Prednisone and its long term side effects

Ever wondered why it is always advised to go for drugs only when you actually need them? This is so because apart from curing the ailments, these drugs also release toxins into the body which irate the organs and can affect them adversely. These undesired effects drugs cause in your body are called side effects. Well, it is not like every drug can cause damage to your body, there are certain drugs such as Prednisone which might cause certain reactions in some people. They are not toxic and are quite effective in dealing with inflammation and breathing disorders. Then again, if you are under Prednisone treatment, you are prone to certain Prednisone side effects long term. Today, we are going to take you through some side effects of Prednisone which, if not addressed in time, might lead to a permanent damage.

Table of Content

Chapter 1: Prednisone side effects

Chapter 2: Prednisone side effects women

Chapter 3: Prednisone side effect on men

Chapter 4: Prednisone side effects long term

What is Prednisone?

Corticosteroids or steroids are synthetic drugs which are consumed to facilitate the artificial release of Cortisol in the human body. Cortisol is a hormone which is produced naturally by adrenal glands. Cortisol is a hormone which manages the use of nutrients in the body, regulated blood sugar, and controls blood sugar. It is also responsible for keeping inflammation in check. (1)

Prednisone is one such corticosteroid. It is an anti-inflammation drug which supresses the immune system. It is, generally, prescribed by doctors to cure swelling and skin allergies. Other than that, Prednisone is used to cure the following ailments also:

Asthma and other breathing disorders.
Allergic reactions.
Skin inflammation.
Ulcerative Colitis.
Arthritis.
Lupus or Nephrotic Syndrome
Psoriasis.
Anemia.
Bursitis.
Dermatitis.
Endocrine Disorders.
Multiple Sclerosis.
Optic Neuritis.
Particular symptoms of Leukaemia
Thrombocytopenia.
Eye Inflammation.
Optic Neuritis

Prednisone is made available by brands such as Rayos and Intensol. Plus, you can find the generic version of the drug as well, then again, it is difficult to get the right dosage in the generic version as prescribed by the doctor. Prednisone can be taken in the form of delayed-release tablets, immediate-release tablets, and solution. To protect yourself from the Prednisone side effects in long term, make sure that your stick to the doctor’s prescription. (2)

Precautions when taking Prednisone

Prednisone is a steroid and, therefore, if not taken with proper care and precaution, it can cause dire side effects.

First of all, you should follow the dosage as prescribed by the doctor, strictly. If you are consuming Prednisone solution, make sure that you use a measuring-cup or spoon.
When you miss a dose, take the dose if there is still time left for the next does. If it is already time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue the treatment as it is. Do not double-up the dose in order to compensate the missed one, an overdose of Prednisone can be very dangerous.(
It is better to avoid prednisone treatment if you already have a fungal infection in your body. Only if the situation cannot be dealt with, without Prednisone, consult with your doctor and weigh the consequences in order to go for the treatment.
Prednisone side effects long term can last due to the weakening of the immune system. Therefore, make sure that you stay away from people who are infected with communicable diseases like Measles or Chicken Pox. A weak immune system can catch these diseases easily.
Follow an active lifestyle, workout regularly, and intake a calcium-rich diet to protect your body from uneven fat accumulation.
Getting a Live Vaccine when you are under a Prednisone treatment is a bad idea because vaccination translates to injecting disease causing microbes into the body. And due to a weak immune system, your body might not be able to build a defense mechanism.
Stopping Prednisone is no child’s game. You should always consult your doctor if you are planning to discontinue the treatment and your healthcare professional will guide you to stop the treatment gradually.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you must discuss all your health issues thoroughly with your doctor and weigh the risks associated with the drug consumption carefully before opting for the treatment.
Always carry the Card given to you by your physician that you are on steroid treatment. This will help other healthcare professionals to decide your treatment accordingly.

Prednisone Side Effects

Prednisone cortisone is a steroid. While it is not as harmful as anabolic steroids, it can definitely turn out to be a threat to life if not consumed with care. These undesired effects of Prednisone can be due to the time your body is taking to adjust to the new drug. These common Prednisone side effects include vomiting, Nausea, heartburn, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, accelerated sweating and acne. There can be more infections that might arise due to the drug which needs to be consulted with the doctor for.

Well, you must trust your doctor with the prescription of Prednisone because he must have weighed the results and the risks with care. Only when healthcare professionals believe that the drug is not going to harm you, they prescribe Prednisone.

Serious Prednisone Side Effects Long Term

You are less likely to encounter the serious and long-term side effects of Prednisone. But if you do not take the aforementioned precautions, you should contact your doctor at the slightest indication of the Prednisone side-effects listed below:

Muscle cramps, swelling in limbs, irregular accumulation of fat in the body, puffy face, and severe bone pain or cramps are the common side effects on the people who are consuming Prednisone for Arthritis. Rheumatic arthritis is one disease which requires Prednisone for an effective treatment. A calcium-rich diet and an active lifestyle will help a ton in dealing with these issues.
Prednisone side effects can affect the heart too. It can cause serious fluctuations in blood pressure and heartrate.
The effects on the stomach are a sudden increase in appetite, tarry or bloody stool, and fluctuations in sugar level.
Your eyes won’t stay unaffected by the prednisone symptoms as it can cause an ache in the eyes, cataract, seeing halos around the source of light, and swelling around the eye. Blurry vision and weakening of the eyesight are also side effects of Prednisone.
Women experience irregularities in menstrual cycles and the sperm count in men are the major side effects.
Children might fail to grow as tall and develop mentally as well if the dosage of Prednisone they are given is not appropriate.
Elderly people should be careful when going for prednisone treatment as it makes the organs like liver and the kidneys work extra. These organs weaken with age, therefore, it is advised that they should not opt for the treatment unless it is critically necessary.
Acne, thinning of the skin, easy bruising, and slow healing of wounds are the effects on the skin.

Prednisone Hair Loss

Prednisone hair loss and growth of excessive hair or hirsutism are the common issues seen in women. Hair loss occurs because Prednisone increases the DTH level of the skin. If your hair follicles are genetically programmed to handle high levels of DTH, you will not be affected.

Can Prednisone cause sudden weight gain?

Yes. Prednisone leads to a sudden increase in appetite and can affect the metabolism in your body. The same food which was the part of your regular diet might start adding to your body weight. The weight gain by prednisone is much dreaded because the fat tends to accumulate in the most undesired regions of your body. A fit lifestyle very important to deal with this Prednisone side effect long term. As weight once gained, is tough to lose. (3)

Prednisone Diarrhoea: Can Prednisone Cause Diarrhoea?

Well, people take prednisone when they are suffering from diarrhea. Usually, diarrhea occurs in the body when there is low Prednisone. Therefore, people opt for prednisone treatment to make the level balanced. It helps the patient recover and escapes hospitalization.

Prednisone Asthma and How Fast Does it Work?

Prednisone is one of the most preferred drugs to cure asthma and alike breathing disorders. Prednisone, when taken orally, gets absorbed by the body and helps to treat the swelling in the lungs, if any. Prednisone does not affect the lungs directly, but it cures the issue gradually. It is used to cure hard-to-control asthma as its treatment lasts for the long term.

Sometimes, your doctor might also prescribe you a steroid burst, i.e. high doses of the drug for a short time period.

Does Prednisone make you sleepy?

In the initial stage of the treatment, Prednisone is a lot likely to disturb your sleeping cycle. Then again, it is more likely to give you insomnia or lack of sleep than making you sleepy. People often have to take sleeping pills to fall asleep when on a high dosage of Prednisone. Decreasing the dose by consulting your doctor might help in such situations.

How long do Prednisone Side effects long term last?

Prednisone Side Effects vary in terms of severity. Therefore some common side effects such as fever, acne, slight redness, etc. can end the course of treatment if you consult the doctor. But certain severe side effects such as weight gain, hair loss, troubled sleep-cycle, irregular heartbeat, and fluctuations in sugar can last until a week after you stop the treatment. Make sure that you keep in regular touch with your doctor and go for frequent blood pressure tests to stay on a safer side.

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Prednisone Side Effects Long Term