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Side Effects of Prednisone on Adolescents

Prednisone is a type of steroid that is generally prescribed to patients in a pill form. The drug is commonly used to treat flare-ups of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, as well as arthritis and other types of inflammations. While the medication is inexpensive, there are a number of side effects associated with the steroid, many of which are particularly disruptive to adolescents.

  1. Features

    • Prednisone is a non-synthetic corticosteroid drug that is generally administered orally. In addition, the steroid may be prescribed in the form of intramuscular injection. After the liver has processed prednisone, the medication becomes a steroidal product called prednisolone, and it acts as a suppressant of the immune system. This feature makes the steroid extremely useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases, including poison ivy dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

    Normal Side Effects

    • Side effects for adolescents who have been prescribed prednisone commonly include nervousness and restlessness, increased appetite and indigestion. Darkening or lightening of the skin color, dizziness and lightheadedness, flushed cheeks or face, hiccups, an increase in sweating and a spinning sensation are less frequent side effects reported in adolescents.

    Severe Side Effects

    • While prednisone is associated with a wide variety of side effects, several symptoms are not normal, and can indicate an underlying condition in the adolescent. These side effects include decreased or blurred vision, increased thirst, frequent urination, confusion and excitement. In addition, sudden mood swings, a mistaken feeling of self-importance, a false sense of well-being, mental depression, hallucinations of any kind, restlessness, extreme excitement, and skin rash or hives. If you experience any of these side effects, it is important to notify a physician immediately.

    Side Effects After Prolonged Use

    • If an adolescent uses prednisone for a prolonged period of time --- generally, longer than a month --- he or she might experience more severe side effects, which can indicate that the child should be weaned off the medication. These side effects include abdominal pain or a sensation of burning, acne, changes in vision, blood or black stools, eye pain, a rounded face, persistent headache, irregular heartbeat, eye redness, sensitivity to light, eye tearing, sleeping troubles, unusual bruising, an increase in hair growth, unusual weakness, vomiting, rapid weight gain, longer recovery time from wounds, menstrual problems, red or purple lines on the body, muscle cramps or weakness, nausea, and pain in the arms, back, legs, ribs or shoulders.

    Withdrawal Side Effects

    • After weaning off prednisone, patients can experience a wide variety of withdrawal symptoms. Depending on how long the adolescent has been on prednisone, these side effects can last for nearly a year. It is essential to contact a physician if the adolescent experiences abdominal or back pain, dizziness, fainting, fever, continued loss of appetite, joint pain, nausea, reappearance of disease symptoms, shortness of breath, unexplained and frequent headaches, vomiting or rapid weight loss. These can be signs of a more serious condition.

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