Prednisone Withdrawal Treatment

Most of us have heard about alcohol withdrawal or nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Likewise, continuous use of some medications followed by abrupt stopping may also cause withdrawal symptoms. Such symptoms may vary from person to person and from one drug to another. One example is SSRI discontinuation syndrome caused by some types of antidepressant drugs. Similarly, some steroids also cause such withdrawal symptoms. One such drug is prednisone and this article deals with prednisone withdrawal treatment.

Prednisone Withdrawal

Prednisone is a drug that is listed as a corticosteroid. It is used in treatment of autoimmune diseases, inflammatory conditions like, asthma, ulcerative colitis, etc. some kidney diseases and even cancers. Usually, oral prednisone is prescribed, but, in some cases, this drug is administered as intravenous or intramuscular injections. Even though, this drug is useful in treating some medical conditions, it may cause both short term and long term side effects. Another ill effect of prednisone is the withdrawal symptoms caused by the abrupt stopping of its use. These symptoms may be severe in people who use this drug for a long period, that too in heavy doses. So, in most cases, these drugs are prescribed in small doses for a short term. Prednisone withdrawal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, general discomfort, weakness, dehydration, skin peeling, breathing problems, loss of appetite, fever, low blood pressure, body ache, etc. Such situations require prednisone withdrawal treatment.

Studies show that use of prednisone for more than a week continuously makes the body get accustomed to the drug. This drug is similar to the hormone cortisol produced by the adrenal glands. The body stops producing cortisol, as the patient uses prednisone continuously. If the drug is tapered gradually, the body will restart production of cortisol, which will not happen in case of abrupt discontinuation of prednisone usage. This results in prednisone withdrawal symptoms, which can be sometimes severe. The following paragraph deals with prednisone withdrawal treatment.

Treatment for Prednisone Withdrawal

As mentioned above, the body gets accustomed to the continuous use of prednisone and the adrenal glands stop producing cortisol. As the intake of drug is discontinued all of a sudden, withdrawal symptoms develop as the body needs prednisone. In such cases, the patient is administered with prednisone (mostly in a higher dosage). In some others, discontinuation of prednisone worsens the disease, for which the drug was prescribed. For example, if a person who has been taking prednisone for asthma, suddenly stops the drug, a flare up of asthma symptoms may occur. In such cases too, resuming prednisone is done usually. So, the symptoms of prednisone withdrawal may vary from one person to another according to the disease, for which they are taking the drug and as per the dosage and period of usage. In short, prednisone withdrawal treatment is mainly done by administering the patient with prednisone. Sometimes, symptomatic treatment may also be necessary. Now that you know about what is prednisone and how prednisone withdrawal is treated, let us take a look at how the occurrence of such withdrawal symptoms can be prevented.

Prevention of Prednisone Withdrawal Symptoms

Prednisone withdrawal symptoms can be prevented by stopping the use of prednisone gradually and this is called prednisone taper. Prednisone tapering schedule is decided by the doctor, after taking into consideration, various factors like, the disease for which prednisone is prescribed, the dosage of the drug, the health conditions of the patient, duration of prednisone use, etc. It may happen that some patients may experience withdrawal symptoms, even if they follow the tapering schedule carefully. While, mild symptoms can be normal, severe ones may need medical attention. It is always better to approach your doctor if you experience any prednisone withdrawal symptoms.

In short, prednisone must not be taken without the prescription of a doctor and more importantly, its use should not be abruptly stopped by people who use it continuously. Discontinuation of prednisone must be done gradually, as per the instructions of your doctor. In case, you develop any withdrawal symptoms, contact your doctor immediately, for prednisone withdrawal treatment.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice. Visiting your physician is the safest way to diagnose and treat any health condition.