How many prednisone to take

Prednisone can cause nausea, indigestion, increased blood pressure, fluid retention, increased blood sugars, glaucoma, cataracts, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, increased cholesterol and skin changes acne, or make your skin thinner, more easily damaged and slow to heal. The lowest dose of prednisone that controls symptoms should be used to reduce adverse effects. The duration of steroid use should also be limited.

High-dose prednisone bursts often are used to suppress disease flares. High doses are used for several days until symptoms are controlled, followed by a taper to the lowest effective dose. To avoid weight gain while taking prednisone, follow a healthy diet and, if possible, exercise regularly. To prevent calcium loss from bones, if you are taking prednisone regularly it is important to take extra calcium and vitamin D. Please speak to your healthcare provider about how much you need.

If you are taking prednisone for longer periods of time 7. If you experience difficulty sleeping while taking prednisone, make sure you are taking prednisone in the morning and avoid taking the medication in the evening or close to bed time. Routine blood tests may not be required while you are taking prednisone. However, if you are taking prednisone for longer periods of time more than three months your prescriber will likely request regular blood work to monitor for blood sugar changes and increased cholesterol and periodic bone mineral density BMD tests of your bones.

How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names. Swallow the delayed-release tablet whole; do not chew or crush it. Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking prednisone, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to prednisone, any other medications, or any of the inactive ingredients in prednisone tablets or solutions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of the inactive ingredients. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.

John's wort. If you become pregnant while taking prednisone, call your doctor. You should carry a card or wear a bracelet with this information in case you are unable to speak in a medical emergency.

Stay away from people who are sick and wash your hands often while you are taking this medication. Be sure to avoid people who have chicken pox or measles. Call your doctor immediately if you think you may have been around someone who had chicken pox or measles. Prednisone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: headache dizziness difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep inappropriate happiness extreme changes in mood changes in personality bulging eyes acne thin, fragile skin red or purple blotches or lines under the skin slowed healing of cuts and bruises increased hair growth changes in the way fat is spread around the body extreme tiredness weak muscles irregular or absent menstrual periods decreased sexual desire heartburn increased sweating Some side effects can be serious.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: vision problems eye pain, redness, or tearing sore throat, fever, chills, cough, or other signs of infection seizures depression loss of contact with reality confusion muscle twitching or tightening shaking of the hands that you cannot control numbness, burning, or tingling in the face, arms, legs, feet, or hands upset stomach vomiting lightheadedness irregular heartbeat sudden weight gain shortness of breath, especially during the night dry, hacking cough swelling or pain in the stomach swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs difficulty breathing or swallowing rash hives itching Prednisone may slow growth and development in children.

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects.

This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare professional who knows your medical history.

Prednisone oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins , or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works.

This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Taking mifepristone with prednisone may prevent prednisone from working correctly. Taking prednisone weakens your immune system. If you receive a live vaccine while taking prednisone, your immune system might not be able to handle it properly.

This may lead to an infection. Taking prednisone with drugs that treat diabetes may result in an increase in your blood glucose levels and problems controlling your diabetes. Examples of these drugs include:. Taking warfarin with prednisone may reduce the blood-thinning effect of warfarin. If you take these drugs together, your doctor may monitor your treatment with warfarin closely. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions.

Prednisone oral tablet can cause a serious allergic reaction in some people. This reaction can cause a skin rash, which can include:. Taking it again could be fatal cause death. For people with infections: Taking prednisone weakens your immune system and can worsen an infection you already have.

It also increases your risk of getting a new infection. For people with heart or kidney disease: Prednisone may make you retain salt and water, which can raise your blood pressure. For people with diabetes: Prednisone can increase your blood sugar level.

You might need to monitor your blood sugar level more closely. If it goes up too much, your dosage of diabetes medication might need to be changed. Chronic pain.

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