How fast does prednisone take effect

One day, I had this random strange rash that turned out to be a bleeding disorder. My immune system was attacking my own blood cells, called platelets, and killing them.

That meant I could bleed to death. It was terrible! I gotta be their mommy. So I took my first dose of prednisone that night, right after I got diagnosed with ITP , my bleeding disorder. Then they checked my blood the next morning. Then they checked it the next night , the following morning , and the next morning. I was thrilled! I can help my kids get their Halloween costumes on and be home to Trick-or-Treat.

So for me, just that one huge first dose was enough to make the prednisone start to work. Prednisone worked after just one dose for me. My story showed that 1 the diagnosis of ITP responded quickly, and 2 the dose was high enough to work quickly. We will go into these two vital factors in more depth next. Every person has a unique diagnosis, condition, or disease that requires a different level of treatment.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of prednisone in children. However, pediatric patients are more likely to have slower growth and bone problems if prednisone is used for a long time.

Recommended doses should not be exceeded, and the patient should be carefully monitored during therapy. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of prednisone in the elderly.

However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for elderly patients receiving prednisone.

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur.

In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below.

The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine.

Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance for unwanted effects. Measure the oral liquid with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.

Measure the concentrated liquid with the special oral dropper that comes with the package. If you use this medicine for a long time, do not suddenly stop using it without checking first with your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine.

If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. This dosage may then be reduced to 80 mg once per day every other day for one month. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.

If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. What to do if you miss a dose: If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. How to tell if the drug is working: You should experience less pain and swelling.

There are also other signs that show that prednisone is effective, depending on the condition being treated. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about whether this medication is working. Your doctor may do tests to check your health and make sure the drug is working and is safe for you. These tests may include:. Steroids such as prednisone change the amount of water and salts in your body.

In large doses, prednisone can cause your body to retain salt or lose potassium. Your doctor may recommend changes to your diet to manage this side effect. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk with your doctor about other drug options that may work for you.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date.

However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication.

The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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