Prednisone is a corticosteroid used for its anti-inflammatory effects. Its ability to target many pathways in the inflammation process makes it the standard treatment for a wide variety of diseases. Read on to learn more.<\/p>\n
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Disclaimer<\/i><\/b>: By writing this post, we are not recommending this drug. Some of our readers who were already taking the drug requested that we commission a post on it, and we are simply providing information that is available in the clinical and scientific literature. Please discuss your medications with your doctor.<\/i><\/p>\n Prednisone is a corticosteroid drug that suppresses the immune system<\/a> and decreases inflammation. It can be taken alone or as part of a treatment plan with other drugs. The available forms include [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Prednisone should not be confused with methylprednisolone or prednisolone. Although all 3 are similar, the dosing and bioavailability differ [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prednisone mimics the action of cortisol<\/a>, a naturally occurring steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. Before activating glucocorticoid receptors<\/a>, prednisone travels from the gut to the liver, where it becomes prednisolone – the active form [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n As a corticosteroid, prednisone weakens the immune system\u2019s inflammatory response by:<\/p>\n Prednisone is a steroid drug which should only be used with a doctor’s prescription. We strongly advise against using prednisone for any reason other than what a doctor recommends.<\/strong><\/p>\n In 81 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 10 mg per day prednisone improved arthritic symptoms, reduced the need for other drugs, and reduced joint damage<\/b> after 6 months. However, most effects weaned off at 12 and 24 months [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study of 350 patients with RA, modified-release prednisone (5 mg\/day) in addition to standard treatment improved arthritic symptoms, reduced severity of the disease, and increased physical function compared to placebo [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In an uncontrolled study of 89 patients with acute ulcerative colitis<\/b><\/a>, treatment with 40-80 mg prednisone completely resolved symptoms<\/b> in 47% of severe, 80% of moderate, and 84% of mild cases [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In 205 patients with ulcerative colitis, 40 mg\/day prednisolone improved symptoms faster than 20 mg\/day fluticasone propionate (another corticosteroid) within 2 weeks [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In two studies of 175 children with acute asthma attacks, prednisone (2 mg\/kg) reduced hospitalization rates and improved breathing [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The use of alternate-day prednisone therapy (1 mg\/kg for 24 months) helped 285 children with mild to moderate symptoms of cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study of 785 pneumonia patients, prednisone therapy (50 mg\/day for 1 week) resulted in quicker improvement [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n People with purpura experience bleeding under the skin, skin spotting or discoloration. The immune system attacks platelets, causing a low platelet count and reduced blood clotting [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a pilot study of 4 mg\/kg\/day prednisone, 22 out of 25 children with purpura improved, with an increase in platelet count. The same treatment was as effective as an initial therapy in another 53 children with purpura [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In 171 patients with purpura, prednisone (1 mg\/kg\/day) was given for 2 weeks, followed by a weaning period of 2 weeks. It reduced stomach and joint pain<\/a>, and improved kidney symptoms [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prednisone is currently part of the standard treatment for lymphocytic leukemia, usually combined with other drugs. Lymphocytic leukemia is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells<\/a> (lymphocytes<\/a>) in the bone marrow.<\/p>\n In a study of 96 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the combination of prednisone + monthly chemotherapy (chlorambucil) showed the greatest reduction in disease severity [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Recently, studies compared prednisone with another steroid, dexamethasone, for lymphocytic leukemia and got mixed results. In some, dexamethasone was more effective, while in others there was no difference [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Lupus is an autoimmune disease, and the goal of treatment is to reduce an overactive immune response. Since prednisone suppresses the immune system, it is one of the main treatment options for lupus<\/b>, in combination with other drugs [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study of 111 patients with lupus and active kidney inflammation, a combination of prednisone and another immunosuppressant, cyclophosphamide, protected the kidneys better than prednisone alone [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prednisone is one of the main treatment options for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). In AIH, the immune system attacks liver cells and causes inflammation [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a review of 11 clinical trials, prednisone (alone and in combination with azathioprine) was effective in reducing symptoms, liver inflammation, and liver enzymes<\/b>. The combination achieved better results [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory condition that causes muscle pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, and hips. In 62 patients with PMR, modified-release prednisone reduced overall pain, shoulder pain, fatigue, and stiffness<\/b> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a review of various glucocorticoid treatments for patients with PMR, an initial dose of 15 mg\/day prednisone was effective in reducing the symptoms [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In 74 postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis, long-term prednisone treatment (10 mg\/day) increased the frequency of spine deformities.<\/p>\n In a large study of 244,235 patients (with 244,235 matched controls), oral corticosteroids like prednisone increased fracture frequency, especially in higher doses. When patients stopped taking these drugs, the risk of fractures rapidly returned to normal [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prednisone (10 mg) decreased bone mineral density in 40 rheumatoid arthritis patients [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study of 539 lupus patients, prednisone (10 mg\/day for 10 years) was associated with a 2.5-fold<\/b> increase in the risk of osteoporotic fractures [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Out of 80 patients on at least 20 mg\/day prednisone, 42 experienced mood disorders – anxiety<\/a>, irritability, euphoria, hyperactivity, depression<\/a>, or manic episodes – with 5 cases requiring hospitalization [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a case study of 20 patients taking 7.5 mg\/day prednisone, there was a 60% higher risk of mood or anxiety disorder [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Out of 12 patients in one study, 9 reported behavioral changes that resembled hypomania – feelings of irritability, feeling high, talkativeness – when taking 80 mg prednisone [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prednisone use was associated with serious infections<\/b> in 6,290 patients with Crohn’s disease [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study of 697 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, prednisone treatment (max 60 mg\/day) during the incubation period of the chickenpox virus (varicella) increased the severity of infection [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prednisone use of \u2265 40 mg\/day had a 5-fold increase in infection frequency<\/b> in 233 patients with lupus [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Out of 58 children receiving prednisone for IBD<\/a>, 12 developed cataracts (no cataracts in 58 controls) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study of 539 lupus patients, prednisone (10 mg\/day for 10 years) was associated with almost a 2-fold increase in cataracts<\/b> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In the above study of lupus patients, prednisone use was associated with a 1.7-fold increase in chest pain, heart attack, and artery bypass procedures<\/b>. High-dose prednisone was associated with a 1.2-fold increase in stroke due to low blood supply [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Out of 80 patients on at least 20 mg\/day prednisone, seven developed high blood pressure [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a 785 patient study of prednisone for pneumonia, 19% of patients got increased<\/b> glucose<\/b><\/a> levels<\/b> that required<\/b> insulin<\/b><\/a> treatment<\/b> (compared to 11% of placebo-patients) [R<\/a>]<\/p>\n Out of 80 patients on at least 20 mg\/day prednisone, 37 experienced skin disorders such as unwanted hair growth, thinning skin, bruising, and delayed wound healing<\/b> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In the above study, 32.5% of patients reported muscle cramps<\/b> and 15% of patients reported muscle weakness<\/b> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n 39% of women (premenopausal) experienced menstrual disorders such as irregular or shorter periods and less menstrual bleeding<\/b> in the study mentioned above [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study of 101 patients taking 5 – 60 mg prednisone, 22 patients reported stomach and gut problems such as heartburn and changes in bowel movements<\/b> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study of 101 patients taking 5 – 60 mg prednisone, 33 patients experienced fluid retention<\/b> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Insomnia occurred in 13 patients in the above study [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prednisone should not be taken by anyone who has experienced a hypersensitivity to the drug or any of its other components<\/b>.<\/p>\n Prednisone should not be used if you are pregnant<\/b>. The exception are certain circumstances where the benefits outweigh the potential risk to the fetus [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prednisone can cross into breast milk and it is not recommended to take the drug if you are breastfeeding<\/b>. Again, there might be some exceptions to this rule [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Drugs that alter the activity of liver enzymes that metabolize prednisone (CYP3A4 inhibitors and inducers) may affect prednisone metabolism [R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Prednisone may also increase blood glucose levels, which may reduce the effectiveness of diabetes drugs [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Other drugs that may interact with prednisone include [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Some studies show that prednisone treatment can be unsafe or reduce the effectiveness of vaccines, but others show no difference.<\/p>\n In a study of 30 nephrotic patients, high-dose prednisone therapy showed no difference in pneumonia vaccine response compared to controls [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prednisone treatment (2 mg\/kg\/day for 5 days) showed no significant difference in influenza vaccine response in 50 asthmatic patients [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n However, in 24 patients with lupus (with 24 age-matched controls), prednisone treatment decreased immune response to the influenza vaccine [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that individuals with suppressed immune systems should not get live vaccines. The CDC defines an immunosuppressive steroid dose at \u2265 20mg \/day prednisone for over 2 weeks [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prednisone is available as immediate- and delayed-release tablets and as a solution.<\/p>\n Prednisone dosing varies widely from 1-80 mg<\/b> depending on the disease being treated, whether the condition is acute or chronic, and the response to treatment.<\/p>\n One of the main challenges is finding the right dose and duration of treatment while minimizing the risk of side effects.<\/p>\n Slowly decreasing the dose rather than immediately stopping prednisone – tapering – is often used and is linked to better treatment outcomes and fewer side effects [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prednisone must be converted to prednisolone by the liver to become active. Therefore, liver disease may decrease prednisone metabolism and its anti-inflammatory effects <\/b>[R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Mutations in the NR3C1<\/a> gene, which encodes the glucocorticoid receptor, may also affect response to prednisone treatment. Depending on the nature of the mutation, it may increase or decrease the sensitivity of glucocorticoids like prednisone [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prednisone is a corticosteroid drug that suppresses the immune response and inflammation. It mimics cortisol, thus blocking inflammatory and increasing anti-inflammatory pathways.<\/p>\n Doctors use prednisone, alone or in different combinations, to treat rheumatoid arthritis, severe respiratory conditions, IBD, lupus, and some types of leukemia. Long-term use can cause osteoporosis, diabetes, mood swings, infections, and menstrual disorders.<\/p>\n To reduce the risk of side effects, you shouldn\u2019t use prednisone for more than two weeks straight. Your doctor will gradually reduce the dosage.<\/p>\n Prednisone can interact with many drugs. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Prednisone is a corticosteroid used for its anti-inflammatory effects. Its ability to target many pathways in the inflammation process makes it the standard treatment for a wide variety of diseases. Read on to learn more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26632,"featured_media":63193,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[387,297],"tags":[279],"yst_prominent_words":[18336,5405,24088,25667,25666,1769,24096,5400,24095,24093,24026,724,5404,24094,18337,24089,25668,511,854,25669],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51700"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51700"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51700\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":112025,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51700\/revisions\/112025"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51700"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=51700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What is Prednisone?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Immunosuppressant<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Snapshot<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Proponents:<\/h5>\n
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Skeptics:<\/h5>\n
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How It Works<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Uses of Prednisone<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
1) Rheumatoid Arthritis<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
2) Inflammatory Bowel Disease<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
3) Respiratory Problems<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
4) Purpura<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
5) Leukemia<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
6) Lupus<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
7) Autoimmune Hepatitis<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
8) Inflammatory Diseases<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Prednisone Side Effects and Precautions<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Side Effects<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
1) Increases the Risk of Bone Fractures<\/b><\/h4>\n
2) Can Cause Mood<\/b> Disorders<\/h4>\n
3) Increases the Risk of Infections<\/b><\/h4>\n
4) May Cause Cataracts<\/b><\/h4>\n
5) Increases the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease<\/b><\/h4>\n
6) Increases Blood Glucose Levels<\/b><\/h4>\n
7) May Cause Skin Changes<\/b><\/h4>\n
8) May Increase Muscle Cramping And Weakness<\/b><\/h4>\n
9) May Cause Menstrual Disorders<\/b><\/h4>\n
10) May Cause Stomach Problems<\/b><\/h4>\n
11) May Increase Fluid Retention<\/b><\/h4>\n
12) May Cause Insomnia<\/b><\/h4>\n
Contraindications<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Drug Interactions<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Prednisone and Vaccines<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Forms and Dosage of Prednisone<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Genetics<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Takeaway<\/span><\/h3>\n