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Increase Your Awareness with Basic Facts about Prednisone
Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ June 30, 2026
*Picture displayed are of general pills and should not be used as a pill identifier.
The following highlights the facts. More information can be obtained through the sites listed below as well as many other informational sites regarding prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Medication facts can change. Make sure you have all up-to-date information.
Quick facts YOU Need to Know
Prednisone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids.
Prednisone, brand names:
- Rayos®
- Cortan®
- Deltasone®
- Orasone®
- Prednisone Intensol
- Sterapred®
- Sterapred® DS
Prednisone is used alone or with other medications to treat the symptoms of low corticosteroid levels.
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
- lupus
- 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.
If you are taking prednisone to treat a long-lasting disease, the medication may help control your condition but will not cure it.
Prednisone comes in the following forms:
- tablet
- delayed-release tablet
- a solution (liquid)
- a concentrated solution to take by mouth.
Prednisone is usually taken with food one to four times a day or once every other day. Your doctor will probably tell you to take your dose(s) of prednisone at certain time(s) of day every day. Your personal dosing schedule will depend on your condition and on how you respond to treatment.
Take prednisone exactly as directed.
Do not take more or less of it or take it more often or for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor.
Swallow the delayed-release tablet whole; do not chew or crush it.
Possible side effects of Prednisone:
- 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 healthcare provider 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.
Some patients who took prednisone or similar medications developed a type of cancer called Kaposi’s sarcoma.
Prednisone may cause other side effects.
Awareness Information for Prednisone
- Inform your doctor of any prescription or nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, or herbal products you are taking or planning to take
- Tell your doctor if you have any infections, including eye or threadworm
- St. John’s wort, cimetidine, aspirin as well as others, may interact with prednisone
- Notify your prescriber if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, emotional problems, mental illness, myasthenia gravis, osteoporosis, tuberculosis, ulcers, liver, kidney, intestinal, heart, thyroid or any other disease.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant or breast feeding
- Inform all doctors if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, if you are on prednisone or recently stopped
- If you are having skin testing, inform your doctor
- Do not get any vaccinations without informing your prescriber
- Ability to fight infections may be decrease
- Your prescriber may suggest you flower a diet, such as low salt.
There may be other precautions and instructions to be aware of.
Know before, while and after taking Prednisone.
Remember, it never hurts to be informed.
Withdrawal from Prednisone
According to the American Addiction Centers, corticosteroids are not believed to be addicting. But because they do affect the amount of cortisol available to the brain, and eventually, the brain will reduce how much cortisol it produces naturally. This can cause withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Intense fatigue
- Physical weakness
- Muscle aches
- Joint pain
- Appetite and weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
It is highly recommended to taper off Prednisone.
Sources used:
- MedlinePlus, Prednisone, accessed June 18, 2026
- NIH, National Library of Medicine, Puckett Y, Patel P, Bokhari AA. Prednisone. [Updated 2025 Apr 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534809/ Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534809/, accessed June 18, 2026
- American Addiction Centers, Corticosteroid Withdrawal, accessed June 18. 2026
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Medical Disclaimer: We share informational resources that are intended to help you with your self-care plan. We are not professionals. We write based on personal experience and personal research.
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