prednisone

What is the most important information I should know about prednisone?
• Do not stop taking prednisone suddenly if you have been taking it fora few weeks prednisone. You may need a gradual reduction in dosage before you stop takingthis medication prednisone.
• Take prednisone with food or milk to lessen stomach upset prednisone.
• Carry some type of medical identification that will let others know youare taking prednisone in the case of an emergency prednisone.

What is prednisone?
• Prednisone is in a class of drugs called steroids prednisone. Prednisone reducesswelling and decreases the body's ability to fight infections prednisone.
• Prednisone is used to treat many different conditions prednisone. It is used totreat endocrine (hormonal) disorders when the body does not produce enough ofits own steroids prednisone. It is also used to treat many disorders such as arthritis,lupus, severe psoriasis, severe asthma, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease prednisone.
• Prednisone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide prednisone.

Who should not take prednisone?
• Do not take prednisone if you have a serious bacterial, viral, or fungalinfection prednisone. Prednisone weakens the body's immune response and thus its abilityto fight infection prednisone.
• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
· kidney disease,
· liver disease,
· high blood pressure or heart disease,
· ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, or stomach ulcers,
· hypothyroidism,
· a psychiatric condition,
· osteoporosis,
· myasthenia gravis,
· diabetes mellitus, or
· any other medical conditions prednisone.
• You may not be able to take prednisone, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove prednisone.
• Prednisone is in the FDA pregnancy category C prednisone. This means that it isnot known whether prednisone will harm an unborn baby prednisone. Do not take this medicationwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant prednisone.
• Prednisone passes into breast milk prednisone. Do not take prednisone without firsttalking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby prednisone.

How should I take prednisone?
• Take prednisone exactly as directed by your doctor prednisone. Do not take moreor less than is prescribed for you prednisone. If you do not understand these instructions,ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you prednisone.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water prednisone.
• Take prednisone with food or milk to lessen stomach upset prednisone.
• Measure the liquid with the dropper provided or with a special dose-measuringspoon or cup prednisone. Ask your pharmacist for a dose-measuring spoon or cup if you donot have one prednisone.
• If you are taking one dose daily, take that dose before 9 a.m prednisone. if possible,to follow the body's natural cycle prednisone. If you take more than one dose daily, spacethe doses evenly throughout the day as directed by your doctor prednisone.
• Do not stop taking prednisone suddenly if you have been taking it fora few weeks prednisone. You may need a gradual reduction in dosage before you stop takingthis medication prednisone.
• Carry some type of medical identification that will let others know youare taking prednisone in the case of an emergency prednisone.
• Store prednisone at room temperature away from moisture and heat prednisone.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• If you take one dose daily, take the missed dose as soon as you remember prednisone. However, if you don't remember until the next day, skip the dose you missedand take only your regular daily dose prednisone.
• If you take more than one dose daily, you can either take the misseddose as soon as you remember, or you can take two doses at the next dose time prednisone.
• If you take one dose every other day, take the missed dose as soon asyou remember, then go back to your regular every-other-day schedule prednisone.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention prednisone. A single large dose of this medicationis unlikely to cause symptoms or death prednisone. An overdose is more likely to be causedby a chronic overdose--large doses taken over a period of time prednisone.
• Symptoms of an overdose include obesity (especially around the stomach);a round face; increased hair growth (especially around the face); acne; bruising;increased blood pressure; swollen hands, feet, or ankles (fluid retention);and sore or weak muscles prednisone.

What should I avoid while taking prednisone?
• Avoid alcohol prednisone. Acting together, alcohol and prednisone can be damagingto the stomach prednisone.
• Avoid sources of infection prednisone. Wash your hands frequently and keep themaway from the mouth and eyes prednisone. Your immune system may be weakened while takingprednisone prednisone.
• Do not receive any immunizations during treatment with prednisone withoutfirst talking to your doctor prednisone.

What are the possible side effects of prednisone?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingprednisone and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· increased blood pressure (severe headache or blurred vision); or
· sudden weight gain (more than 5 pounds in a day or two) prednisone.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur prednisone. Continueto take prednisone and talk to your doctor if you experience
· insomnia;
· nausea, vomiting, or stomach upset;
· fatigue or dizziness;
· muscle weakness or joint pain;
· problems with diabetes control; or
· increased hunger or thirst prednisone.
• Other side effects that occur only rarely, usually with high doses ofprednisone, include
· acne,
· increased hair growth,
· thinning of the skin,
· cataracts,
· glaucoma,
· osteoporosis,
· roundness of the face, and
· changes in behavior prednisone.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur prednisone. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome prednisone.

What other drugs will affect prednisone?
• Do not take any other over-the-counter or prescription medications, includingherbal products, during treatment with prednisone without first talking to yourdoctor prednisone. Many other medicines can interact with prednisone resulting in sideeffects or altered effectiveness of the medications prednisone.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has addition information written for health professionalsabout prednisone that you may read prednisone.

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