Prednisone Oral Tablet

• Are the prednisone side effects for men different from the side effects for women?

• For the most part, the side effects of prednisone are the same for men as they are for women. This is because prednisone works the same way for both men and women, and it treats the same conditions. The only difference for men seems to be the impact it could have on the movement and number of sperm. There have been both positive and negative effects on these factors.

  It’s important to note that prednisone is not an anabolic steroid, the type of steroid that may be misused to build muscle. Anabolic steroids can have many other side effects that affect men only, such as decreased sperm count, shrunken testicles, and impotence. But this is not the case with prednisone.

  - The Healthline Medical Team
• Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Your doctor may do tests to check your health and make sure the drug is working and is safe for you. They may include:

• blood tests, such as tests to check your blood sugar levels. Prednisone can increase your blood sugar level and increase your risk of diabetes.
• bone density tests. Prednisone can increase your risk for bone loss and weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis).
• eye tests. Prednisone can increase pressure inside your eyes.

Prednisone oral tablet can cause a serious allergic reaction in some people. This reaction can cause a skin rash, which can include:

• one or more red patches of skin
• swelling
• itchiness

Other symptoms of an allergic reaction to prednisone could include trouble breathing as well as swelling of your face, tongue, or throat. Don’t take this drug if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal.

If you have a rash or other allergic symptoms after taking prednisone, call your doctor right away. If you’re having trouble breathing or think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Prednisone oral tablet can interact with other medications, herbs, or vitamins you might be taking. That’s why your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. You can reduce your chances of drug interactions by having all of your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy. That way, a pharmacist can also check for possible drug interactions.

Some of the drugs known to interact with prednisone include:

Mifepristone: Taking this drug with prednisone may prevent prednisone from working correctly. Avoid taking mifepristone if you’ve been taking prednisone regularly for a long time.

Bupropion: This drug may cause seizures when it’s used with prednisone.

Haloperidol: Taking this drug may cause heart rhythm problems when it’s used with prednisone.

Live vaccines: Taking prednisone lowers your immune system. If you receive a live vaccine while taking prednisone, your immune system might not be able to handle it properly. This may lead to an infection.

If you’re curious about how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.

If you stop taking prednisone oral tablet suddenly, you could experience withdrawal symptoms. This typically happens if you’ve taken the drug for longer than three weeks. However, it could happen even if you’ve taken it for a short time.

Symptoms of prednisone withdrawal can include:

• tiredness
• decreased appetite
• nausea and vomiting
• muscle pains
• joint pains
• malaise (overall discomfort and uneasiness)

Don’t stop taking prednisone without talking to your doctor first. They can help prevent withdrawal by slowly tapering you off of the drug. For more information, read this article on prednisone withdrawal.

This drug comes with warnings for certain people.

For people with infections: Taking prednisone lowers your immune system and can make an infection you already have worse. It also increases your risk for coming down with a new infection.

For people with heart or kidney disease: Prednisone may make you retain salt and water, which can raise your blood pressure.

For people with diabetes: Prednisone can increase your blood sugar level. You might need to monitor your blood sugar level more closely. If it goes up too much, your dosage of diabetes medication might need to be changed.

For pregnant women: The delayed-release tablet (Rayos) is a category D pregnancy drug. That means two things:

• Studies show a risk of adverse effects to the pregnancy when the mother takes the drug.
• This drug should only be used during pregnancy in serious cases where it's needed to treat a dangerous condition in the mother.

The immediate-release is a category C pregnancy drug. This means:

• Research in animals has shown harmful effects to the fetus when the mother takes the drug.
• There haven’t been enough studies done in humans to be certain how the drug might affect the pregnancy.

Prednisone should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk. Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

For women who are breastfeeding: Talk with your doctor before taking prednisone if you are breastfeeding. Prednisone can be passed through breast milk. High doses of prednisone can interfere with your child’s growth and development.

For seniors: As you age, your kidneys, liver, and heart may not work as well. Prednisone is processed in your liver and removed from your body through your kidneys. It makes these organs work extra hard. If you’re an older adult, you may be started on a low dose that is increased slowly.

For children: Children might not grow as tall if they take prednisone for several months. Your child’s doctor should monitor your child’s growth rate.