An Introduction to Prednisone Withdrawal
Prednisone is a prescription medication used to treat a wide variety of conditions. It is part of a group of medications known as glucocorticoids, corticosteroids, or simply "steroids" for short. As with most steroids, stopping prednisone is not recommended without your healthcare provider's approval. Although prednisone is not addicting and is not likely to be abused, the body may need time to adjust when you stop taking prednisone.
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.
Prednisone Withdrawal Symptoms
Prednisone withdrawal symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
- A general ill feeling
- Muscle weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- A fever
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Dehydration
- Mental changes
- Muscle pain or joint pain
- Flaky or peeling skin
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of appetite.
Limiting Prednisone Withdrawal
In most cases, your healthcare provider will recommend that you stop taking prednisone slowly to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms. This is called a prednisone taper. In general, the longer you have been taking prednisone (and the higher your
prednisone dosage), the longer it takes to taper off prednisone. Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider before stopping prednisone. Also, let your healthcare provider know if you notice any bothersome symptoms after stopping prednisone.
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