What is Prednisone?
Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that decreases inflammation and suppresses the immune system. It is used for many purposes including relapses in MS; for rheumatic disorders; neoplasms; collagen diseases. Prednisone is activated by the liver into prednisolone.
Reported Side Effects
Side effects
as an overall problem
Commonly reported side effects, conditions, and hospitalizations associated with Prednisone
|
Weight gain
|
139 |
|
|
Increased appetite
|
60 |
|
|
Makes me very edgy
|
48 |
|
|
Facial swelling
|
42 |
|
|
Dry mouth (xerostomia)
|
41 |
|
|
Fatigue
|
34 |
|
|
Acne
|
31 |
|
|
Insomnia
|
31 |
|
|
Roid rage effects (steroids)
|
24 |
|
|
Elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
|
24 |
|
|
Loss of sense of taste
|
21 |
|
|
Mood swings
|
15 |
|
|
Depressed mood
|
10 |
|
|
Increased Hunger
|
9 |
|
|
Nausea
|
8 |
|
|
Osteoporosis
|
8 |
|
|
Fluid retention weight gain
|
8 |
|
|
Bruising
|
7 |
|
|
Anxious mood
|
7 |
|
|
Edema (fluid retention)
|
7 |
|
|
Dizziness
|
6 |
|
|
Heart palpitations
|
6 |
|
|
Night sweats
|
6 |
|
|
Stomach pain
|
6 |
|
|
Tremor in hands
|
5 |
|
|
Headaches
|
5 |
|
|
Moon face
|
5 |
|
|
Sleeplessness
|
5 |
|
|
Hospitalization
|
5 |
|
|
Bloating
|
5 |
|
|
Osteopenia
|
5 |
|
|
Hair loss (alopecia)
|
5 |
|
|
Jittery feeling
|
5 |
|
|
Tiredness
|
4 |
|
|
Stomach upset
|
4 |
|
|
Muscle spasms
|
4 |
|
|
Joint pain
|
4 |
|
|
Constant hunger
|
4 |
|
|
Swelling in feet
|
4 |
|
|
Emotional lability
|
3 |
|
|
Increased energy
|
3 |
|
|
Avascular necrosis of hips
|
3 |
|
|
Mood changes
|
3 |
|
|
Cushing's Syndrome
|
3 |
|
|
Cataracts both eyes
|
3 |
|
|
Craving sweets sugar
|
3 |
|
|
Acid reflux
|
3 |
|
|
Hunger
|
3 |
|
|
Metallic taste in mouth
|
3 |
|
|
Yeast Infection (candida)
|
3 |
|
|
Anxiety and frustration
|
3 |
|
|
Diarrhea
|
3 |
|
|
Puffy face
|
3 |
|
|
Irritability
|
3 |
|
|
Urinary frequency
|
2 |
|
|
Constipation
|
2 |
|
|
Pain
|
2 |
|
|
Tremor
|
2 |
|
|
Ringing in ears (tinnitus)
|
2 |
|
|
Heartburn
|
2 |
|
|
Racing heart feeling
|
2 |
|
|
Hot flashes
|
2 |
|
|
Abdominal bloating
|
2 |
|
|
Oral thrush (candidiasis)
|
2 |
|
|
Bowel irritability
|
2 |
|
|
Sweating
|
2 |
|
|
Difficulty sleeping through night
|
2 |
|
|
Irritable and grouchy
|
2 |
|
|
Muscle spasms in hands
|
2 |
|
|
Euphoria
|
2 |
|
|
Shaky hands
|
2 |
|
|
Nightmares
|
2 |
|
|
Mania
|
2 |
|
|
Immune system weak
|
2 |
|
|
Heart rate increased
|
2 |
|
|
Nervousness
|
2 |
|
|
Nausea and vomiting
|
2 |
|
|
Swelling in ankle
|
2 |
|
|
Thirst
|
2 |
|
|
Digestive disturbances
|
2 |
|
|
Sleep problems
|
2 |
|
|
Moodiness
|
2 |
|
|
Bruising of legs
|
2 |
|
|
Swelling in legs, feet and ankles
|
2 |
|
|
Pain in feet
|
2 |
|
|
Bruise easily
|
2 |
|
|
Water retention
|
2 |
|
|
facial roundness
|
2 |
|
|
Spasms in feet
|
2 |
|
|
Cataracts from high dose prednisone
|
2 |
|
|
Anxiety attacks
|
2 |
|
|
I have gained 13 lbs while I was on prednisone and my face is big and very round. I cannot wait until this prednisone gets out of my system.
|
2 |
|
|
Pain in ankles
|
2 |
|
|
Hallucinations
|
2 |
|
|
Craving carbs
|
2 |
|
|
Joint Pain (hips, shoulders, knees)
|
2 |
|
|
Hair growth
|
2 |
|
|
Chipmunk Cheeks
|
2 |
|
|
Thinning of skin
|
2 |
|
|
Joint pain in hands
|
2 |
|
|
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
|
2 |
|
|
GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease)
|
2 |
|
|
Pancreatitis
|
2 |
|
|
Cataracts
|
2 |
|
|
Steroid-induced Diabetes Mellitus
|
2 |
|
|
Hospitalization
|
2 |
|
|
Restless feeling in legs
|
1 |
|
|
Pain in knees
|
1 |
|
|
Agitation with restlessness
|
1 |
|
|
Blush
|
1 |
|
|
Pain in back of head
|
1 |
|
|
Cramps in hands
|
1 |
|
|
Bruising of arms
|
1 |
|
|
Avascular necrosis of foot
|
1 |
|
|
Atrophy of calf muscles
|
1 |
|
|
Flu like symptoms
|
1 |
|
|
Head pain
|
1 |
|
|
Loss of sex drive (libido)
|
1 |
|
|
Eye pain
|
1 |
|
|
my feet feel like lead weights
|
1 |
|
|
Dark hair on legs and arms
|
1 |
|
|
Muscle weakness in legs
|
1 |
|
|
Stomach discomfort
|
1 |
|
|
Cheek fat increased
|
1 |
|
|
Emotional changes
|
1 |
|
|
Stretch marks
|
1 |
|
|
Restless arm
|
1 |
|
|
seems to affect memory, may be related to sedation
|
1 |
|
|
ear fullness
|
1 |
|
|
Double vision (diplopia)
|
1 |
|
|
Dry eyes
|
1 |
|
|
jump out of skin
|
1 |
|
|
Low bone mineral density
|
1 |
|
|
Muscle and joint pain
|
1 |
|
|
Rapid weight gain
|
1 |
|
|
Blood pressure raised dangerously high
|
1 |
|
|
Spaced out
|
1 |
|
|
Hair thinning
|
1 |
|
|
Stomach (gastric) ulcer pain
|
1 |
|
|
Major Depressive Disorder
|
1 |
|
|
Cognitive Confusion
|
1 |
|
|
Unable to eat
|
1 |
|
|
Unrefreshing or poor sleep
|
1 |
|
|
Feeling of insides shaking
|
1 |
|
|
Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual flow)
|
1 |
|
|
Puffy face in the morning
|
1 |
|
|
Absence of menstruation (amenorrhea)
|
1 |
|
|
Muscle aches
|
1 |
|
|
Spasms in left leg
|
1 |
|
|
Hyperactivity
|
1 |
|
|
Facial hair excessive
|
1 |
|
|
Diarrhea intermittent
|
1 |
|
|
Breathing difficulty
|
1 |
|
|
Blurry vision
|
1 |
|
|
Diabetes Type 2
|
1 |
|
|
Irregular menstrual periods
|
1 |
|
|
Chronic pain
|
1 |
|
|
feeling well, energetic!
|
1 |
|
|
Generalized muscle weakness
|
1 |
|
|
Overheated
|
1 |
|
|
mental side affects
|
1 |
|
|
Rib Injury
|
1 |
|
|
Light sensitivity (photophobia)
|
1 |
|
|
Flushed
|
1 |
|
|
Nosebleed(s)
|
1 |
|
|
Numbness and Tingling with Pins and Needles
|
1 |
|
|
Lack of sleep
|
1 |
|
|
Excessive perspiration (hyperhidrosis)
|
1 |
|
|
Sensitivity of teeth
|
1 |
|
|
Flat warts
|
1 |
|
|
Tingling Warm Feeling Inside
|
1 |
|
|
Skin Sensitivity
|
1 |
|
|
Brittle nails
|
1 |
|
|
Sex drive (libido) increased
|
1 |
|
|
Respiratory infections
|
1 |
|
|
Agitation with irritability
|
1 |
|
|
Shaking fingers
|
1 |
|
|
Broken Foot
|
1 |
|
|
Puffy ankles and feet
|
1 |
|
|
Itching (pruritus)
|
1 |
|
|
Joints ache (whole body)
|
1 |
|
|
Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
|
1 |
|
|
Excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence)
|
1 |
|
|
Increased urinary frequency
|
1 |
|
|
Numbness in bottom of feet
|
1 |
|
|
Joints ache
|
1 |
|
|
Crying at silly things (tv, movies)
|
1 |
|
|
Spasms in toes
|
1 |
|
|
Vertigo
|
1 |
|
|
Bone Pain
|
1 |
|
|
Skin thinning
|
1 |
|
|
Wheezing
|
1 |
|
|
Bowel problems
|
1 |
|
|
prednisone-induced insulin resistance
|
1 |
|
|
Swollen joints
|
1 |
|
|
Joint tenderness
|
1 |
|
|
High blood pressure increased
|
1 |
|
|
Hiccups (hiccoughs)
|
1 |
|
|
Foot drop
|
1 |
|
|
Migraine with aura
|
1 |
|
|
Bad mood
|
1 |
|
|
Hot and cold flashes
|
1 |
|
|
multiple infections
|
1 |
|
|
Diabetes Mellitus
|
1 |
|
|
Reactive hypoglycemia (postprandial)
|
1 |
|
|
Mood problem
|
1 |
|
|
Gastritis
|
1 |
|
|
Buffalo hump
|
1 |
|
|
Hypomania
|
1 |
|
|
Glaucoma (Both eyes)
|
1 |
|
|
optic nerve swelling
|
1 |
|
|
Chronic neck pain
|
1 |
|
|
Pain in all my joints,specialy, Pain in the shoulders, carpos, hips, MTCF, Knees, fingers and column
|
1 |
|
|
Head pain, migraines
|
1 |
|
|
Increased thirst
|
1 |
|
|
Primary Insomnia
|
1 |
|
|
Twitching
|
1 |
|
|
Heavy sweating anytime, day or night
|
1 |
|
|
Pain in upper right abdomen
|
1 |
|
|
I am stopping during a prednisone taper
|
1 |
|
|
Insomnia (less then 2 hours sleep)
|
1 |
|
|
Fluid retention in lower extremities
|
1 |
|
|
Asthma
|
1 |
|
|
Ascites
|
1 |
|
|
Redness in cheeks
|
1 |
|
|
Swelling of the body especially face
|
1 |
|
|
Excessive gas
|
1 |
|
|
DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
|
1 |
|
|
Unintentional weight loss
|
1 |
|
|
Swelling in stomach
|
1 |
|
|
very adjustated
|
1 |
|
|
Increased thirst for water
|
1 |
|
|
seizure like activity
|
1 |
|
|
Increased bruising
|
1 |
|
|
muscle growth
|
1 |
|
|
Calcium deficiency
|
1 |
|
|
Broken Shoulder
|
1 |
|
|
Breakout on skin with what looks like acne but painful to touch
|
1 |
|
|
Upper respiratory infection
|
1 |
|
|
Recurring Urinary Tract Infection UTI
|
1 |
|
|
Itchy skin
|
1 |
|
|
Mild Depression
|
1 |
|
|
Eczema
|
1 |
|
|
Infection
|
1 |
|
|
Blistering in mouth
|
1 |
|
|
Swelling in ankles
|
1 |
|
|
Swelling in knees
|
1 |
|
|
Cramps in calf muscles
|
1 |
|
|
Swollen veins (vasodilation)
|
1 |
|
|
Overstimulated
|
1 |
|
|
Headaches all day
|
1 |
|
|
Occasional weight gain
|
1 |
|
|
Bald patch (alopecia)
|
1 |
|
|
Hair on upper lip and chin
|
1 |
|
|
Craving nicotine
|
1 |
|
|
Joint pain in feet
|
1 |
|
|
Irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia)
|
1 |
|
|
Pain in lower back on right side
|
1 |
|
|
Rage
|
1 |
|
|
Suicidal
|
1 |
|
|
Fear
|
1 |
|
|
Pain in lower abdomen
|
1 |
|
|
Compression fracture in thoracic spine
|
1 |
|
|
Night cramps in legs and feet
|
1 |
|
|
Agitation
|
1 |
|
|
Sex drive (libido) decreased
|
1 |
|
|
Excessive anger
|
1 |
|
|
Compulsive behaviors
|
1 |
|
|
Muscle fatigue
|
1 |
|
|
Pain in lower back
|
1 |
|
|
Aching burning throbbing body pain
|
1 |
|
|
Lightheadedness
|
1 |
|
|
Muscle soreness
|
1 |
|
|
Tongue sores
|
1 |
|
|
Dizziness with hypotension upon standing
|
1 |
|
|
Feeling of heart pounding
|
1 |
|
|
Back pain
|
1 |
|
|
Indigestion
|
1 |
|
|
Arthritis pain
|
1 |
|
|
Anger
|
1 |
|
|
Psychotic symptoms (anxiety depression fear)
|
1 |
|
|
High Cholesterol
|
1 |
|
|
Facial flushing
|
1 |
|
|
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
|
1 |
|
|
Exhaustion
|
1 |
|
|
Abdominal fat increased
|
1 |
|
|
Blood Clot
|
1 |
|
|
Skin irritation
|
1 |
|
|
Bruiselike feeling under skin
|
1 |
|
|
Elevated blood pressure
|
1 |
|
|
Body Aches
|
1 |
|
|
Shakiness
|
1 |
|
|
See all
292 reported side effects
▼
See top
6 reported side effects
▲
|
Currently Taking Prednisone
A bar graph
Stopped Taking Prednisone
A bar graph
Adherence
Taking treatment as prescribed
Adherence of Prednisone
Always |
430
|
88%
|
|
Usually |
33
|
7%
|
|
Sometimes |
12
|
2%
|
|
Never |
16
|
3%
|
|
Burden
Difficulty being on treatment
Burden of Prednisone
Very |
49
|
10%
|
|
Somewhat |
60
|
12%
|
|
A little |
88
|
18%
|
|
Not at all |
294
|
60%
|
|
Cost
Paid out of pocket
Cost of Prednisone
$200+ |
3
|
1%
|
|
$100-199 |
3
|
1%
|
|
$50-99 |
9
|
3%
|
|
$25-49 |
14
|
5%
|
|
< $25 |
280
|
91%
|
|
See more information,
including instructions, precautions, side effects, and interactions.
Moderate
for Other
