Patient/caregiver was educated on the precautions to be observed while taking prednisone as follows:
- Prednisone carries the risk of immune suppression and thereby, increases susceptibility to infections. Prednisone use in immunosuppressed individuals can lead to fresh episodes of opportunistic infections, such as, candidiasis and activate latent or inactive infections, such as, chicken pox and tuberculosis. Discuss with your physician regarding your history of any recurrent and opportunistic infections, along with possibility of activation of any latent infections with prednisone. As prednisone lowers the immune response, you could be at risk for contacting infections easy. So, observe all control measures to prevent coming into contact with any source of infection. Report to your physician immediately regarding any symptoms of infection noted.
- Also, as prednisone intake suppresses the immunity, receiving any live vaccine, such as, flu shot, during the time of prednisone intake can precipitate a serious infection. Secondary to poor immune response with prednisone intake, response to killed vaccines, such as, pneumonia, also could not be optimal, thus resulting in failed or poor immunity development. Avoid taking any vaccines during prednisone intake. If you are recommended any shot, discuss your history of being on prednisone with your physician, for any possible risk of infection.
- Prednisone, as it mimics the natural steroid hormone, can suppress the secretion of cortisol from the adrenal gland. Sudden discontinuation of prednisone does not give enough time for adrenal gland to revive the secretion of cortisol and so, can precipitate serious risk of adrenal crisis with grossly low levels of cortisol, which can be life-threatening. So, pulling off of prednisone should be a gradual tapering process and not sudden and abrupt, thus allowing time for adrenal gland to revive the secretion of natural steroid hormone, cortisol.
