Prednisoneis a commonly prescribedcorticosteroid(steroid) medication.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this drug to treat inflammation-related conditions.
Johner Images / Getty Images
How Quickly Does Prednisone Start to Work?
Johner Images / Getty Images
Prednisone is commonly prescribed in its immediate-release formulation.
Prednisone is also available in a delayed-release formulation under the brand nameRayos.
While many medications have standard dosing guidelines, prednisone dosing will be individualized.
How Long Does Prednisone Last?
Thehalf-lifeof a drug is the amount of time it takes for half of a drug to leave your body.
After the last dose, prednisone takes about five half-lives to leave your body.
This means the drug would leave your body between 10 to 20 hours after you take your last dose.
What Is Prednisone Used For?
Prednisone belongs to the corticosteroid drug class, often referred to as steroids.
Rather, corticosteroids are similar to hormones that your adrenal glands make.
They work by reducing inflammation.
They may then instruct you to taper to a lower dose slowly before stopping the medication.
This helps avoid adrenal gland problems.
Some individuals may be prescribed a high dose for several days without a taper.
Yet others may take a low dose daily to keep symptoms of a chronic condition at bay.
Rayos tablets should not be chewed, broken, or divided.
These are general guidelines, and your healthcare provider will discuss your dosing schedule with when prescribing prednisone.
What Precautions Are There for Prednisone?
Prednisone is not appropriate for everyone.
If you use prednisone, you will be closely monitored.
Before you take prednisone, discuss potential side effects with your healthcare provider.
Common side effects include:
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects.
Call911if your symptoms feel life-threatening, or you think you have a medical emergency.
Report Side Effects
Prednisone may cause other side effects.
Call your healthcare provider if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
For instance, some individuals may need to eat less salt, while other need more potassium and calcium.
While taking prednisone, do not start any new medications without approval from your healthcare provider.
Some drug interactions include:
This is not a complete list of interactions.
Consult your healthcare provider for more information about interactions and how they may affect you.
Summary
Prednisone is a corticosteroid, or steroid, medication prescribed for various conditions that cause inflammation.
It has many potential side effects.
Some can be very serious, especially with long-term use.
Healthcare providers prescribe prednisone at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time to minimize complication risks.
Generally, prednisone starts working quickly.
However, the expected results may vary based on the pop in and severity of the condition.
Consult with your healthcare provider regarding how prednisone can affect you.
Corticosteroids like prednisone are chemically similar to cortisol, a natural hormone in the body that reduces inflammation.
They work by reducing inflammation and immune system activity.
National Library of Medicine.Prednisone.
Prescribers Digital Reference.Prednisone: Drug summary.
National Library of Medicine.Rayos - prednisone tablet, delayed release.
National Library of Medicine.Steroids.
National Library of Medicine.Prednisone tablet.
2016 Jul;22(7):833-47. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2016.22.7.833.
Pereira RM, Freire de Carvalho J.Glucocorticoid-induced myopathy.Joint Bone Spine.
2013;9(1):30. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-9-30
