medications leading to health complications

Prednisone Withdrawal

While considering benefits and risks of prednisone, one cannot ignore the process of prednisone withdrawal. Prednisone treatment cannot be stopped abruptly. Sudden discontinuation of prednisone can lead to development of Addison's disease, in which the body loses its capacity to produce sufficient amounts of adrenal steroid hormones. Prednisone needs to be discontinued gradually. Although prednisone tapering helps avoid prednisone dependency and dysfunction of adrenal glands, it leads to certain side effects. Despite prednisone tapering, the patient may experience

• Excessive tiredness, fatigue
• Low blood pressure leading to dizziness or fainting
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Nausea, vomiting
• Diarrhea resulting in abnormal fluid and electrolyte levels
• Abdominal pain
• Low blood sugar levels
• Menstrual changes
• Joint pain, muscle aches
• Fever
• Confusion, mental changes
• High calcium levels
• Decreased gastrointestinal contractions leading to dilation of the intestine

One should be aware of the risks of prednisone before taking it. Not only the benefits of prednisone but also its side effects should be described by the health care provider. The synthetic hormone prednisone is four to five times powerful than cortisol. About five milligrams of prednisone can create an effect similar to that created by the body's daily output of cortisol. Doctors check the side effects after the administration of prednisone, and try to lower the symptoms with proper treatment. Prednisone administration cannot be stopped despite severe side effects. Doctors and patients have to make an informed decision by considering the disadvantages of prednisone against its advantages. It cannot be ignored that prednisone is a life-saving drug, and it is never prescribed unless the patient absolutely needs it.