Is Diarrhea A Side Effect Of Prednisone

What Are The Side Effects

The downsides to taking prednisone range from mildly annoying to severe, based on your dosage and how long you take it. Possible side effects include the following: diarrhea and stomach pain, mood swings, insomnia, vision problems, hyperglycemia and diabetes, weakened bones, weight gain and facial swelling , and increased risk of infection. So how do you get the desired effect of this drugreduced pain and swellingand lower the risk of these unwanted side effects, or manage them should they strike? Read on for tips.

Side Effects Of Prednisone Prednisolone And Dexamethasone In Cats

As prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone are all oral corticosteroids, they have similar short-term and long-term side effects in cats.

Short-term effects of oral corticosteroids:

• Loss of energy

These side effects may reduce the quality of life of not only the affected cat, but also the family relationship. Cats who are lethargic or have a change in behaviour may be unable or unwilling to play and may no longer seem like the cat you knew.

Other Prednisone Side Effects:

• Irritability, nervousness, mood swings, mania, depression, psychosis
• Disorientation, confusion
• Hair growth
• Itching, rash, hives
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Avascular necrosis of the hip

The higher the dose and the longer someone takes a drug like prednisone, the more likely there will be prednisone side effects. A recent study of people with steroid-dependent asthma reported that the majority of patients who had been taking prednisone for years experienced side effects such as bone density loss , high blood pressure , cataracts , easy bruising , diabetes and glaucoma .

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Should I Ask To Tapering Off Prednisone

Remember: The best practice for taking prednisone is low dose and short-term. While steroids are sometimes necessary to improve pain and inflammation levels, its important to talk with your doc regularly about things you can do to taper off steroids when you can, Dr. Deane says. There are likely longer-term medications you can try to get your chronic illness under control that offer fewer side effects and help reduce long-term damage, says Dr. Tarrant. Having a trusting relationship with your provider is key in finding the best treatment for you.

• Prednisone and Weight Gain: UCSF Health. . ILD Nutrition Manual: Prednisone and Weight Gain. ucsfhealth.org/education/ild-nutrition-manual-prednisone-and-weight-gain
• Prednisone Side Effects: Creaky Joints. . 6 Common Questions About Taking Prednisone for Rheumatoid Arthritis. creakyjoints.org/treatment/prednisone-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/
• Review on Bone Health and Steroid Use:Current Opinion in Rheumatology. . Mechanisms of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21570035/
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments: The Mayo Clinic. . Rheumatoid arthritis. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353648

Just The Tip Of The Corticosteroid Iceberg:

These are just a few of the messages that have been posted to our website. At last count there were over 800 comments in the feedback section of this post. Feel free to add your story or comment below.

We find it astonishing that some prescribers do not warn patients about the possibility of psychological side effects brought on by prednisone and friends. Even a short-course of high-dose steroid can precipitate symptoms. And not telling patients about gradual tapering borders on bad medicine. To protect yourself and your loved ones from such medical mistakes we suggest our latest book, Top Screw-ups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.

Psychological reactions such as insomnia and irritability are common, but they are certainly not the only prednisone side effects. Some of these adverse consequences, such as osteopenia, diabetes or glaucoma, appear only after long-term use of the drug. Others, such as confusion, high blood pressure or a drop in potassium, can occur on a shorter time frame. The most serious prednisone side effects that may happen within a week or two of use are dangerous blood clots , ulcers and infections.

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What Is Prednisolone Used For

Prednisolone helps reduce inflammation in your body. Symptoms of inflammation may include swelling, redness, pain, tenderness or itching in any part of your body.

Prednisolone is used to treat many different conditions, including:

• autoimmune diseases, where your immune system mistakenly attacks normal cells in your body

The Stranger Side Effects Of Prednisone

Prednisone is a prescribed medication that reduces swelling, irritation, and inflammation in the body for a range of conditions. While this powerful steroid drug is helpful for many, it also packs a variety of side effects, including restlessness, weight gain, and irritability.

Some of the side effects can be frustrating, but remember, you are not alone. We asked members from our groups about the most outrageous side effects theyve experienced while using the medication. If you need a little comic relief from the side effects of taking prednisone, check out these illustrated quotes from others who can totally relate.

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How To Use Prednisone Oral

Take this medication by mouth, with food or milk to prevent stomach upset, as directed by your doctor. Take the tablet form of this medication with a full glass of water unless your doctor directs you otherwise. If you are using the liquid form of this medication, carefully measure the dose using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. If you are prescribed only one dose per day, take it in the morning before 9 A.M.

Take this medication exactly as directed by your doctor. Follow the dosing schedule carefully. The dosage and length of treatment are based on your medical condition and response to treatment. If you are taking this medication on a different schedule than a daily one , it may help to mark your calendar with a reminder.

Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when this drug is suddenly stopped. Also, you may experience symptoms such as weakness, weight loss, nausea, muscle pain, headache, tiredness, dizziness. To prevent these symptoms while you are stopping treatment with this drug, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Report any new or worsening symptoms right away.

Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

High Blood Sugar And Shifting Body Fat

Taking prednisone can cause an increase in fasting blood sugar. This can be especially serious in people with Type 2 diabetes. Patients should make sure they get their blood sugar tested and monitored while taking prednisone. After stopping treatment, blood sugar metabolism usually returns to normal.

Prednisone and other corticosteroids are the main cause of redistribution of body fat called Cushing syndrome. This can develop early in the dosing regimen and manifests as a buffalo hump behind the neck, a round moon face and gathering of fat in the abdomen. Children also have skin changes and hypertension.

Prednisone can affect several hormones, including cortisol. Prolonged hormone suppression can cause adrenal gland atrophy which leads to adrenal insufficiency.

Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include:

• Abdominal pain
• Poor growth and weight gain in children
• Psychiatric symptoms

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How To Discontinue Prednisone

Care must be taken when lessening the dosage of prednisonea patient should not stop taking it suddenly. The body stops or decreases its own production of cortisol, and slowly tapering the amount of prednisone taken daily allows the body to begin producing it again on its own.

Tapering the dose of prednisone means lowering the dose by a certain amount every few days or every week. The length of time to taper will depend on the starting dosage, and the amount of time the prednisone has been taken. At higher dosages taken for a long period of time, it may take months to taper down. A short course can be tapered down relatively quickly.

When And Why Is Prednisone Used For Ra

Inflammatory autoimmune diseases need constant management. In an ideal scenario, prednisone is not a drug for long-term usemore like a couple of weeks, says Terri Tarrant, M.D., a rheumatologist at Duke Health in Durham, NC. While some medications target the root cause of inflammation, steroids can help relieve painful symptoms of, say, an RA flare, often while youre waiting for longer-term drugs to start working. Doctors prescribe prednisone for RA because it provides fast pain relief, she says. Prednisone can make someone feel better within hours to days and reduce the overall inflammation.

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What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Prednisolone

Prednisolone helps most people who take it, but some people experience side effects.

Generally, the risk of side effects is low if you take prednisolone for a short time. Your risk increases if you take high doses of prednisolone for a long time.

Common side effects of prednisolone, especially with high doses for long periods, include:

• fluid retention, which can lead to heart problems

• symptoms such as severe dizziness, fainting, weakness, chest pain or irregular heart beat
• mental disturbances

It is important to take prednisolone as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you would like to lower your dose or stop taking prednisolone. Stopping it suddenly might cause serious side effects and can be dangerous.

This is not a full list of side effects. For more information about the risks of side effects, read the Consumer Medicines Information for the brand of prednisolone you are taking or speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Will Prednisone Affect My Sleep

Insomnia can be a frustrating side effect of prednisone use since the drug can alter the natural balance of sleep-regulating chemicals in the body. If it gets really bad, you can talk with your doctor about adding a sleeping medication to your arsenal. That said, taking your prednisone dose in the morning can do the trick to help you avoid disrupted sleep, says Dr. Tarrant. Thats when our normal steroid hormone naturally peaks, she says. If you take it at night, its going to disrupt the sleep-wake cycle.

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Warning Disclaimer Use For Publication

WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health.

DISCLAIMER: All material available on eHealthMe.com is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. All information is observation-only. Our phase IV clinical studies alone cannot establish cause-effect relationship. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. The use of the eHealthMe site and its content is at your own risk.

If you use this eHealthMe study on publication, please acknowledge it with a citation: study title, URL, accessed date.

Can Cats Be On Oral Or Injected Steroid Medications Long

In the case of feline asthma, systemic steroids may be used by a vet during an asthma attack. However, because of the many side effects of using oral steroids, they should not be used for long-term disease control.

The goal of systemic steroids is often to get an immediate respiratory response if the cat is in distress. The cat can then be transitioned to inhaled steroids for regular management. According to Plumbs Veterinary Medication Guides 6, the goal of oral steroid treatment is to find the lowest dose possible and use it for the shortest period of time. For chronic conditions that require ongoing treatment, this becomes problematic.

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What Is Prednisone How Does It Work

Prednisone is a drug that belongs to the corticosteroid drug class, and is an anti-inflammatory and immune system suppressant. It’s used to treat a variety of diseases and conditions, for example: inflammatory bowel disease , lupus, asthma, cancers, and several types of arthritis.

Common side effects are weight gain, headache, fluid retention, and muscle weakness. Other effects and adverse events include glaucoma, cataracts, obesity, facial hair growth, moon face, and growth retardation in children. This medicine also causes psychiatric problems, for example: depression, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, and psychotic behavior. Serious side effects include reactions to diabetes drugs, infections, and necrosis of the hips and joints.

Corticosteroids like prednisone, have many drug interactions examples include: estrogens, phenytoin , diuretics, warfarin , alcohol, and diabetesdrugs. Prednisone is available as tablets of 1, 2.5, 10, 20, and 50 mg extended release tablets of 1, 2, and 5mg and oral solution of 5mg/5ml. It’s use during the first trimester of pregnancy may cause cleft palate. This medicine is secreted in breast milk and can cause side effects in infants who are nursing. You should not stop taking prednisone abruptly because it can cause withdrawal symptoms and adrenal failure. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other medical professional if you have questions about prednisone.

Read the entire prednisone consumer monograph > >

Prednisone Use In Children

Children taking prednisone are of special concern and require careful consideration. A child’s growth rate may be impaired, ultimately resulting in the delay of puberty. Children taking prednisone for any length of time should be monitored closely for any signs of long-term side effects such as impaired growth.

To avoid growth impairment in children, smaller prednisone dosages are often recommended. Dosing every other day may also help.

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How Much Is Too Much

Prednisone side effects largely depend on the dose you take, explains Kevin Deane, M.D., rheumatologist and researcher with the University of Colorado Health Rheumatology Clinic-Anschutz Medical Campus. Essentially, a low dose means fewer side effects, and a high dose means more side effects. It is helpful to have a mindset from the start that prednisone should only be used for low doses , says Dr. Deane.

Who Should Not Take This Medication

Do not take this medication if you:

• are allergic to prednisone or any ingredients of this medication
• have an internal fungal infection
• will be given a live virus vaccine and are taking large immunosuppressive doses of prednisone
• have herpes simplex of the eye, except for short-term or emergency treatment of allergic-type reactions
• have measles or chickenpox, except for short-term or emergency treatment of allergic-type reactions
• have peptic ulcers
• have diverticulitis
• have undiagnosed inflammation of the digestive system
• have a viral or bacterial infection that is not controlled by medications

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Prednisone Has Several Potential Side Effects That May Be Problematic

Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, where he is also a professor. He was the founding editor and co-editor in chief of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

• Discontinuing Treatment

Prednisone is an inexpensive and effective corticosteroid drug that is frequently used to treat acute flare-ups of inflammatory bowel disease . While prednisone provides rapid relief, side effects are common and can occasionally be intolerable. These include insomnia, mood changes, abnormal hair growth, fatigue, thinning of the skin, and acne.

What Side Effects Are Possible With This Medication

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• abdominal pain

• hives
• swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

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How Do I Reduce My Risk Of Infection From Prednisone Use

Taking prednisone in high doses or for more than a month can put you at risk of an infection called pneumocystis pneumonia. This can be prevented by using regular antibiotics such as sulfa antibiotics, or others if someone has a sulfa allergy, Dr. Deane says. Other infections such as regular pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin infections are also common, but healthcare providers dont typically give antibiotics to prevent those. For these, keep an eye out for the first sign of symptoms to get treatment as soon as possible.

Keep Your Pet Safe Long

The typical goals of asthma management are risk reduction and symptom control. According to the Global Initiative for Asthma 7, the intent of management is to reduce the burden to the patient and to reduce their risk of asthma-related death, exacerbations, airway damage, and medication side-effects.

In human children with asthma, inhaled steroids are considered the gold standard treatment for long term disease management. Systemic steroids are not recommended for daily asthma control. And, just like for children, inhaled steroids are considered safe and effective for cats and are a better option for the management of respiratory conditions.8

For cat owners, being informed about the side effects of injected and oral corticosteroid use is the first step in ensuring your cat is safe and healthy. Always be on the lookout for any side effects your cat may be showing after starting these medications.

Before starting your cat on oral steroids or if you are interested in transitioning away from systemic steroids, talk with your vet about using inhaled corticosteroid medications instead, and how the AeroKat* chamber can help manage your cats condition.

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