Prednisone is a generic drug that’s prescribed for many inflammatory and immune system conditions, such as allergies. As with other drugs, prednisone can cause side effects, such as weight gain and “moon face.”

Prednisone is used to treat certain conditions, including:

Prednisone is available as the brand-name drug Rayos. Prednisone comes as an oral tablet. The drug also comes as an oral solution, but this article does not cover that form.

Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of this drug, including what prednisone tablets are used for, refer to this article.

Prednisone can cause certain side effects (also called adverse effects), some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took the brand-name version of prednisone (Rayos) in clinical trials:

  • edema (swelling due to excess fluid)
  • muscle weakness
  • bloating (swelling due to excess fluid or gas, often in the abdomen)
  • thin skin
  • sweating*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Prednisone: Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with prednisone. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to prednisone’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with prednisone include:

  • edema (swelling due to excess fluid)
  • muscle weakness
  • bloating (swelling due to excess fluid or gas, often in the abdomen)
  • thin skin
  • excitement
  • changes in menstrual bleeding
  • confusion
  • restlessness
  • nausea or vomiting
  • acne
  • “moon face*”
  • weight gain*
  • headache*
  • sweating*
  • difficulty sleeping*
  • mild allergic reaction*

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Prednisone and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Prednisone: Side effect specifics” below.

Prednisone may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to prednisone’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking prednisone, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Prednisone: Side effect specifics” below.

In most cases, side effects in children taking prednisone are similar to side effects in adults taking the drug.

However, prednisone may cause decreased growth in children who take the drug. This may mean that if your child is taking prednisone, especially if they take the drug for a long time, they may not grow as tall.

Due to this risk, your doctor may monitor your child’s growth while they’re taking prednisone. If you have additional concerns about side effects that may occur while your child is taking prednisone, talk with their doctor.

Prednisone may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Will stopping prednisone treatment cause withdrawal symptoms?

It’s possible that stopping prednisone treatment suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms. These are symptoms that occur when your body becomes used to a medication and you suddenly stop taking it. Symptoms may include fatigue or changes in mood, such as depression.

To help prevent prednisone side effects of withdrawal, your doctor may taper your dosage. This means following a schedule that slowly reduces your dosage of the drug over time. The goal is to gradually help your body adjust to a lower level of prednisone, which may help reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms.

It’s important that you do not stop taking prednisone without consulting your doctor. If you’re thinking about ending your treatment, be sure to talk with your doctor first. They can recommend the best way to stop treatment and reduce your risk of withdrawal symptoms.

I’m taking prednisone for an allergic reaction. What side effects can I expect?

If you’re taking prednisone to treat an allergic reaction, you’ll likely experience the same side effects as people taking the drug for other uses. Because treatment of allergic reactions is typically short term, you may be at a lower risk of side effects such as “moon face” or weight gain. (These tend to occur with long-term prednisone treatment.)

For more information on the possible side effects of prednisone, see the more common, mild, and serious side effect lists above. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Do prednisone’s side effects vary depending on the dose I take, such as 10 mg or 20 mg?

Yes, it’s possible for the side effects of prednisone to vary based on your dose. If you take a higher dose of medication, your body is exposed to more of the drug. And when you have more prednisone in your body, side effects may be more likely to occur.

For example, the risk of side effects with a 20-milligram (mg) dose of prednisone is higher than with a 10-mg dose.

Before starting prednisone treatment, you may want to talk with your doctor about your risk of side effects and what dose is right for you.

Are there long-term side effects of prednisone?

Prednisone may cause long-term side effects. However, these weren’t common in clinical trials of the brand-name version of prednisone (Rayos). Examples of long-term side effects that may occur during your treatment with prednisone can include:

For symptoms, see “Prednisone: Serious side effects” above. If you’re concerned about long-term side effects with prednisone, talk with your doctor before starting treatment.

Does prednisone cause constipation?

It’s not likely that you’ll experience constipation from taking prednisone. In clinical trials, constipation was not reported as a side effect of the drug.

However, prednisone can cause a low level of potassium in the blood. Constipation can be a symptom of this side effect.

If you become constipated during your treatment with prednisone, talk with your doctor. They can help determine the cause. This may include ordering a blood test to measure the level of potassium in your blood. If it’s low, your doctor can recommend an appropriate treatment.

Most side effects of prednisone are similar in males and females.* However, this medication may cause changes in menstrual bleeding in females. For example, taking prednisone may cause irregular periods or periods that are heavier than usual.

If you have questions about side effects that prednisone may cause in males or females, talk with your doctor.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms “male” and “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

Learn more about some of the side effects that prednisone may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for prednisone.

“Moon face”

Prednisone may cause a condition called “moon face,” in which your face becomes rounder. It can happen when excess fluid or fat makes your face look round or puffy. The condition isn’t harmful. However, some people may find that the change to their appearance affects their self-esteem.

Moon face can occur with long-term use of steroid drugs such as prednisone. Clinical trials of the medication didn’t report how often this side effect occurred.

What you can do

To help prevent moon face, your doctor may prescribe prednisone for the shortest amount of time possible to treat your condition.

If you notice that your face looks round or puffy while taking prednisone, talk with your doctor. They can suggest treatment options, such as consuming less salt to help reduce puffiness. Or they may recommend a drug other than prednisone.

Weight gain

It’s possible for prednisone to cause weight gain. In fact, weight gain was one of the most common side effects reported in people taking a brand-name version of prednisone called Rayos.

What you can do

If you gain weight during your treatment with prednisone, talk with your doctor. They can help determine the cause. Weight gain can be due to conditions such as heart problems, which are a possible side effect of prednisone. Your doctor can also recommend ways to manage your weight.

Headache

Headaches may occur with prednisone. It wasn’t reported how often this side effect happened in clinical trials of people taking prednisone.

What you can do

If you have headaches while taking prednisone, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend a headache treatment. An example is the over-the-counter (OTC) medication acetaminophen (Tylenol). An OTC drug is one that you can purchase without a doctor’s prescription.

Sweating

Increased sweating is a possible side effect of prednisone treatment. Clinical trials of the drug didn’t report how frequently sweating occurred.

What you can do

If you’re sweating more than usual while taking prednisone, be sure to talk with your doctor. They may be able to suggest ways to manage this side effect, such as wearing clothing that keeps moisture away from the skin. You can find other tips in this article.

Difficulty sleeping

It’s possible for prednisone to cause trouble sleeping. It wasn’t reported how often difficulty sleeping occurred in clinical trials. Difficulty sleeping may also be called insomnia. This may be trouble falling asleep or trouble staying asleep throughout the night.

What you can do

If you’re not sleeping well while taking prednisone, talk with your doctor. If you take prednisone once daily, your doctor may recommend taking your dose early in the morning. This could make it less likely that the drug will keep you awake at night. Your doctor may also recommend an OTC medication to help with insomnia, such as melatonin.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, prednisone can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking prednisone. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take prednisone. This drug may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered to be drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Active infections: Before starting prednisone treatment, tell your doctor if you have an active infection (one that’s causing symptoms). This medication can weaken your immune system. If you have an untreated infection, taking prednisone may worsen it. Your doctor will likely treat your infection before prescribing prednisone.

Heart disease: If you have heart disease, tell your doctor before taking prednisone. This medication can cause certain heart problems, such as congestive heart failure. If you already have heart disease, taking prednisone may worsen it. So your doctor may monitor your heart more often than usual while you take prednisone. It’s also possible that they may recommend a different treatment option.

Kidney problems: Prednisone is removed from your body by your kidneys. If your kidneys aren’t working correctly, the drug can build up in your body. If you have a kidney problem, tell your doctor before starting prednisone treatment. Your doctor may monitor your kidneys while you take the medication.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to prednisone or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe prednisone. Taking prednisone could cause you to have another allergic reaction. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Eye problems: Before starting prednisone treatment, tell your doctor if you have any eye conditions, such as glaucoma. This medication may increase your risk of certain eye conditions, including glaucoma and cataracts. If you already have such a condition, taking prednisone may worsen it. Because of this, your doctor may monitor your eyes more often than usual when you take prednisone. In some situations, they may recommend a different treatment.

Stomach or intestinal problems: It’s possible for prednisone to cause stomach or intestinal problems, such as ulcers. If you already have a condition that affects your stomach or intestines, tell your doctor before starting prednisone treatment. Taking the drug can worsen it. Your doctor can advise you on whether prednisone is safe for you.

Mood problems: If you have any mood conditions, such as depression, tell your doctor before taking prednisone. This medication may increase your risk of mood problems. If you already have a mood condition, taking prednisone can worsen it. Your doctor may monitor your mood more frequently than usual. In some situations, they may recommend a different treatment option.

Alcohol with prednisone

There aren’t any known interactions between alcohol and prednisone. However, it’s possible that drinking alcohol while taking prednisone could increase your risk of certain side effects. For example, both alcohol and prednisone can cause:

If you drink alcohol during prednisone treatment, these side effects could be more likely to occur. Your doctor can help determine whether it’s safe for you to consume alcohol while taking prednisone.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking prednisone

Here’s some information about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and prednisone.

Pregnancy: Your doctor may recommend that you do not take prednisone while pregnant.

Prednisone may cause harm to a developing fetus if it’s taken during pregnancy. The drug can cause cleft palate and decreased birth weight. In addition, babies may have hormone problems, such as low levels of adrenal hormones, once they’re born. This could cause problems such as fatigue and trouble feeding. Your doctor may monitor your newborn for symptoms of low hormone levels if you took prednisone while pregnant.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor. They can help determine the right treatment option for you.

Breastfeeding: It’s unknown whether it’s safe to take prednisone while breastfeeding.

It’s not known whether prednisone (a type of steroid) passes into breast milk or what effects the drug may have on a child who’s breastfed. However, another steroid drug called prednisolone does pass into breast milk. This means that a child who’s breastfed would be exposed to the drug. Prednisolone did not cause negative effects in children.

If you’re breastfeeding or thinking about it, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether prednisone is right for you. Your doctor can also advise you on ways to feed your child.

Prednisone may cause side effects. However, most of them are mild. It’s possible to develop serious side effects from this medication as well. If you do, be sure to talk with your doctor.

If you’d like to learn more about prednisone, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug. Referring to the following articles about prednisone can provide you with additional information:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.