Prednisone
Report #7038
Cortisone-type drugs, such as prednisone, are the most effective treatment for many serious diseases that are associated with an overactive immunity: allergies such as asthma, skin conditions such as eczema, joint diseases such as some types of arthritis, intestinal diseases such as colitis and Crohn's disease, cancers, immune blood disorders, eye diseases, and so forth.
The most serious side effect from short-term use of prednisone is destruction of the hip bone. Since drinking alcohol increases risk for this condition, prednisone should not be prescribed for people who drink alcohol regularly. Another side effect from short-term use is belching and burning in the stomach which can be prevented by taking ulcer medications, such as omeperazole, with the prednisone.
Long term use of prednisone can stop your body from making prednisone-like hormones. If you are in an accident, you can go into shock and die, so you should wear a medical alert bracelet. All people who take prednisone for more than several months should take bone-strengthening drugs to prevent osteoporosis, a weakening of bones that causes them to break. Metformin (Glucophage) can be given to help prevent the weight gain caused by the prednisone. People who take prednisone should be familiar with the many other side effects, such as irregular periods, eye changes, muscle weakness, bleeding into the skin, and so forth, so they can report them to their doctors. In spite of these side effects, prednisone-type drugs remain the most effective treatment for many diseases and the only treatment for some.
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News
Checked 12/9/09