Prednisone (Deltasone, Prednicot, Rayos) is a corticosteroid medication that has anti-inflammatory properties.
It can be very effective at treating asthma but also carries a risk of side effects. Doctors will consider your asthma and chances of side effects when recommending prednisone.
Read on to learn more about prednisone’s effectiveness, dosage, side effects, and alternatives.
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Asthma attacks occur when your lungs and airways become inflamed and your airways produce too much mucus. This narrows the space for air to pass through, making breathing more difficult.
Prednisone works by reducing inflammation and mucus production in your airways. It can be very effective for both acute asthma attacks and long-term symptom management.
However, each person’s response to prednisone may be different. Your medical team will tailor their medication recommendations based on your asthma and underlying health.
Find out what to do if your asthma isn’t responding to prednisone.
What do doctors prescribe prednisone for?
Doctors typically prescribe prednisone for short-term use to treat an asthma attack. This usually involves taking the medication for about 5 to 10 days.
If your asthma is severe or does not respond well to other treatments, doctors may also prescribe prednisone for regular, long-term use.
Contact a doctor if you have been prescribed prednisone for short-term use and find yourself needing to use it frequently.
As prednisone can sometimes lead to significant side effects, doctors only prescribe the medication when necessary.
Side effects of prednisone
Prednisone can cause side effects. You may experience some side effects straight after taking the medication, while other side effects take longer to develop.
Possible side effects include:
- high blood sugar
- high blood pressure
- insomnia
- increased appetite and weight gain
- edema, a type of swelling
- eye changes, such as bulging eyes, cataracts, or glaucoma
- nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- skin symptoms, such as acne and slow healing
- adrenal suppression, whereby you don’t produce enough cortisol hormone
- muscle weakness
- changes in mood or personality
- osteoporosis
- slowed growth or development in children
- higher risk of infection and cardiovascular disease
The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) reports that side effects are more likely if you take prednisone in higher doses or for longer periods of time.
However, some research suggests that short-term use of prednisone may still lead to significant side effects, including:
- lower bone density
- high blood pressure
- gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers
Contact your doctor if you notice any new, worsening, or persistent symptoms while taking prednisone.
Prednisone comes as an oral tablet or drinkable liquid solution in the United States.
Typical dosages for adults can range from 5 to 60 milligrams (mg). Your medical team will tailor your dose depending on your condition and how your asthma responds.
If you have severe asthma and need to take prednisone long term, doctors may eventually lower your dosage gradually to find your maintenance dose. A maintenance dose is the lowest level of medication you can take while still seeing benefits.
Sometimes, if you use prednisone long term, medical professionals recommend taking a higher dose only every other day instead of taking a daily dose. This may help reduce the risk of certain side effects, such as adrenal suppression.
Your doctors may also recommend adjusting your prednisone dose if you have an asthma attack.
If you miss a dose of prednisone, take the missed dose as soon as you can. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
Never take an extra or higher dose to make up for a missed one.
If you have questions about prednisone, including its doses and what to do if you miss one, talk with a doctor.
What to ask a doctor about prednisone
Make sure to talk with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about using prednisone.
If you use any other medications, also talk with a doctor about whether prednisone is safe for you. Some medications can negatively interact with prednisone, such as by making either medication less effective or increasing the risk of harmful effects.
Examples of medications that can interact with prednisone include:
- blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen
- diuretics or “water pills”
- macrolide antibiotics
- estrogen medications, including birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy
- arthritis medications
- diabetes medications
- anti-tuberculosis medications
- cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
- anticholinesterases, which are used for myasthenia gravis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementia
Prednisone is not safe for use during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking prednisone or are planning to become pregnant, talk with a doctor immediately.
Other information to ask your doctor about prednisone includes:
- how to prevent infection, as prednisone can reduce the risk of infection
- what vaccinations you can have while taking prednisone
- when to contact a doctor for symptoms, side effects, or follow-up care
- what lifestyle habits they recommend while taking prednisone, such as limiting alcohol intake
- how to manage side effects if you experience them
Learn when to get medical help for asthma symptoms.
Alternatives to prednisone
Other medication types can help treat severe asthma.
Inhaled corticosteroids can be very effective as long-term medications for asthma.
You can take inhaled corticosteroids with an inhaler or nebulizer.
At low doses, corticosteroid inhalers don’t typically cause many side effects, per the NHS. Still, some people experience side effects such as:
- sore throat or mouth
- hoarseness
- cough
- oral thrush, a fungal infection in your mouth
- increased appetite
- mood shifts
- insomnia
Chances of side effects increase with higher doses or long-term use.
Read more about asthma inhalers and medications and oral thrush due to inhalers.
Leukotriene modifiers work by blocking leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are chemicals in your body that cause the airway’s muscles to tighten.
For asthma, these medications are taken via oral tablets, one to four times daily.
Research suggests that people generally tolerate leukotriene modifiers well. However, common side effects include:
- headaches
- upset stomach, such as pain, nausea, or diarrhea
- cough
- increased risk of infection
- mood or behavior changes, such as depression
- general feeling of being unwell
Biologics can help severe asthma by blocking molecules that cause inflammation in your airways.
They are given via injections or an intravenous (IV) line into your vein, either at home or in a doctor’s office.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America suggests that biologics are usually relatively harmless. However, they can cause side effects for some people, such as:
- headache
- irritation at the site of injection or IV
- sore throat
- fatigue
- joint pain
- skin rash
In rare cases, biologics may cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Long-acting beta 2 agonists (LABA)
Inhalers with LABA medications are often used as a long-term treatment for severe or unmanaged asthma. They can help relax the muscles in your airways, making breathing easier.
Common side effects include:
- headache
- palpitations
- muscle cramps
- oral thrush or sore mouth
Read more about treatment options for severe asthma.
Prednisone is a corticosteroid often used to treat asthma attacks. Doctors may also prescribe it long term for severe asthma. It works by reducing inflammation and mucus production in the airways.
While prednisone can be effective for asthma, it has a risk of serious side effects. It may also not be safe for you if you take other medications.
Talk with a doctor if you have any questions about prednisone, or notice new or concerning symptoms after using it.