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Common side effects may include cataracts, bone loss, easy bruising, muscle weakness, and thrush. [3] Other side effects include weight gain, swelling, high blood sugar, increased risk of infection, and psychosis. [4] [3] It is generally considered safe in pregnancy and low doses appear to be safe while the user is breastfeeding. [5]
Large dosage variations in the patient's medication (including a self-increased dosage from 10 mg/day to as much as 100 mg/day for at least 3 months) produced extreme behavioral changes, from missed appointments to physical altercations, and eventually admission to a psychiatric ward and later to a locked Alzheimer facility.
Typical mineralocorticoid side-effects are hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure), steroid induced diabetes mellitus, psychosis, poor sleep, hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood), hypernatremia (high sodium levels in the blood) without causing peripheral edema, metabolic alkalosis and connective tissue weakness. [5]
In a prospective study, the cumulative incidence of CIL with high-dose prednisone therapy was found to be 61% after 3 months, 65% after 6 months, 68% after 9 months, and 69% after 12 months. [1] One study found that even a very low dosage of prednisone of 5 mg/day was associated with symptoms of "Cushing's syndrome". [1]
Because high-dose prednisone rapidly lowers eosinophil levels, it is usually started at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day. [6] Upon achieving appropriate control over eosinophilia, the medication can be gradually reduced. [25] Steroid-refractory HES has been managed with a variety of cytotoxic treatments. [24]
In general, use a potent preparation short term and weaker preparation for maintenance between flare-ups. While there is no proven best benefit-to-risk ratio, [11] if prolonged use of a topical steroid on a skin surface is required, a pulse therapy should be undertaken.
If high doses were used for six to 10 days, reduce to replacement dose immediately and taper over four more days. Adrenal recovery can be assumed to occur within two to four weeks of completion of steroids. If high doses were used for 11–30 days, cut immediately to twice replacement, and then by 25% every four days.
The usual starting dose is approximately 1 milligram per kilogram of body weight per day (for most people, this is approximately 60 milligrams a day). Because of the significant side effects of long-term high-dose prednisone use, the starting dose is tapered over several weeks to a dose that controls symptoms while limiting the side effects of ...
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