What Is Prednisone Good For?

Prednisone is a drug belonging to the group of glucocorticoids, medically indicated to combat the symptoms that occur due to the absence or low level of corticosteroids or corticosteroids, which are a variety of hormones from the group of steroids, vital for the proper functioning of the body and that they are produced by it.

In this article we will talk about prednisone in a less technical way and very useful to patients who require information in a language appropriate for the general public.

If you want to know a little more about this medicine, we invite you to continue reading.

What is Prednisone for?

Prednisone can be used to treat a large number of medical conditions. In general, it is indicated in diseases of respiratory, endocrine, autoimmune, musculoskeletal, allergic, hematological, neoplastic, and inflammatory origin. In patients who have had an organ transplant, it is a very effective immunosuppressive treatment.

In general, we mention the most frequent conditions that are treated with this drug in the following list:

• Asthma
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout or other inflammatory diseases
• Pericarditis
• Lupus erythematosus
• Urticaria
• Sindrome de Steven Johnson
• Multiple sclerosis
• Glomerulopatias
• Bell’s palsy

Trade names for prednisone

• In Chile under the name of Bersen
• In Peru, Chile and Paraguay under the name Cortiprex
• In Spain under the name Dacortin
• In Mexico with the name of Losinon, Norapred and Premagnol
• Paraguay under the name Monocort and Prednicort
• Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina and Peru with the name of Meticorten
• Colombia with the name Predinilag

It is vitally important NOT to self-medicate this treatment without medical supervision, only the treating physician will be in charge of informing the appropriate amount, contraindications and possible adverse effects that may occur under its consumption.

The different presentations of Prednisone 5mg, 20mg and 50mg

Once again we emphasize that its consumption requires medical authorization, and the dose will always depend on the disease and its severity.

It is recommended to take the medicine together with some food to prevent stomach pain or accompanied by a gastric protector.

The daily dose generally ranges from 5mg to 80mg. For a greater effect, it is recommended to eat it during the first hours of the day, specifically at the time of consuming the first meal. Which is the reason? In the morning the peak of natural cortisol secretion occurs, this will result in a greater effect of the drug.

It should be borne in mind that the longer and higher the dose, the more prone to side effects.

How to take prednisone

• A 5mg dose of Prednisone is commonly used for patients who need long-term anti-inflammatory treatment, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Or, a 10 mg dose can also be used for this same purpose.
• A dose of Prednisone of 20mg per day or greater, begins to generate an inhibition of the immune system (immunosuppressant). The higher the dose of the steroid, the greater the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effect will result.
• Treatments that require doses greater than 20mg, for a period of approximately weeks can cause unwanted effects. The same is true for lower-dose treatments that last for three months.
• For the consumption of Prednisone 50mg or higher doses, the supervision and approval of a doctor is of vital importance. An amount of that magnitude is used for an immunosuppressive effect. To consume it, precautions should be taken, such as not having any fungus in the body, not being pregnant or breastfeeding, among others.

What to keep in mind when taking this medicine?

Like other corticosteroids, this drug can weaken the immune system, making the body easy targets for other diseases or infections. Overuse can lead to bone loss (osteoporosis), especially if you are a smoker or lead a very sedentary life.

Pregnant women should avoid its consumption, as it can cause weight loss and other birth defects. The same happens with breastfeeding women, as it could affect breast milk and harm the baby. For this reason, remember to always consult a doctor.

In children it can affect growth. In case you observe this side effect in your child, do not hesitate to consult the doctor and inform him that other medications he has taken before prednisone.

Care when stopping prednisone

Suddenly stopping this medicine can lead to kidney failure, especially if it has been indicated for a long time. It is a condition that can be fatal. In these cases, the amount should be reduced, something similar to the “weaning” of children with respect to breastfeeding.

It is suggested that the reduction be 10 to 20% every 1 or 2 weeks, until reaching a daily dose of 2.5 mg and subsequently discontinuing consumption.

Warning:

This drug should not be confused with prednisolone, since both are corticosteroids and the actions are similar, however, they are different drugs with different presentations, and they are not necessarily the same dosages.

Side effects of prednisone

The list of possible side effects ranges from some cosmetic problems, to serious infections or chronic diseases such as diabetes. Next, we will detail the most common ones:

• Arterial hypertension
• Mellitus diabetes
• Weight gain
• Waterfall
• Glaucoma
• Depression
• Gastritis
• Pancreatitis
• Hepatic steatosis
• Peptic ulcer
• Growth disorders in children
• Osteoporosis
• Muscle damage
• Stretch marks
• Spots on the skin

Interaction with other medications

Some medications can decrease the effect of this steroid, such as rifampicin, ephedrine, antacids or phenobarbital.

Other medications can increase the risk of negative effects, such as estrogens, fluconazole, diltiazem, among others.

Prednisone can potentiate the adverse effects of other medications, such as diuretics, anti-inflammatories, warfarin, or alcohol. Therefore, we insist that you must first consult a doctor before starting its consumption.

conclusion

We can conclude by saying that prednisone is a powerful drug, which must be prescribed by a health specialist. Although it has many side effects, it does not mean that it is not useful in many cases, such as the treatment of serious diseases, many of which were mentioned above.

Its use should be very careful, especially when it has been indicated for periods longer than 3 weeks, in doses that can be considered high. The doctor will evaluate the particular case, analyzing the possibility of the appearance of negative effects and the benefits it will bring in the treatment.

Low doses for short periods of time, such as a week, do not represent a great risk to health.