Prednisone is a chemical (hormone) made by the human body, and is essential for life. Prednisone or Cortisone or corticosteroids, are widely used in medicine. They control allergies, inflammation, and many disease processes.
Cortisone compounds can be applied to the skin in the form of creams, or taken internally.
The most common internal cortisone treatment is Prednisone, taken by mouth. This medicine acts rapidly and is inexpensive. Most patients are told to take the entire day's dose of Prednisone in the morning, since this coincides with the body's own rhythm of cortisone production. If you are being treated for a severe allergic reaction, you may be told to divide the day's Prednisone into two or more doses.
The amount of Prednisone prescribed for you depends on the severity of your skin problem. The starting dose is an estimate; it may have to be increased or decreased, depending on your response to it. Prompt improvement is important not just to clear your skin, but also to hold down the severity of side effects. As your skin improves, the dose of prednisone will gradually be decreased. When your skin has cleared, or nearly so, the Prednisone tablets will be stopped. If you've been taking Prednisone for only one or two weeks, it's safe to stop taking it all at once.
Cortisone has effects on the entire body; those that are not desired are called side effects. When Prednisone is used to treat a skin condition, the purpose is almost always to alleviate pain and suffering and not as a life-saving intervention. If you do not think the side effects are worth the risk, then you should not take internal steroids.
Cortisones are remarkably safe for most people when used for brief periods of several weeks or less. Some people taking cortisones for short periods have no unpleasant side effects; however, disturbances of sleep patterns and increased appetite are common. Others will notice weight gain resulting from fluid retention or changes in mood--usually nervousness, trouble sleeping, and restlessness.
Sometimes, there is indigestion. These side effects are usually minor, and disappear after your physician stops the cortisone. If you're having troublesome side effects, please contact your doctor.
Unfortunately, when cortisones are used for many months or years, serious side effects are common. Consequently, the use of cortisone treatment for a long-term is used only when a disease threatens or seriously disturbs a patient's life.
