Prednisone is a synthetic cortisol: it slams the brakes on inflammation and an overactive immune system - which is why it works so fast, and why the side effects scale with dose and duration.
Short-course effects: insomnia, mood swings, bigger appetite and quick weight gain, fluid retention, raised blood sugar, stomach irritation. Longer courses add bone thinning, muscle weakness, easy bruising, and infection risk - and it can mask fever. Two rules: take it in the morning with food, and never stop a longer course suddenly - your body needs time to restart its own steroid production. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you make sense of your course.
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Common questions
What does prednisone do to your body?
Prednisone is a corticosteroid - a synthetic version of the stress hormone cortisol - and its job is to slam the brakes on inflammation and an overactive immune system. That is why it is used for asthma flares, severe allergies, autoimmune attacks, and bad skin or joint inflammation: nothing else calms immune fire that fast. The same power explains the side effects, which scale with dose and how long you take it. Common short-course effects: trouble sleeping, mood swings (from wired and euphoric to irritable or low), bigger appetite and quick weight gain, fluid retention and a puffier face, raised blood sugar, and stomach irritation. With longer courses: bone thinning, muscle weakness, easy bruising and thinning skin, higher infection risk - and it can hide the usual signs of infection like fever. Two rules follow from all this: take it exactly as prescribed, in the morning with food to mimic your natural cortisol rhythm and protect your stomach; and never stop a longer course suddenly - your body needs time to restart its own steroid production. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you make sense of your specific course.