Side Effects of the Medical Steroid, Prednisone

Life Long Benefit and Life Long Effects

The glucocorticosteroid, prednisone, is a synthetic hormone similar to the adrenal hormone hydrocortisone (cortisol). It is sometimes referred to as a corticosteroid or as a cortisteroid. Prednisone is widely used in treatment of chronic conditions involving the immune system. Examples are arthritis, asthma, allergic reactions, bronchitis, systemic lupus and leukemias (www.medicinenet.com). 

    Prednisone, available in different registered, prescription brand names (Orasone, Deltasone, Meticorten, Sterapred) (,www.itzarion.com) is a man-made drug that mimics the natural corticosteroids produced in the body. Two functions of prednisone are to act as an anti-inflammatory and as an immunosuppressant (www.chemocare.com, www.itzarion.com). These are the two properties that makes prednisone useful in addressing various chronic diseases. 

    Prednisone must be administered very carefully, and more importantly, stopped very carefully because it causes the adrenal gland to atrophy and cease its natural functioning. Courses of treatment can be short term as for severe asthma or bronchitis, or long term as for lupus or psoriasis. The dose must be regulated, monitored and stopped with the utmost care. When stopping a course of prednisone, the dose must be tapered, slowly reduced by incremants, so that the adrenal glands can reactivate their normal function. Even after a course of prednisone is ended, care must be taken in highly stressful situations (trauma, going to the dentist, respiratory infection, etc.) and an individual may need an extra, short course of prednisone to help through the stressful situation (www.medicinenet.com).