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Generic Name: prednisone (PRED ni sone)
Brand Names:
Deltasone, Liquid Pred, Meticorten, Orasone, Prednicen-M, Sterapred,
Sterapred DS |
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What is the most important information I should know about
prednisone?
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Do not stop taking prednisone suddenly if you have been taking it
for a few weeks. You may need a gradual reduction in dosage before you
stop taking this medication. |
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Take prednisone with food or milk to lessen stomach upset. |
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Carry some type of medical identification that will let others know
you are taking prednisone in the case of an emergency. |
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Prednisone is in a class of drugs called steroids. Prednisone
reduces swelling and decreases the body's ability to fight infections. |
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Prednisone is used to treat many different conditions. It is used to
treat endocrine (hormonal) disorders when the body does not produce
enough of its own steroids. It is also used to treat many disorders such
as arthritis, lupus, severe psoriasis, severe asthma, ulcerative colitis,
and Crohn's disease. |
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Prednisone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in
this medication guide. |
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Who should not take prednisone?
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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. |
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Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have |
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high blood pressure or heart disease, |
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ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, or stomach ulcers, |
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a psychiatric condition, |
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any other medical conditions. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Prednisone passes into breast milk. Do not take prednisone without
first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. |
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How should I take prednisone?
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Take prednisone exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more
or less than is prescribed for you. If you do not understand these
instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to
you. |
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Take each dose with a full glass of water. |
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Take prednisone with food or milk to lessen stomach upset. |
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Measure the liquid with the dropper provided or with a special
dose-measuring spoon or cup. Ask your pharmacist for a dose-measuring
spoon or cup if you do not have one. |
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If you are taking one dose daily, take that dose before 9 a.m. if
possible, to follow the body's natural cycle. If you take more than one
dose daily, space the doses evenly throughout the day as directed by
your doctor. |
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Do not stop taking prednisone suddenly if you have been taking it
for a few weeks. You may need a gradual reduction in dosage before you
stop taking this medication. |
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Carry some type of medical identification that will let others know
you are taking prednisone in the case of an emergency. |
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Store prednisone at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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If you take one dose daily, take the missed dose as soon as you
remember. However, if you don't remember until the next day, skip the
dose you missed and take only your regular daily dose. |
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If you take more than one dose daily, you can either take the missed
dose as soon as you remember, or you can take two doses at the next dose
time. |
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If you take one dose every other day, take the missed dose as soon
as you remember, then go back to your regular every-other-day schedule. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention. A single large dose of this
medication is unlikely to cause symptoms or death. An overdose is more
likely to be caused by a chronic overdose--large doses taken over a
period of time. |
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Symptoms of an overdose include obesity (especially around the
stomach); a round face; increased hair growth (especially around the
face); acne; bruising; increased blood pressure; swollen hands, feet, or
ankles (fluid retention); and sore or weak muscles. |
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What should I avoid while taking prednisone?
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Avoid alcohol. Acting together, alcohol and prednisone can be
damaging to the stomach. |
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Avoid sources of infection. Wash your hands frequently and keep them
away from the mouth and eyes. Your immune system may be weakened while
taking prednisone. |
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Do not receive any immunizations during treatment with prednisone
without first talking to your doctor. |
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What are the possible side effects of prednisone?
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking prednisone and seek emergency medical attention or contact your
doctor immediately: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;
swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); |
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increased blood pressure (severe headache or blurred vision); or |
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sudden weight gain (more than 5 pounds in a day or two). |
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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue to take prednisone and talk to your doctor if you experience |
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nausea, vomiting, or stomach upset; |
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muscle weakness or joint pain; |
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problems with diabetes control; or |
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increased hunger or thirst. |
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Other side effects that occur only rarely, usually with high doses
of prednisone, include |
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roundness of the face, and |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect prednisone?
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Do not take any other over-the-counter or prescription medications,
including herbal products, during treatment with prednisone without
first talking to your doctor. Many other medicines can interact with
prednisone resulting in side effects or altered effectiveness of the
medications. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has addition information written for health
professionals about prednisone that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed. |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.03. Revision Date: 1/
23/ 04. |
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