Prednisone Information

Prednisone is designed in order to treat the symptoms of low corticosteroid levels in combination with other medicines. This preparation may also be prescribed for the other health states, such as severe allergic reactions; certain types of arthritis; lupus (a disease that makes the body attack its own organs); multiple sclerosis; and some eyes, lungs, skin, kidneys, blood, thyroid, intestines, and stomach diseases. Prednisone may also be prescribed to treat the symptoms of certain types of cancer. This medicine may be prescribed for the other health states.

Prednisone belongs to the class of corticosteroids. This medicine works by replacing steroids that are normally manufactured naturally by the body. Prednisone may also be useful for treating other conditions by decreasing swelling and redness and by changing the working mechanism of the immune system.

Prednisone has to be taken one to four times per day or once every other day. Take this medicine with food. Follow the recommendations of your health care specialist. Your dose belongs to your condition.

Prednisone comes as a tablet, a solution (liquid), and a concentrated solution.

If you use the concentrated solution, you should measure your doses with a specially marked dropper that comes with Prednisone. Your dose may be mixed with juice, other flavored liquids, or soft foods (e.g., applesauce).

Your health care provider may change your dosage regularly in order to make sure you take the proper dose of this medicine. The dose may be reduced by your doctor also if you have an infection, severe asthma attack, any illness, or if you need a surgery.

Prednisone Safety Information

You should ask your health care provider to tell you what you should do in case you miss your dose. Never take a double dose at once. Do not exceed the dosage. In case of overdose seek the medical care immediately!

Keep Prednisone safe from heat, moisture, and light. Store this product at room temperature. Keep this product out of the reach of children. Keep safe from pets.

Inform your health care provider in case you do not notice betterment, or if you feel worse!

If you use this medication in order to treat a long-lasting disease, you should keep in mind that Prednisone will help you to control your illness, but will not cure it. Do not discontinue the treatment even if you notice improvement. Complete the prescribed therapy.

Do not stop the therapy unless your doctor tells you to do so! If you quit the treatment suddenly, you may experience weakness, slowed movements, extreme tiredness, craving for salt, upset stomach, weight loss, changes in skin color, sores in the mouth. Consult with your health care specialist in case you have any of these conditions while quitting the therapy.

This preparation may also be used in combination with antibiotics to treat a certain type of pneumonia in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Consult with your doctor on this matter.

Make sure to inform your health care provider in case you have an allergy to this medicine, or any component in it. Consult with your doctor on this matter before you start the therapy.

Inform your health care provider if you take any other medications (even non-prescription!), herbal products (especially St. John's wort), vitamins, minerals, or any supplements as they may interact with this therapy! Never start or stop any treatment without the approval of your health care provider!

Inform your doctor if you have an eye infection, or if you have ever had eye infections, and if you have or have ever had threadworms.

Tell your doctor in case you have osteoporosis; tuberculosis (TB); mental illness; diabetes; high blood pressure; intestinal, heart, or thyroid disease; ulcers; emotional problems; liver or kidney disease; seizures; or myasthenia gravis.

Inform a doctor about this therapy before receiving any medical care. Keep you medical card with you, or wear a bracelet with medical information.

Talk to your health care specialist before receiving any vaccinations (shots to prevent diseases)!

Consult with your health care specialist before the start of the therapy if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Talk to your doctor also if you have plans for the pregnancy. You should discuss all the risks and benefits with your health care specialist.

Talk to your health care provider about a special diet you may need to follow (low-salt, high potassium, or high calcium diet). Follow the instructions of your doctor.

Consult with your doctor about the risks of eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while going thru the therapy.

Prednisone Side Effects

The following side effects do not usually need to be reported immediately, but talk to your health care provider if they become continuous or bothersome: difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; bulging eyes; weak muscles; red or purple blotches or lines under the skin; increased sweating; headache; changes in the way fat is spread around the body; thin, fragile skin; inappropriate happiness; heartburn; extreme changes in mood; extreme changes in mood; decreased sexual desire; slowed healing of cuts and bruises; dizziness; increased hair growth; changes in personality; acne; irregular or absent menstrual periods.

You should immediately contact a doctor in case you notice any signs of the following side effects: depression; itching; difficulty breathing or swallowing; irregular heartbeat; swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; shaking of the hands that you cannot control; loss of contact with reality; vision problems; muscle twitching or tightening; swelling or pain in the stomach; seizures; sore throat, fever, chills, cough, or other signs of infection; light-headedness; eye pain, redness, or tearing; upset stomach; dry, hacking cough; hives; rash; confusion; shortness of breath, especially during the night; sudden weight gain; vomiting; numbness, burning, or tingling in the face, arms, legs, feet, or hands.

This medicine may lower your ability to fight infection. Prednisone may also prevent you from developing symptoms of the infection. Wash your hands regularly. Avoid contact with any infection. Contact your health care specialist immediately in case you think you may have contacted with someone who had chicken pox or measles.

Inform your health care specialist in case you have any disturbing side effects.

Consult with your health care specialist regarding the use in children, they have to be treated extremely cautiously! Prednisone may slow growth and development in children.

Prednisone may increase the risk of osteoporosis. Talk to your health care specialist on this matter.

Some patients who received treatment with Prednisone or similar medications developed a type of cancer called Kaposi's sarcoma. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medicine.

You may require having certain tests done in order to monitor your condition closely. Keep all the medical appointments while going thru the therapy.

If you are having any skin tests such (e.g., allergy tests, tuberculosis tests), inform your doctor that you are taking this medicine.

Do not share your medicine with others, for whom it has not been prescribed.