Side Effects of Prolonged Prednisone Use

Prednisone is a corticosteroid commonly used to treat a broad range of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Although it is often a rapid and effective treatment option, many patients experience side effects from prolonged use of Prednisone, including osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and vision problems. Some of these side effects can be managed with lifestyle and medication choices.

Function

Prednisone is the generic name of a type of medicinal steroid called corticosteroids. It is used to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, often for prolonged periods of time ranging from months to years. Prednisone is highly effective at reducing inflammation and suppressing the immune system in most patients, and usually provides quick results. Because of its value in treating a wide range of diseases, Prednisone is a fairly common prescription, but it is also well-known for its numerous side effects.

Side Effects

Like many prescription medications, Prednisone produces side effects in many patients who take it. However, prolonged use of Prednisone can lead to serious side effects that do not disappear when the medication is discontinued. Prolonged Prednisone use may lead to osteoporosis, visual problems such as cataracts or glaucoma, glucose intolerance or diabetes, or high blood pressure. A combination of symptoms often seen as short-term side effects, including muscle weakness, "moon-face," weight gain, bruising easily, and abdominal striae (or stripes), can appear together as Cushing's syndrome in patients using Prednisone for a long time. Prolonged use of Prednisone, especially by children, can result in stunted growth as well.

Time Frame

Because of the chronic nature of many of the medical conditions it is used to treat, it is often necessary to use Prednisone for prolonged periods of time. Some patients who do not respond to other treatments need steroid therapy for years. The side effects can worsen or become more numerous the longer the patient takes Prednisone for his condition. However, the effects can also continue to lessen gradually long after treatment has ended.

Prevention/Solution

Some of the side effects of prolonged Prednisone use can be offset with lifestyle choices or an effective medication schedule. A weight-bearing exercise program can help minimize osteoporosis, glucose intolerance and high blood pressure problems. A low carbohydrate diet can also help keep glucose intolerance issues under control. Also, an alternate-day therapy schedule can offer the adrenal gland an opportunity to recover, which can lessen many of the effects of prolonged Prednisone use.

Considerations

Women tend to suffer more severe effects than men from prolonged use of Prednisone. The benefits and risks of long-term steroid therapy should be reevaluated often and in light of any changes in the patient's condition or any new treatment options. Prednisone is sometimes used in conjunction with complimentary treatments to reduce the overall use of the steroid.
Steroid use is measured cumulatively when considering the risk of prolonged effects. For example, a patient might have taken Prednisone for six months at three different times in a specific ten-year period. Doctors would consider that the patient in that case had taken Prednisone for eighteen months.