Get Informed: Prednisone

151

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-Sep-02 9:18 PM
Last Data Update:
 2010-Sep-02 9:01 PM

Other Names

  • Prednisone
  • Prednison
  • Prednisone Acetate
  • Deltasone
  • Pulmison

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
Average Risk Rating
2:
Pregnancy Category
C
Black Box Warning:
No

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
21 Feb 1955
Est US Patients*
1,372,000
Generic Available
Yes
OTC Available
No

User Age Distribution*

3

< 21

10

21-39

38

40-59

49

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

Prednisone Safety Report

2:

The iGuard risk rating for Prednisone is orange. It means that 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 10,300 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% mild 7 severe
Lupus 15% mild 7 severe
COPD 15% mild 8 severe
Polymyalgia Rheumatica 10% mild 6 severe
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease 5% mild 8 severe
Thrombocytopenia 5% mild 8 severe
Asthma 5% mild 8 severe
Sarcoidosis 2% mild 5 severe
Ulcerative Colitis 2% mild 5 severe
Scleroderma 2% mild 5 severe
Transplant Anti-Rejection 2% mild 5 severe
Myasthenia Gravis 2% mild 8 severe
Polymyositis 2% mild 5 severe
Autoimmune Hepatitis 2% mild 8 severe
Vasculitis 2% mild 8 severe
Adrenal Insufficiency 2% mild 8 severe
Other 5% mild 5 severe

How well does Prednisone work?

iGuard regularly polls our more than 10,300 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)

5.5
5.55.5 5.5
6.2
6.26.2 6.2
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 10,300 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 significant side-effects on Prednisone


Most Common Side Effects...

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

Question/Comment:

Cannot function without low dose (5mg/day) Prednisone to treat joint pain/inflam from RA. Unfortunately, I am allergic to most of the NSAID meds so the traditional over the counter (and rx strength) NSAIDS are off limits. Tylenol doesn't help the inflam.

I have type 1 diabetes ("juvenile diabetes") and wear an insulin pump and a CGMS device. Without the CGMS and the pump I think that adjusting my humalog dose to compensate for the prednisone would be a nightmare.

34 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-07-20 21:51:06

Question/Comment:

I am a 49 year old female who was diagnosed with lupus two years ago, and have been on predisone for two years. I started on 5mg at first, but I was diagnosed with possible polymyosis and was increased to 20 mg to help with the inflammation. I agree that the medication does cause serious memory problems, as far as trying to maintain your train of thought in the middle of a conversation or in the middle of performing a task. I guess it all comes with the territory. All we can do is pray, cause it could be worse. Hang in there to all of you.

49 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-06-12 20:23:07

Question/Comment:

I have been on Prednisone for over 25 yrs..high doses at times..
but past several yrs..have been on 5mg for maintenance of
allergies, asthma/chronic bronchitis, arthritis and osteoporosis'...tried many times to go
down and get off it..but to no avail...I also take other drugs for
the conditions.. Possible side affects I have from it ....
have had two cataract surgeries w/ lens implants..skin is
very thin..osteoporosis..which I take Boniva for and has
improved and insomnia...Sleeping is my biggest problem..
whether it comes from that or not...do not know...I continue to
take the Prednisone..to have a decent quality of life..it enables
me to live with my health problems and if it shortens my life..
at least I can say , I had a decent one....

75 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-04-12 08:55:28

Member Answer/Reply:

I was told to take prednisone as early in the day to help avoid sleep problems, if i take it at night, it can keep me up all night. also, excercise helps.

Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-05-04 22:14:28

Question/Comment:

I have been on Prednisone for a year now, ever since I was hospitalized and diagnosed with Lupus and Rhuemetoid Arthritis. Started at 40mg and my doctor has been tapering me down in hopes to avoid long term use. Although the drug has been a life saver I have definitely experienced some serious side effects including
1. very bad weight gain that is extremely difficult to control (family and friends say I look unrecognizable since going on the med)
2. Serious sleeping problems that vary from not sleeping at all to sleeping 20 hours a day (I have no control over when I fall asleep or wake up, or for how long I am asleep)
3. Mood problems including worsened depression, angry outbursts, easily aggrevated sometimes for no reason (have lost many friends because of this and family sometimes avoids me, I am very hard to be around.
4. Mental confusion and memory problems (much more forgetful, can't remember important things, have trouble retaining new information at work and in personal life, sometimes get confused when I'm in the middle of talking or doing something and have to stop to get my thoughts together)
5. Skin sensitivity and easily bruise
6. Hair loss on my head, hair growth in other undesired areas,

and many more, these are just the more severe side effects I've experienced. This is only after a year of use, I am only 32 yrs old so definitely worried about the long term side effects.

32 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-04-05 06:14:11

Question/Comment:

I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis and started taking 60mg/day of prednisone. The side effects were quite tough, the worst of which was weight gain. I am now down to 2.5mg/day. I gained about 15kg at the max. I began an active exercise campaign, which was very difficult at the beginning, but it helped significantly reduce the weight gain and other side effects. I was very weak and feeling poor, the exercise was probably jsut as instrumental as the predisone in improving my wellbeing.

26 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-03-31 07:31:25

Return to main medication page Page 1 of 4

You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.

Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.

Your Comments or Questions:

Simply type the text you wish to publish and click submit. Please confine comments to those that may be useful to other patients.

characters remaining

DISCLAIMER: iGuard is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. iGuard cannot and does not take into consideration every possible interaction or account for individual responses to medicine. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have before making any changes to your treatment. The use of the iGuard site and its content is at your own risk. The iGuard site and the information contained in it is intended for users in the United States and information in other countries may be different.

HACKER SAFE certified sites prevent over 99.9% of hacker crime.
Bookmark and Share