How Safe is Prednisone

Prednisone belongs to the family of steroids, and is (Food and Drug Administration) FDA-approved, to treat a variety of medical conditions. The purpose of the use of this drug is to manage symptoms of inflammation, and overactive immune system of the body. The problem with this drug is, if it is used more than it is prescribed to, then the body gets dependent on it, and stops making its own steroids. And to add to this, if the drug is stopped too soon, then the body fails to adjust to the changes, and may give rise to severe side effects.

Prednisone Side Effects

The safety of prednisone is determined by the severity and frequency of its side effects. The good news is, not everyone who administers this medication, experiences its side effects. And those who do, tolerate them well. Also, the side effects are not too severe to attract medical attention, or may be easily treated by the patient's health care provider. The side effects can stay for a short period of time, while some side effects are long-term. The short-term ones may include irritation of the stomach, headache, sleeping problems, and mood swings. And as far as the long-term ones are concerned, then they may include:

• Acne
• Aggressive behavior
• Bloody sputum
• Bloody stool
• Bulging eyes
• Cataracts
• Hypertension
• Itching
• Muscle loss
• Ruptured tendons
• Skin rash
• Swelling of the abdomen
• Thinning of skin
• Weight gain

Now these were the mild side effects of using this medication which may occur in not all but some people. In some cases, there are also chances of severe side effects such as:

• Aggression
• Bloody stool
• Elevated levels of blood pressure
• Glaucoma
• Hallucinations
• Hives
• Increased risk of infections
• Itching
• Risk of the blood sugar levels getting elevated
• Ruptured tendons
• Severe case of edema
• Skin rash
• Swelling
• Ulcers

How Much of Prednisone is Safe?

The side effects of any medication are always associated with the recommended dosage for the patient. And the prednisone dosage highly depends upon the ailment that is being treated with it, and the condition of the patient. Also, if the patient is already on some other medications, or suffering from some other underlying medical condition, even then the dosages may vary. In general, patients are advised to take the drug not more than two weeks. Failing this, the probability of the long-term side effects to occur may become higher. Taking less than 20 mg per day is also considered safe. So how often is it safe to take prednisone? According to experts, either taking the drug every other day, or only in the morning helps in treating the condition, and reduce the chances of side effects.

Withdrawal Side Effects

As mentioned, stopping the medication too quickly can give rise to undesirable side effects in the body. That is why, the health care provider helps the patient to decrease the dosages gradually. The typical side effects that can be observed may include:

• Breathing difficulty
• Dehydration
• Fever
• General feeling of being unwell
• Hypotension
• Joint pain
• Mood swings
• Nausea/vomiting
• Peeling skin
• Poor feeding
• Weakness and pain in muscles

As I have mentioned, prednisone does not cause any of these in all who administer it, expect a few people. Following the dosages as recommended by the doctor, and the precautionary steps, does a great deal in reducing the chances of all such side effects and increasing the safety of the drug.