What You Need to Know About the Drug Prednisone

I recently learned the hard way that medication side effects can often be worse than the disease itself. For an accurate picture of what happened to me and how I felt after taking the drug I'm about to review, see my poem "Drug Reactions."

My extreme reaction was to the drug prednisone. In my case it was prescribed to help me with breathing problems I was having because of a bacterial infection.

However, prednisone is also used to decrease the immune system's reaction to certain types of diseases. It is particularly helpful in easing allergic reactions and symptoms like swelling. In some cases, it can also be used to treat arthritis, blood problems, breathing disorders, some types of cancer, eye disease, immune disorders, and some skin problems.

It is commonly prescribed in 50-mg tablets that should be taken in the morning along with food and a full glass of water. It is also available in liquid form but that is generally used only in hospitals where specific dosage amounts can be monitored.

Common side effects include dizziness, headache, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, and sudden weight gain. The systems usually disappear after the medication is finished but they may linger for days or weeks afterward in some situations.

Other, more serious, side effects include:

Black stool,
Bone pain,
Coffee ground looking vomit,
Depression or mood swings,
Difficulty breathing,
Fever,
Heartburn,
Increased thirst,
Increased urination,
Irregular or rapid heartbeat,
Menstrual changes,
Puffiness throughout the body,
Seizures,
Severe abdominal pain,
Sore throat,
Sudden bleeding or bruising without cause,
Swelling of the limbs,
Thinning hair,
Unexplained hair or skin growth in odd places, and
Weakness throughout the body.

Such symptoms should immediately be reported to a physician.

Severe allergic reactions like inability to draw breath, itchy or painful skin or skin rash, blackouts, and uncontrolled swelling are rare but can happen. Anyone experiencing those should report to an ER or clinic immediately.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should be sure to accurately inform him of other drugs you are taking either by prescription or over-the-counter. You should also make sure he is aware of any other chronic health conditions that could be affected by the medication.

Conditions that could be affected by the drug include the following:

Blood disorders (especially clotting problems),
Depression or mood swings,
Diabetes,
Eye disease,
Fungal infections,
Heart disease or problems,
High blood pressure,
Intestinal issues,
Kidney disease,
Liver disease,
Osteoporosis,
Stomach conditions, or
Thyroid problems.

It is also imperative to avoid exposure to certain diseases like chickenpox or measles.

You may not be able to take this medication if you already take high doses of aspirin, arthritis medications, birth control pills, blood thinners, estrogen, most NSAIDs and some other antibiotics. It is always best to check before proceeding with dosage. Also refrain from drinking alcohol and taking any medication that has not been pre-approved by your physician.

Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers may not be able to take prednisone. Consult a doctor before moving forward with the drug if you find out you are pregnant after the medication has been prescribed.

If problems persist or new problems occur, get to a hospital as quickly as possible. If overdose is suspected, contact your local drug control facility or call the federal drug control hotline at 1-800-222-1222.