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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Corticosteroids, or steroids, are prescribed to treat many conditions involving inflammation. Inflammation is the immune system's reaction against injury or infection. Steroids work by affecting the immune system and decreasing inflammation. Steroids treat conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS), eczema, different types of cancer, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis (UC), and others. Prednisone is a popularly prescribed steroid medication. Steroids are potent (strong) medicines. As such, they can have serious side effects, mainly when used at high doses and for extended periods. Because of these risks, healthcare providers prescribe prednisone at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest possible time. One such popular steroid medication is prednisone, a drug used to lower symptoms of low corticosteroid levels. However, a high-risk dosing schedule of prednisone varies based on the condition treated and individual factors. Continue reading to learn more about prednisone dosing and safety. Getty Image / Mint Images Prednisone Dosing Healthcare providers prescribe prednisone at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest possible time. This will help lower the risk of severe side effects. Dosage Forms of Prednisone Prednisone is available in multiple forms of administration alongside varying strengths of prescription. Moreover, it should be noted that while brand-name forms of prednisone exist, it is most commonly prescribed as generic prednisone. For example, prednisone oral (taken by mouth) tablets are available in 1 milligram (mg), 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 50 mg tablets. Prednisone is also available as a delayed-release (DR) tablet (a form of medicine that delays the release of active ingredients after taking it, which can help control where it's released in the body) under the name Rayos. Brand-name Rayos is available in 1 mg, 2 mg, and 5 mg DR tablets. Prednisone is also available as an oral solution (a liquid form of administration). Prednisone Dosage Your prednisone dosage will vary based on your condition and your response to treatment. It's recommended that prednisone be taken with food to minimize stomach discomfort and side effects. Generally, the starting dose is between 5 and 60 mg daily, although higher doses are sometimes required. A lower dose may be appropriate for less severe symptoms, while others with more severe symptoms or conditions may require higher starting doses. Depending on the length of treatment, the healthcare professional may provide a tapering schedule, where the amount is decreased over some time rather than stopping abruptly. Doing so reduces the risk of severe side effects. People taking prednisone will be closely monitored for safety and side effects. Additionally, prednisone should be stopped if a person does not respond to treatment after a reasonable period. Some examples of higher prednisone dosing include:Acute exacerbation (flare-up) of MS: 1250 mg daily (25 tablets of 50 mg) for three to five daysHypercalcemia (high calcium levels in the blood) due to certain types of cancer: 50 to 100 mg daily for three to five daysWarningTake prednisone exactly as prescribed. Do not take more prednisone than prescribed, and
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