Prednicen-M

Prednisone is a prescription medication used to treat many conditions including:

• low corticosteroid levels (adrenal insufficiency)
• certain types of arthritis
• allergic conditions
• multiple sclerosis
• lupus and other collagen diseases
• other diseases affecting the lungs, skin, eyes, kidneys, blood, thyroid, stomach, and intestines

Prednisone belongs to a group of drugs called corticosteroids, which replace steroids the body normally makes, leading to overall reduction of inflammation and of the immune system.

This medication comes in tablet and oral solution forms and is usually taken one to four times a day or every other day, with food or milk.

Common side effects of prednisone include headache, dizziness, and difficulty falling asleep.  Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how prednisone will affect you.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• amphotericin B (Ambisome and Amphotec)
• potassium depleting diuretics such as acetazolamide (Diamox) and methazolamide (Neptazane)
• anticholinesterases such as neostigmine (Prostigmin) and pyridostigmine (Mestinon)
• warfarin (Coumadin)
• medications to treat diabetes
• isoniazid
• bupropion (Zyban and Wellbutrin)
• cholestyramine (Prevalite)
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• estrogens and oral contraceptives
• fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and levofloxacin (Levaquin)
• barbituates such as phenobarbital (Donnatal)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol, Equetro, Teril, Epitol)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• ritonavir (Norvir)
• indinavir (Crixivan)
• macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin and azithromycin (Zithromax)
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil) and aspirin (Ecotrin)
• quetiapine (Seroquel)
• thalidomide (Thalomid)
• vaccines

This is not a complete list of prednisone drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with prednisone including:

• Hypersensitivity reaction:  Prednisone may trigger an allergic response.  Symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction include:

  • hives
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • swelling
  • rash
  • itching

• Cardiac and renal problems: Prednisone can increase blood pressure, cause water and sodium retention, and increase potassium and calcium excretion. Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart or kidney disease.

• Corticosteroid deficiency after drug withdrawal: Once you stop taking prednisone, your body’s ability to produce certain steroid hormones may be impaired.

• Immunosuppression: Prednisone decreases your body’s immune response to infections. In addition, prednisone can increase sensitivity to vaccines since the immune response is reduced with prednisone use.

• Reactivation of tuberculosis: Tell your doctor if you have had tuberculosis.

• Ophthalmic (eye) problems: Prednisone can lead to cataracts and glaucoma.

• Perforation of the gastrointestinal tract:  Prednisone can cause holes in the stomach or intestinal lining.  Tell your doctor if you have a history of ulcers or other digestive system problems.

• Decreased bone formation:  Prednisone can prevent the formation of bones, which may result in decreased bone density and osteoporosis.

Prednisone can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how prednisone affects you.

Do not take prednisone if you:

• have a fungal infection
• are allergic to prednisone

Before taking prednisone, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• have thyroid, liver, kidney, or heart disease
• have recently experienced an infection (bacterial, viral, or fungal)
• have recently had or will have a surgical procedure
• have an autoimmune disease like HIV/AIDS
• have had an allergic reaction to prednisone
• have had tuberculosis
• have osteoporosis
• plan to receive a vaccination
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if prednisone will harm your unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

You should not take prednisone if you are breastfeeding unless instructed otherwise. It may be excreted in your breast milk and may harm your nursing child.