Prednisone reactions can have serious side effects. Prednisone in one of the drugs and it is called as corticosteroids. It is used to release the substances in body which results in inflammation. It is also used to treat many other conditions like allergic disorders, skin conditions, arthritis, psoriasis, and breathing disorders. Any medicine would have some side effects that may be minor or serious. But some of the common prednisone reactions that lead to be bothered are difficult sleeping, feeling of whirling motion, increased appetite, increased sweating, indigestion, change in mood, and nervousness.
Some of the serious side effects of prednisone reactions are i) severe allergic reactions would include itching, breathing difficulties, and tightness in chest, swelling in mouth, face, lips and tongue. ii) loss in appetite, black and tarry stools iii) changes in menstrual periods iv) convulsions, depression, diarrhea, dizziness. v) Fever, discomfort in body, headache vi) increased eye pressure, pain in joints or muscles. Other prednisone reactions are muscle weakness, changes in personality, sore throat, puffing of face, vomiting, gain of weight unusually, swelling of feet or legs.
Prednisone reactions that results in fluid and electrolyte disturbances are Fluid retention, Sodium retention, Congestive heart failure, Loss of potassium, Hypokalemic alkalosis, and hypertension. Some of the Musculoskeletal prednisone reactions are Steroid myopathy, Fractures due to Vertebral compression, Muscle weakness, Osteoporosis, Loss of muscle mass, pathologic fracture in long bones and Aseptic necrosis of femoral and hemeral heads.
Other Gastrointestinal problems that occur due to prednisone reactions are as follows. i) Peptic ulcer along with perforation and hemorrhage, ii) Pancreatitis, iii) Distention in Abdomen iv) Esophagitis with Ulcer. Prednisone reactions in skin (Dermatologic reactions) are thin fragile skin, impaired wound healing, facial erythema, Petechiae and ecchymoses, increased sweating, suppression of reactions to skin test.
Neurological prednisone reactions are Convulsions, Increase in intracranial pressure along with papilledema, vertigo, and headache. Prednisone reactions in endocrine are i) Irregular menstrual periods, ii) Development of cushingoid state, iii) growth suppression among children, iv) Stress, surgery or illness sometimes results in lack of response in secondary adrenocortical and pituitary glands. Other prednisone reactions include reduction of carbohydrate tolerance, Manifestations in diabetes mellitus, in case of diabetics there occurs increase in requirement of insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents.
Ophthalmic prednisone reactions include Posterior subcapsular cataracts, Exophthalmos, increased intraocular pressure and glaucoma. Some of the metabolic effects of prednisone reactions are negative nitrogen balance that occurs due to protein catabolism. It also includes hypernatremia which is very rare, hypokalemia, retention of fluid, and increase in concentration in blood urea nitrogen. Glucocorticoids results in decrease of thyrotropin secretion.
Side effects of immunological prednisone reactions include impairment of cell-mediated immunity that results the patients to be susceptible to bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections. Other ocular side effects include increase in intraocular pressure, glaucoma, and posterior sub capsular cataracts. Prednisone reactions that lead to hematologic side effects include thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and changes in platelets which would result in thrombolic events.
A person with fungal infection in body is not recommended to take treatment thro' prednisone, because this may result in weakening of immune system that would easily make a person to get infected. Under pregnancy category, prednisone reactions pass into breast milk and thus might harm a nursing baby.