Get Informed: Prednisone

143

Patient Comments about
Prednisone

Active Ingredient(s)

Prednisone

What does it do?

Prednisone

This product is used in the treatment of a variety of inflammatory disorders. It is a corticosteroid whose exact mechanism of action is unknown.

Last Text Update:
 2010-Mar-20 1:21 PM
Last Data Update:
 2010-Mar-19 9:03 PM

Other Names

  • Prednisone
  • Prednison
  • Prednisone Acetate
  • Deltasone
  • Pulmison

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
Please log in
Average Risk Rating
4: Elevated
Pregnancy Category:
C
Black Box Warning:
No

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
21 Feb 1955
Est US Patients*
1,433,000
Generic Available
Yes
OTC Available
No

User Age Distribution*

4

< 21

11

21-39

38

40-59

48

60+

Age (Years)

* Estimated number of US people currently taking Prednisone or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.

Other Resources

Recent alerts for Prednisone

There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Prednisone during the past year.

Prednisone Safety Report

4: Elevated

The iGuard risk rating for Prednisone is orange. This rating takes into account the fact that Prednisone has been associated with serious side effects when used in high doses or for long periods of time. It means that Prednisone should normally be used cautiously to minimize the risk of serious side effects.

Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings

  • Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Prednisone interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.

What is Prednisone used for?

iGuard is currently tracking more than 9,500 patients that use Prednisone (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.

Disease / Condition % Average Severity
Rheumatoid Arthritis 29% 7
Lupus 15% 7
COPD 15% 8
Polymyalgia Rheumatica 10% 6
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease 5% 8
Thrombocytopenia 5% 8
Asthma 5% 8
Sarcoidosis 2% 5
Ulcerative Colitis 2% 5
Scleroderma 2% 5
Transplant Anti-Rejection 2% 5
Myasthenia Gravis 2% 8
Polymyositis 2% 5
Autoimmune Hepatitis 2% 8
Vasculitis 2% 8
Adrenal Insufficiency 2% 8
Other 5% 5

How well does Prednisone work?

iGuard regularly polls our more than 9,500 users taking Prednisone (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.

Average Satisfaction Score

(out of 10)

Average Effectiveness Score

(out of 10)

55 62
70%
of patients are confident that the good things about Prednisone outweigh the bad things.
29%
of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Prednisone.

Common Side Effects of Prednisone

iGuard regularly polls our more than 9,500 users taking Prednisone (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.

76%

76% of patients experience side-effects on Prednisone

31%

31% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Prednisone


Most Common Side Effects...

  • 35% Weight Gain
  • 15% Skin/Nail Problems
  • 10% Swelling/Edema
  • 10% Moon Face
  • 10% Bloating/Gas
  • 10% Increased Appetite
  • 5% Bruising
  • 5% Hypoglycemia
  • 5% Increased Infections
  • 5% Headache
  • 5% Fatigue
  • 5% Insomnia
  • 5% Abdo Pain/Cramps
  • 5% Hair Loss
  • 5% Electrolyte Problems
  • 5% Hyperglycemia
  • = 10%

Less than 1%: Altered Taste/Smell, Bone Loss, Buffalo Hump, Mood/Behavior Changes, Thyroid Problems


Global Patient Feedback for Prednisone ( Post a comment )

Comments, Questions, and Answers
Show Newest | Oldest first

Question/Comment:

Prednisone is my best and and my worst enemy. I take it to control my lupus. Right now I am back to tapering off. I was back up to 80ml a day in Jan. Now I am down to 50ml a day...which is still a high dose. Prednisone has literally saved my live a few times...but I still cant help but to complain about the horrible side effects! Weight gain and bloating with moon face being my biggest problems. But I also suffer from insomnia, moon swings and acid refux because of this med.

27 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-02-21 09:34:06

Question/Comment:

I have RA fir at least 15 yrs. I'd tried met Enbrel, Remicade, Orencia,
Methotrexate, Humira but no help. For 2 yrrs I'd been on Prednisone from 60mg to 20mg. I can not go down from that. Actually my RA is concentrated on my knees, which get swollen that fluid had to be taking out up 10 150cc. @ yrs ago I had arthroscopic on both knees but still the same. My orthopedic Dr says that I am not a canidate for replacement. Besides all other side effects I gained more than 30 lbs. So far no diabetic.

69 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-02-20 13:56:08

Question/Comment:

my mother has lupus and the doctor prescribes prednisone... i think it helps because she doesn't have lupus attacks... we purchased it from www.medsheaven.com

23 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-02-04 00:56:12

Question/Comment:

i am 61 and last july was diagonised with polymyalgia rheumaticia. i started on 80 mg of prednisone and am currently down to 12.5/day and 100/ once a week of methotraxate. i have gotten down to 10 but was bedridden with pain and stiffness, had to go back to 12.5 and still having pain. am concerned about the long term effects, also hate the weight gain!!

62 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-11-18 15:13:19

Question/Comment:

I have been on Prednisone for about 10 yrs i'm down to 1/2 5mg tablet a day now i take more if i have a flair up. The question i would like to know if anyone clould help its about my skin my arms mostly, i get blood like bruses like if i scrach my self or even if i scrap my arms( i'm clumsey) and hit the door jam as i go through it lol and i bruses it look bad i hate people to even see my arms i take other med's but i think its the prednisone

53 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-09-30 12:11:27

iGuard Answer/Reply:

Approxinmately 5% of iGuard patients taking prednisone reported bruising as a side effect. If your side effects continue or worsen you should discuss them with your doctor.

Posted: 2009-10-29 22:49:15

Answer/Reply:

If your on asprin, plavix or any blood thinning drug that could be it also...Smo

73 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-02-20 20:59:26

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