Prednisone (Sterapred)

Description

Sometimes, you may have a number of health conditions that require treatment. Rather than prescribe you numerous medications at once that may be incompatible with one another, your doctor will prescribe you drug to treat nearly everything.

Prednisone, which is considered to be a corticosteroid, is an effective drug for numerous conditions because of its ability to halt the release of chemicals that lead to inflammation. Corticosteroids target the adrenal glands and upon reaching the gland, it releases the substance into the body to suppress the immune system. Due to its anti-inflammatory qualities, it is used to treat skin conditions, psoriasis, breathing disorder, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, and lupus.

When Should Prednisone Not be Prescribed?

Since Prednisone is an immune suppressant, there are a number of conditions that this drug is not compatible with. By taking Prednisone with any of the following conditions, you can exacerbate those conditions, which may lead to serious or fatal results. Prednisone is not compatible with:

 Fungal infections
 Pneumonia

In addition to the above conditions, you should not take Prednisone if you have recently been vaccinated with a “live” vaccine because your body will be unable to handle the virus that has been injected.

Dosage Information

When taking Prednisone or any other drug, it is vital to follow your doctor’s dosage instructions. In most cases, this drug is prescribed as a liquid. Therefore, it is necessary to take Prednisone with food.

Before your meal, simply measure the prescribed amount in a small medicine cup or with a spoon. After consuming the drug, eat a full meal. Otherwise, you may suffer from an upset stomach. If you are taking the liquid form and the prescription is for an adult, the anti-inflammatory dosage amount is 5 to 60 mg per day, 1 to 4 times.

Some doctors may prescribe Prednisone in tablet form. In this case, simply take the tablet with water and eat a meal afterwards. Refrain from chewing or crushing the tablet, as this may prevent you from ingesting the full amount.

Prednisone Side Effects

There are two types of side effects that are associated with this drug and most others: common side effects and severe side effects. If you experience any of the following common side effects, then you have nothing to be concerned about:

 Heartburn
 Nausea
 Vomiting
 Insomnia
 Sweating
 Acne

On the other hand, if you are experiencing severe side effects, then you should get medical attention immediately and contact your doctor. Below are the most severe side effects associated with Prednisone use.

 Swelling
 Eye pain
 Blurry vision
 Pancreatitis
 Low potassium
 Increased urination
 Muscle weakness
 High blood pressure
 Heat issues

The sooner you get treatment for the serious side effects, the higher the chance you’ll be able to lower the risk of adverse side effects.

Missing a Dose or Overdosing

If you miss a dose, then you should skip the dose that you missed and continue taking Prednisone at your next scheduled time. In the case of an overdose, then you should contact the Poison Health Line at 1-800-222-1222.