Prednisone Side Effects Including High Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Effects

The medication Prednisone exists as a type of glucocorticoid. It’s more often associated as corticosteroid. The effects treated through the use of Prednisone vary from user to user. However it’s commonly used to relieve such conditions as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) although it also has other anti-inflammatory reducing capabilities for the human body. Understanding the Prednisone side effects or indeed of taking any drug remains a choice for the consumer, yet often such choices fade into insignificance against the ravaging effects of the disease the drug’s taken to control. It’s possible to take Prednisone through the mouth (via a handy tablet form), injection directly through the skin and into the bloodstream, or through an IV (intravenous) drip as part of a long term treatment option. Like all medicines produced today potential side-effects can become apparent with excessive use. Prednisone has been known to cause long-term effects which it’s advisable to fully understand to offer you the most informed decision when considering the use of the drug.

The side effect of taking Prednisone relates to specific areas of the body. Prednisone side effect affects the following areas over time or extended use of the drug.

General side effects of taking Prednisone

Experiencing an increase in bodily appetite produces a chance of undesirable weight gain as well as extra water retention within the body. Higher levels of blood sugar within the body can lead the user of Prednisone towards a greater risk of diabetes. Due to the unwanted side effect of increased weight gain a shift in body shape can occur. This leads to an increase in fat deposits on the torso while the arms and legs seem to gain no additional weight. Weakness of skin results in a spread of acne with the unwanted effect of bruising easily through non-contact activities.

Heart and blood vessels and Prednisone side effects

Prednisone leads to an increase in blood pressure. This unwanted side effect remains extremely common with the use of Prednisone. In addition a higher cholesterol count leads to associated problems of the body. Considering these heart and blood vessel conditions are often linked with poor health as well as increased body weight, the user may feel a double-effect from these potentially harmful side effects.

Side effects connected to the stomach and intestines

In addition to increased weight and blood pressure bleeding in the stomach lining seems a regular occurrence. The irritation to the smaller intestine can cause mild discomfort over time. Ulcerations add to these side effects. Yet Prednisone may not result in all of the side effects occurring simultaneously.

How the eyes are affected by Prednisone

Prednisone has been known to cause problems with cataracts, blurred vision, and glaucoma. These unwanted side effect often appear in the person taking the medication much earlier than would normally be expected for such eye problems..

The side effect of the muscles and bones

Increased bone weakness and low marrow counts have been shown as a regular side effect from Prednisone. These conditions are often referred to as osteoporosis. In addition to osteoporosis regular muscle inflammation remains a thankfully rare event.

The human brain and nervous systems

Often users of Prednisone talk of suffering from excessive mood and emotional swings. These include bouts of hyperactivity to feelings of total depression. Thankfully rare feelings such as psychopathic tendencies remain extremely rare in lower doses of the drug.

The Prednisone side effects upon the stress responders

Perhaps the most dangerous side effect of the use Prednisone remains the suppression of the adrenal gland. Prednisone instantly interferes with the body’s natural production of chemicals from the adrenal gland. Once the impact of the adrenal gland becomes less, the body remains in a state of stasis and feels unable to respond to higher levels of stress which occur normally in everyday life. This calming effect of sedating the human body by accident reduces the natural chemical defences of the human body.

While the long-term side effects of Prednisone look daunting, not everybody will develop all of these side effects. However understanding what a side effect will look like helps a person to understand why there body responds in differing ways while taking the corticosteroid that is Prednisone.