Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using 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.
- 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.
- Prednisone, as it mimics the natural steroid hormone, can suppress the secretion of cortisol from the adrenal gland. This can become an issue, especially if prednisone were administered for prolonged period of time and is being scheduled for discontinuation. Sudden discontinuation of prednisone does not give enough time for adrenal gland to revive the natural secretion of cortisol and so, can precipitate serious risk of adrenal crisis with grossly low levels of cortisol, which can be life-threatening.
