Prednisone may cause what is known as tachycardia, or a rapid heart rate over 100 beats per minute. In clinical studies, other possible adverse cardiovascular effects reported were: Cardiac arrhythmias. Bradycardia (slowed heart rate)
Talk to your doctor right away if you have more than one of these symptoms while you are using this medicine: blurred vision, dizziness or fainting, a fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat, increased thirst or urination, irritability, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
Prednisone can raise sodium levels, causing fluid to build up in your body. This fluid retention results in swelling that you may notice in your hands, ankles, and feet. Fluid retention can also raise your blood pressure, putting strain on your heart and possibly increasing your risk of heart palpitations.
Cardiac arrhythmias have been reported to occur in 1% to 82% of patients receiving high doses of corticosteroids. These adverse effects, which include atrial fibrillation/flutter, ventricular tachycardias and sinus bradycardia,5 are usually associated with the intravenous route of administration.
Prednisone stimulates receptors in your kidneys to retain excessive sodium and water. This increases the total volume of blood that is being pushed by the heart and thus raises blood pressure. Prednisone can also increase blood pressure through weight gain.
Prednisone can cause slowed heartbeats by decreasing levels of minerals that help regulate heart rhythm. The risk is greatest with IV prednisone, but it can also occur with long-term use of oral prednisone.
A 5-day course of prednisone can cause short-term side effects, including changes in mood, appetite, sleep, and energy. The severity of the side effects depends on the dose of prednisone. Low doses are less likely to cause adverse effects than high doses of prednisone.
Prednisone has a tendency to raise the level of glucose, or sugar, in the blood, which can cause increased body fat or diabetes in some people. It is important to avoid "simple" carbohydrates and concentrated sweets, such as cakes, pies, cookies, jams, honey, chips, breads, candy and other highly processed foods.
A gradual reduction in prednisone dosage gives your adrenal glands time to resume their usual function. The amount of time it takes to taper off prednisone depends on the disease being treated, the dose and duration of use, and other medical considerations. A full recovery can take a week to several months.
Common side effects of prednisone tend to be mild, especially with lower doses and short-term use. They may last a few days to a few weeks. If side effects persist or worsen, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Acute prednisone side effects
When starting a moderate or high dose of corticosteroids, such as prednisone, there are key symptoms to look out for. These can occur within days to weeks of starting the medication and may be cause for adjusting or even stopping the medication (with guidance from your doctor, of course).
Even if you have side effects from the medication, don't stop cold turkey or cut back the dose on your own if you've been on it more than a few weeks. You could go into steroid withdrawal, which can have severe symptoms. It's safer to taper off prednisone.
Steroid drugs, such as prednisone, work by lowering the activity of the immune system. The immune system is your body's defense system. Steroids work by slowing your body's response to disease or injury. Prednisone can help lower certain immune-related symptoms, including inflammation and swelling.
Tachycardia refers to a high resting heart rate. In adults, the heart usually beats between 60 and 100 times per minute. Doctors usually consider a heart rate of over 100 beats per minute to be too fast.
Prednisone generally works very quickly — usually within one to four days — if the prescribed dose is adequate to reduce your particular level of inflammation. Some people notice the effects of prednisone hours after taking the first dose.
Fluid retention can cause weight gain but as steroids are reduced, fluids will usually reduce as well, along with some of the weight gain. Drinking plenty of water and exercising can help with fluid retention.
Taking prednisone too late in the evening can cause sleeplessness and insomnia, too. Make sure you also take your dose of prednisone with food, and just FYI, grapefruit juice has no effect on prednisone. Prednisone has long-lasting effects and is usually prescribed once daily.
Getting plenty of rest is also essential. This can be difficult because prednisone can interfere with sleep. One way to cope is to improve your sleep hygiene. This includes avoiding food and electronics before bedtime and sleeping in a cool, dark room.
Short-term treatment (7–14 days) with oral prednisone is used for many acute inflammatory and allergic conditions.
When a person stops taking prednisone or other steroids abruptly, they may notice symptoms similar to adrenal insufficiency. These include lethargy, low appetite, weight loss, and a general feeling of being unwell. Prednisone is a corticosteroid that doctors prescribe to treat swelling and inflammation.
The cortisone may result in palpitations, hot flushes, insomnia, and mild mood disturbance. This usually resolves within 24 hours and no treatment is necessary.