prednisone
(Deltasone, Liquid Pred, Metocorten,
Orasone, Panasol, Prednicen-M, Sterapred)
Prednisone, a corticosteroid, is similar to a natural hormone produced by your adrenal glands
Prednisone and prednisolone are members of the glucocorticoid class of hormones. This means they are steroids but, unlike the anabolic steroids that we hear about regarding sports medicine, these are "catabolic" steroids. Instead of building the body up, they are designed to break down stored resources (fats, sugars and proteins) so that they may be used as fuels in times of stress. Cortisone would be an example of a related hormone with which most people are familiar. Glucocorticoids hormones are produced naturally by the adrenal glands.
We do not use the glucocorticoids for their influences on glucose and protein metabolism; we use them because they are also the most broadly anti-inflammatory medications that we have. Their uses fit into several groups:
Anti-inflammatory (especially for joint pain and itchy skin)
Immune-suppression (treatment of conditions where the immune system is destructively hyperactive. Higher doses are required to actually suppress the immune system)
Cancer Chemotherapy (especially in the treatment of lymphoma)
Central Nervous System Disorders (usually after trauma or after a disc episode to relieve swelling in the brain or spinal cord)
Shock (steroids seem to help improve circulation)
Blood Calcium Reduction (in medical conditions where blood calcium is dangerously high treatment is needed to reduce levels to normal)
Prednisone is activated by the patient's liver into Prednisolone.
Prednisolone may be administered in tablet form or produced by the body from prednisone. These medications are considered to be interchangeable.
Prednisone/prednisolone are commonly used for several weeks or even months at a time to get a chronic process under control. It is also used to treat many disorders such as arthritis, lupus, severe psoriasis, severe asthma, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease.
It is important that the dose be tapered to an every other day schedule once the condition is controlled. The reason for this is that body will perceive these hormones and not produce any of its own. In time, the adrenal glands will atrophy so that when the medication is discontinued, the patient will be unable to respond to any stressful situation. An actual circulatory crisis can result. By using the medication every other day, this allows the body's own adrenal glands to remain active.
Effectiveness of treatment can be seen in suppression of the inflammatory and immune responses in autoimmune disorders, allergic reactions and organ transplants. Treatment should not be stopped without medical supervision and if youíve been on it for a period of a year, you may need supplementation at times of high stress such as surgery or serious illness until your adrenal glands recover their function.
Use of other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, alcohol or aspirin increases risk of adverse GI effects. Take with meals to minimize gastric irritation. Best taken in morning to coincide with the bodyís normal secretion of cortisol. If you are on long-term therapy, eat a diet high in protein, calcium, potassium, low in sodium and moderate in carbohydrates. Monitor your blood sugar levels daily. Avoid people with known contagious illnesses and report possible infections to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have severe abdominal pain or black stools, and also report any unusual swelling, weight gain, tiredness, bone pain, bruising, non-healing sores, visual disturbances, or behavior changes.
Do not take prednisone if you have a serious bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. Prednisone weakens the body's immune response and thus its ability to fight infection.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
kidney disease,
liver disease,
high blood pressure or heart disease,
ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, or stomach ulcers,
hypothyroidism,
a psychiatric condition,
osteoporosis,
myasthenia gravis,
diabetes mellitus, or
any other medical conditions.
You may not be able to take prednisone, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Prednisone is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether prednisone will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
Prednisone passes into breast milk. Do not take prednisone without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Always Notify Doctor:
Less common
Decreased or blurred vision
frequent urination
increased thirst
Rare
blindness (sudden, when injected in the head or neck area)
burning, numbness, pain, or tingling at or near place of injection
confusion
excitement
false sense of well-being
hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
mental depression
mistaken feelings of self-importance or being mistreated
mood swings (sudden and wide)
redness, swelling, or other sign of allergy or infection at place of injection
restlessness
skin rash or hives
Additional effects:
Side Effects that may occur when this drug is used for a prolonged period of time. Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects occur:
Abdominal or stomach pain or burning (continuing)
acne
bloody or black, tarry stools
changes in vision
eye pain
filling or rounding out of the face
headache
irregular heartbeat
menstrual problems
muscle cramps or pain
muscle weakness
nausea
pain in arms, back, hips, legs, ribs, or shoulders
pitting, scarring, or depression of skin at place of injection
reddish purple lines on arms, face, groin, legs, or trunk
redness of eyes
sensitivity of eyes to light
stunting of growth (in children)
swelling of feet or lower legs
tearing of eyes
thin, shiny skin
trouble in sleeping
unusual bruising
unusual increase in hair growth
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
weight gain (rapid)
wounds that will not heal
Corticosteroids may lower your resistance to infections. Any infection you get may be harder to treat. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any possible signs of an infection, such as sore throat, fever, sneezing, or coughing.
After stopping this medicine, a body may need time to adjust. The length of time this takes depends on the amount of prednisone taken, and how long it was used. After large doses of this medicine for a long time, it may take up to one year to adjust. During this time, check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
abdominal, stomach, or back pain
dizziness
fainting
fever
loss of appetite (continuing)
muscle or joint pain
nausea
reappearance of disease symptoms
shortness of breath
unexplained headaches (frequent or continuing)
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
weight loss (rapid)
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. This information is meant only as a guideline - always consult a physician or pharmacist for complete information about prescription medications.
On behalf of learning, and use as teaching tools for those of us who need to
know about our disease, I have tried to supply you with as much information as
I could find on all of the drugs, treatments and disorders associated with
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. I have tried to blend all facts supported by research
and also from personal experiences of other IBD sufferers into one readable webpage, and any and all information presented here is not entirely
from one source. Most information contained within these pages is found in the public domain.
At times you may find information used from another site, and as with all copyrighted materials you may find on these pages, I claim fair use under sections 107 through 118 of the Copyright Act (title 17, U.S. Code). Click here for more info
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