Deltasone Liquid Pred Meticorten Orasone Prednicen-M Prednicot Sterapred Sterapred DS Uses Prednisone is used alone or with other medications to treat the symptoms of low corticosteroid levels (lack of certain substances that are usually produced by the body and are needed for normal body functioning). Prednisone is also used to treat other conditions in patients with normal corticosteroid levels.
These conditions include certain types of arthritis; severe allergic reactions; multiple sclerosis (a disease in which the nerves do not function properly); lupus (a disease in which the body attacks many of its own organs); and certain conditions that affect the lungs, skin, eyes, kidneys blood, thyroid, stomach, and intestines. Prednisone is also sometimes used to treat the symptoms of certain types of cancer.
Prednisone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works to treat patients with low levels of corticosteroids by replacing steroids that are normally produced naturally by the body. It works to treat other conditions by reducing swelling and redness and by changing the way the immune system works. Prednisone is in a class of drugs called steroids. Prednisone prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.
Prednisone is used to treat many different conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or breathing disorders Adverse Reactions Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects: ? problems with your vision; ? ? ? ? ? ?swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath; severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions);
Bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood; pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate); low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).
Less serious side effects may include: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? sleep problems (insomnia), mood changes; acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration; slow wound healing; increased sweating; headache, dizziness, spinning sensation; nausea, stomach pain, bloating; or changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist). 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. Your child’s doctor will watch his or her growth carefully. Talk to your child’s doctor about the risks of giving prednisone to your child. Prednisone may increase the risk that you will develop osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking prednisone and about things that you can do to decrease the chance that you will develop osteoporosis. Some patients who took prednisone or similar medications developed a type of cancer called Kaposi’s sarcoma.
Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking prednisone. Contraindications/Precautions 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. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention ? ? ? ? ? ?
Any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin); certain antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral) and voriconazole (Vfend);aprepitant (Emend); aspirin; carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol); cimetidine (Tagamet); clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpak); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); delavirdine (Rescriptor); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, others); dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexpak); diuretics (‘water pills’); efavirenz (Sustiva); fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem); fluvoxamine (Luvox); griseofulvin.
(Fulvicin, Grifulvin, Gris-PEG); HIV protease inhibitors including atazanavir (Reyataz), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir (in Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), and saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase); hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, implants, and injections); lovastatin (Altocor, Mevacor); medications for diabetes; nefazodone; nevirapine (Viramune); phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek);
Rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate); sertraline (Zoloft); troleandomycin (TAO); verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); and zafirlukast (Accolate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking or plan to take, especially St. John’s wort.
Tell your doctor if you have an eye infection now or have ever had eye infections that come and go and if you have or have ever had threadworms (a type of worm that can live inside the body); diabetes; high blood pressure; emotional problems; mental illness; myasthenia gravis (a condition in which the muscles become weak); osteoporosis (condition in which the bones become weak and fragile and can break easily); seizures; tuberculosis (TB);
Ulcers; or liver, kidney, intestinal, heart, or thyroid disease. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking prednisone, call your doctor. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, or need emergency medical treatment, tell the doctor, dentist, or medical staff that you are taking or have recently stopped taking prednisone. You should carry a card or wear a bracelet with this information in case you are unable to speak in a medical emergency. do not have any vaccinations (shots to prevent diseases) without talking to your doctor.
You should know that prednisone may decrease your ability to fight infection and may prevent you from developing symptoms if you get an infection. 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. You should not use this medication if you are allergic to prednisone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body. Before taking prednisone, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, and about all other medicines you are using. There are many other diseases that can be affected by steroid use, and many other medicines that can interact with steroids.
Your steroid medication needs may change if you have any unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you during treatment. Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have or have recently had.
Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medication. Do not receive a “live” vaccine while you are taking prednisone.
Vaccines may not work as well while you are taking a steroid. Do not stop using prednisone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication. Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking a steroid, in case of emergency.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to prednisone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body. Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Steroids can also worsen an infection you already have, or reactivate an infection you recently had.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks. If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take prednisone: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? liver disease (such as cirrhosis); kidney disease; a thyroid disorder; diabetes; a history of malaria; tuberculosis; osteoporosis; a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis; glaucoma or cataracts; herpes infection of the eyes; stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis; depression or mental illness; congestive heart failure; or high blood pressure FDA pregnancy category C.
It is not known whether prednisone is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Prednisone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Steroids can affect growth in children.
Talk with your doctor if you think your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medication. Other/Herbal Your doctor may instruct you to follow a low-salt, high potassium, or high calcium diet. Your doctor may also prescribe or recommend a calcium or potassium supplement.
Follow these directions carefully. Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while you are taking this medication. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-thecounter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.
You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. SOURCES http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000091/ http://www. rxlist. com/deltasone-drug-patient. htm.