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Ok, I got this information from (remember, plagiarism is not cool, I'm an English teacher, so I know :o) ):  Prednisone Frequently Asked Questions

By Amber J. Tresca, About.com, http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/prednisone/a/prednisonefaq.htm

Updated: March 7, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Kate Grossman, MD

What is prednisone?

 

 

Prednisone is a coticosteroid drug. It closely resembles a substance made by the adrenal glands. Steroids made by the human body work to reduce inflammation and to regulate the intake of salt. More steroids are produced by the body when it is stressed, such as with an illness.

 

 

How is prednisone taken?

 

 

Prednisone should be taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor. A physical will tailor the dosage to the needs of each individual patient. In order for prednisone to have the desired effect on the body, it must be taken at certain regular intervals. DO NOT stop taking prednisone suddenly. Prednisone is a drug that must be tapered slowly.

It is best to take prednisone with a meal or a snack to avoid stomach upset.

 

 

Why is prednisone prescribed?

 

 

Prednisone may be prescribed for many conditions including inflammatory bowel disease, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

 

 

What do I do if I miss a dose?

 

 

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If your next dose should be taken soon, just take that dose. Don't double up, or take more than one dose at a time.

 

 

Who should not take prednisone?

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any of the following conditions:

Tuberculosis (active or inactive) Herpes infection of eyes, lips, or genitals Severe depression High blood pressure Currently pregnant

 

 

What are the side effects?

 

 

Other side effects can include increased appetite, weight gain, hair growth, acne, mood changes and difficulty sleeping. See the prednisone side effects page for a complete list.

Serious side effects of prednisone include cataracts, glaucoma, osteoporosis, and bone damage in hips. These side effects are permanent and occur only after long-term use.

 

 

What medications can prednisone interact with?

Prednisone may interact with the following medications:

Anticoagulants Barbiturates Cholestyramine (Questran) Chronic high dose aspirin Ephedrine (found in cold medications) Ketoconazole Phenobarbital Phenytoin Rifampin Troleandomycin

 

Is prednisone safe during pregnancy?

 

 

The FDA has classified prednisone as a type C drug. This means that it is not known what effect pregnancy will have on an unborn baby. Notify the prescribing doctor if you become pregnant while taking prednisone. Prednisone does pass into breast milk, and could affect a nursing infant.

 

 

How long can prednisone be taken safely?

 

 

In most cases, it is advisable to taper off prednisone as soon as symptoms subside.

I hope this formatting doesn't change like in the other article!  Ugh, annoying!  I got this info from the following website:  Side Effects - Prednisone

By Amber J. Tresca, About.com, http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/prescriptiondrugs/p/medprednisone.htm

Updated: April 23, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Kate Grossman, MD

 

 

Common Side Effects:

Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

increased appetite indigestion nervousness or restlessness Less frequent or rare:

Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

darkening or lightening of skin color dizziness or lightheadedness flushing of face or cheeks hiccups increased sweating sensation of spinning Always Notify Doctor:

Less common

Decreased or blurred vision frequent urination increased thirst

 

Rare

confusion excitement false sense of well-being hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there) mental depression mistaken feelings of self-importance or being mistreated mood swings (sudden and wide) restlessness skin rash or hives

 

Additional effects:

Side Effects that may occur when this drug is used for a prolonged period of time. Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects occur:

abdominal or stomach pain or burning (continuing) acne bloody or black, tarry stools changes in vision eye pain filling or rounding out of the face headache irregular heartbeat menstrual problems muscle cramps or pain muscle weakness nausea pain in arms, back, hips, legs, ribs, or shoulders reddish purple lines on arms, face, groin, legs, or trunk redness of eyes sensitivity of eyes to light stunting of growth (in children) swelling of feet or lower legs tearing of eyes thin, shiny skin trouble in sleeping unusual bruising unusual increase in hair growth unusual tiredness or weakness vomiting weight gain (rapid) wounds that will not heal

 

Other Notes

Corticosteroids may lower your resistance to infections. Any infection you get may be harder to treat. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any possible signs of an infection, such as sore throat, fever, sneezing, or coughing.

After stopping this medicine, a body may need time to adjust. The length of time this takes depends on the amount of prednisone taken, and how long it was used. After large doses of this medicine for a long time, it may take up to one year to adjust. During this time, check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

abdominal, stomach, or back pain dizziness fainting fever loss of appetite (continuing) muscle or joint pain nausea reappearance of disease symptoms shortness of breath unexplained headaches (frequent or continuing) unusual tiredness or weakness vomiting weight loss (rapid)

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. This information is meant only as a guideline - always consult a physician or pharmacist for complete information about prescription medications.

  

Site Name:  Drugs.com

Site Address:  http://www.drugs.com/prednisone.html

Date Accessed:  July 3, 2008

Author:  Sorry, I couldn't find his/her name. :o(

Prednisone

Generic Name: predniSONE (PRED ni sone) I found this information on the following website--no plagiarism here buddy! 

 

 

Brand Names: Meticorten, Sterapred, Sterapred DS

What is prednisone?

Feedback for Prednisone

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Prednisone is in a class of drugs called steroids. Prednisone prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.

Prednisone is used to treat many different conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or breathing disorders.

Prednisone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about prednisoneYou should not use this medication if you are allergic to prednisone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

Before taking prednisone, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, and about all other medicines you are using. There are many other diseases that can be affected by steroid use, and many other medicines that can interact with steroids.

Your steroid medication needs may change if you have any unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you during treatment.

Prednisone can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have or have recently had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medication.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are taking prednisone. Vaccines may not work as well while you are taking a steroid.

Do not stop using prednisone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping prednisone. Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking a steroid, in case of emergency. Before taking prednisoneYou should not use this medication if you are allergic to prednisone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

Prednisone can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Steroids can also worsen an infection you already have, or reactivate an infection you recently had. Before taking prednisone, tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.

Other medical conditions you should tell your doctor about before taking prednisone include:

liver disease (such as cirrhosis);

kidney disease;

a thyroid disorder;

diabetes;

a history of malaria;

tuberculosis;

osteoporosis;

a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis;

glaucoma or cataracts;

herpes infection of the eyes;

stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis;

depression or mental illness;

congestive heart failure; or

high blood pressure

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take prednisone.

FDA pregnancy category C. Prednisone may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Prednisone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use prednisone without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Steroids can affect growth in children. Talk with your doctor if you think your child is not growing at a normal rate while using prednisone.

How should I take prednisone?

Take prednisone exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from prednisone.

Your steroid medication needs may change if you have unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you.

Measure the liquid form of prednisone with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

prednisone can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using prednisone.

Do not stop using prednisone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping prednisone . Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking a steroid, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are taking steroid medication. Store prednisone at room temperature away from moisture and heat. What happens if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, contact your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

What happens if I overdose?Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.

A single large dose of prednisone is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms. However, long-term use of high steroid doses can lead to symptoms such as thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.

What should I avoid while taking prednisone?

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medication.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with prednisone. Vaccines may not work as well while you are taking a steroid.

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking prednisone. Prednisone side effectsGet emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

problems with your vision;

swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath;

severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions);

bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood;

pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate);

low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or

dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Less serious side effects may include:

sleep problems (insomnia), mood changes;

acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration;

slow wound healing;

increased sweating;

headache, dizziness, spinning sensation;

nausea, stomach pain, bloating; or

changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect prednisone?

There are many other medicines that can interact with steroids. Below is only a partial list of these medicines:

aspirin (taken on a daily basis or at high doses);

a diuretic (water pill);

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);

insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth;

antibiotics such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane), or troleandomycin (Tao); or

seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with prednisone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?Your pharmacist can provide more information about prednisone. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use prednisone only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. 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. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Copyright 1996-2008 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.05. Revision Date: 02/09/2008 7:57:19 PM.