Prednisone Side Effects

For the Consumer

Applies to prednisone: oral solution, oral tablet, oral tablet delayed release

Side effects requiring immediate medical attention

Along with its needed effects, prednisone may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking prednisone:

More common

Aggression

agitation

blurred vision

decrease in the amount of urine

dizziness

fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

headache

irritability

mood changes

noisy, rattling breathing

numbness or tingling in the arms or legs

pounding in the ears

shortness of breath

swelling of the fingers, hands, feet, or lower legs

trouble thinking, speaking, or walking

troubled breathing at rest

weight gain

Incidence not known

Abdominal or stomach cramping or burning (severe)

abdominal or stomach pain

backache

bloody, black, or tarry stools

cough or hoarseness

darkening of the skin

decrease in height

decreased vision

diarrhea

dry mouth

eye pain

eye tearing

facial hair growth in females

fainting

fever or chills

flushed, dry skin

fractures

fruit-like breath odor

full or round face, neck, or trunk

heartburn or indigestion (severe and continuous)

increased hunger

increased thirst

increased urination

loss of appetite

loss of sexual desire or ability

lower back or side pain

menstrual irregularities

muscle pain or tenderness

muscle wasting or weakness

nausea

pain in the back, ribs, arms, or legs

painful or difficult urination

skin rash

sweating

trouble healing

trouble sleeping

unexplained weight loss

unusual tiredness or weakness

vision changes

vomiting

vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds

Side effects not requiring immediate medical attention

Some side effects of prednisone may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Increased appetite

Incidence not known

Abnormal fat deposits on the face, neck, and trunk

acne

dry scalp

lightening of normal skin color

red face

reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin

swelling of the stomach area

thinning of the scalp hair

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to prednisone: compounding powder, oral delayed release tablet, oral solution, oral tablet

General

The most commonly reported adverse effects associated with corticosteroid use include fluid retention, alteration in glucose tolerance, high blood pressure, behavior and mood changes, increased appetite and weight gain. Occurrence is often associated with dose and duration of therapy; long-term effects include HPA suppression, Cushingoid appearance, cataracts and increased intraocular pressure/glaucoma, osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures.[Ref]

Metabolic

Frequency not reported: Decreased carbohydrate and glucose tolerance, increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetics, lipid abnormal, negative nitrogen balance caused by protein catabolism, hypokalemia, hypokalemic alkalosis, metabolic alkalosis, potassium loss, sodium retention with resulting edema, increased appetite and weight gain, anorexia and weight loss, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Frequency not reported: Bradycardia, cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac enlargement, circulatory collapse, congestive heart failure, ECG changes caused by potassium deficiency, edema, fat embolism, hypotension, hypertension or aggravation of hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in premature infants, myocardial rupture following recent myocardial infarction, necrotizing angiitis, syncope, tachycardia, thromboembolism, thrombophlebitis, vasculitis[Ref]

Endocrine

Frequency not reported: Adrenal insufficiency associated symptoms including arthralgias, buffalo hump, amenorrhea, postmenopausal bleeding or menstrual irregularities, development of cushingoid state, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, moon face, secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness (particularly in times of stress as in trauma, surgery, or illness), increased or decreased motility and number of spermatozoa[Ref]

Ocular

Frequency not reported: Blurred vision, cataracts (including posterior subcapsular cataracts) central serous chorioretinopathy, secondary bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, exophthalmos, glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Frequency not reported: Abdominal distention, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gastric irritation, nausea, oropharyngeal candidiasis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage, perforation of the small and large intestine (particularly in patients with inflammatory bowel disease), ulcerative esophagitis, vomiting[Ref]

Immunologic

Frequency not reported: Immunosuppression, aggravation/masking of infections, decreased resistance to infection[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Frequency not reported: Arthralgia, aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads, increased risk of fracture, loss of muscle mass, muscle weakness, myalgias, osteopenia, osteoporosis, pathologic fracture of long bones, steroid myopathy, tendon rupture (particularly of the Achilles tendon), vertebral compression fractures, suppression of growth in pediatric patients[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Frequency not reported: Anaphylaxis, angioedema, allergic reactions[Ref]

Nervous system

Frequency not reported: Arachnoiditis, benign intracranial hypertension, convulsions, dementia, dizziness, EEG abnormalities, impaired cognition, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema, increased motor activity, ischemic neuropathy, severe tiredness or weakness, meningitis, neuritis, neuropathy, paraparesis/paraplegia, sensory disturbances[Ref]

Psychiatric

Frequency not reported: Amnesia, anxiety, delirium, depression, emotional instability and irritability, euphoria, hallucinations, severe psychiatric symptoms, insomnia, long-term memory loss, mania, mood swings, neuritis, neuropathy, paresthesia, personality changes, psychiatric disorders including steroid psychoses or aggravation of preexisting psychiatric conditions, restlessness, schizophrenia, verbal memory loss, withdrawn behavior[Ref]

Hematologic

Frequency not reported: Anemia, neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, moderate leukocytosis, lymphopenia, eosinopenia, polycythemia[Ref]

Dermatologic

Frequency not reported: Acne, acneiform eruptions, allergic dermatitis, alopecia, angioedema, angioneurotic edema, atrophy and thinning of skin, dry scaly skin, ecchymosis and petechiae (bruising), erythema, facial edema, hirsutism, impaired wound healing, increased sweating, lupus erythematosus-like lesions, perineal irritation, purpura, rash, striae, subcutaneous fat atrophy, suppression of reactions to skin tests, telangiectasis, thin fragile skin, thinning scalp hair, urticaria, hypertrichosis[Ref]

Hepatic

Frequency not reported: ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatase elevations (usually reversible upon discontinuation), hepatomegaly[Ref]

Respiratory

Frequency not reported: Hiccups, pulmonary edema[Ref]

Oncologic

Frequency not reported: Kaposi's sarcoma[Ref]

Other

Frequency not reported: Vertigo, pyrexia, abnormal fat deposits, malaise[Ref]

References 1. "Product Information. Rayos (predniSONE)." Horizon Pharma USA Inc, Northbrook, IL. 2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0 3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0 4. "Product Information. PredniSONE (predniSONE)." Watson Pharmaceuticals, Parsippany, NJ. 5. "Product Information. Deltasone (prednisone)." Pharmacia and Upjohn, Kalamazoo, MI.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Related questions

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