Prednisone Uses (Cont.)

How Does Prednisone Work?

Prednisone is part of a group of medications called glucocorticoids. These drugs are a type of corticosteroid, or "steroid" for short. Prednisone is similar to glucocorticoids that occur naturally in the body.
 
Although glucocorticoids have numerous effects in the body, they are used mostly for their anti-inflammatory or immune-suppressing properties. Prednisone works for most conditions by decreasing inflammation or suppressing an overactive immune system.
 
When prednisone is taken for more than a few weeks, the body becomes accustomed to it and begins to make less of its natural steroids. If prednisone is stopped too quickly, the body does not have time to adjust, and dangerous side effects can occur (see Prednisone Withdrawal).
 

Prednisone Uses in Children

Prednisone is often used to treat the above conditions in children. As an older medicine, it has not been thoroughly and systematically studied in children but has been used successfully in children for many years.
 

Off-Label Prednisone Uses

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend prednisone for treating something other than the conditions listed in this article. At this time, a few off-label prednisone uses include the treatment of the following conditions:
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;