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.
Things to avoid (or cut back on) while taking prednisone include: Caffeine: Caffeine can add to the unwanted stimulant effects of prednisone. Combining caffeine with steroids can keep you awake at night or make you feel jittery and anxious.
Also, increase your intake of low-fat foods that have high calcium levels. Some of these include corn, sardines, almonds, broccoli, milk, yogurt, cheese, tofu, cooked soybeans, boiled white beans, and salmon.
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.
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.
Avoid stimulants, such as caffeine, because these can worsen insomnia, a side effect of prednisone.
Eat a well-balanced diet including 2 rich sources of potassium daily, such as orange juice, apricots, banana, cantaloupe, baked potatoes and tomatoes. Do not take potassium supplements unless prescribed by your physician.
Therefore, for most people on this medication, a high protein diet is beneficial. As well, these protein losses may be compounded by the additional loss of protein during active Crohn's or ulcerative colitis. Sources of high protein include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and cheese.
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.
The dose of prednisolone you'll take depends on your health problem and whether you are taking it as a short course or for longer. The usual dose varies between 5mg and 60mg daily but occasionally higher doses may be prescribed. The strength of tablets range from 1mg to 25mg.
Prednisone is a steroid medication that can cause side effects, including insomnia. People taking this medication may have difficulty falling asleep or stay awake through the night. The mechanisms by which prednisone disrupts sleep are not entirely clear.
Official answer. You could expect a dose of prednisone to stay in your system for 16.5 to 22 hours. The elimination half life of prednisone is around 3 to 4 hours.
Official answer. There is no set limit on how long you can safely take prednisone.
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.
The higher the dose and the longer the duration of treatment, the more likely you are to put on weight. You can control fluid retention by eating a diet low in sodium and eating more foods that contain potassium such as bananas, apricots, and dates.
You can usually drink alcohol while taking steroid tablets, but do not drink too much as this may irritate your stomach. You can also eat most foods while taking steroid tablets. Do not eat liquorice while taking prednisolone, however, as this can increase the amount of the medicine in your body.
Steroids may increase your risk of developing ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding, especially if you take these medications along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or aspirin. If at all possible, don't combine steroids with NSAIDs.
If symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever or unusual digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation) occur during corticosteroid therapy, notify your physician.
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.
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.
It's best to limit or avoid alcohol if you're taking prednisone or other oral steroids. Oral steroids include tablets, pills, or liquid that you take by mouth. Alcohol can increase your chances of experiencing side effects from prednisone. It may also worsen the condition you're treating.
Mental health issues start within 3 to 4 days after starting prednisone therapy, but they can occur at any time. Some people continue to have symptoms, including depression, even after therapy stops.
Take this medicine with food or milk to avoid stomach irritation. Swallow the delayed-release tablet whole.