What is Prednisone?Are you dreading the PRED?!It was the best of times, it was the worst of times – if you know, then you have most certainly been prescribed the steroid, Prednisone before. Prednisone is a steroid, from the drug class of glucocorticoids, that is used to help decrease inflammation for many conditions like arthritis, rashes, and autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Prednisone is systemic which means that it works on the entire body and is not just limited to the gastrointestinal tract. Prednisone is known to be extremely helpful in lowering inflammation in the body, and provide side effects to the brain, bones, skin, muscles, and other organs. When are steroids used?Note: When in a flare, your doctor may prescribe a steroid alongside other maintenance medications to reduce the inflammation. But, you can’t keep returning to steroids every time you flare. If you are receiving steroid prescriptions more than 2-3 times per year or becoming steroid dependent, a conversation with your doctor about stepping up therapy and using more potent drugs is appropriate. Sometimes even surgery is considered a better option than staying on steroids too long. Short term side effects can include:If on steroids longer than 6 weeks, additional symptoms […]
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