How Long Does It Take for Prednisone to Work?

Karen Berger, PharmD
·8 min read
<p>Johner Images / Getty Images</p> Removing medication from a blister pack

Johner Images / Getty Images

Removing medication from a blister pack

Medically reviewed by Erika Prouty, PharmD

Prednisone is a commonly prescribed corticosteroid (steroid) medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this drug to treat inflammation-related conditions.

These include, but are not limited to, the following:

If you are prescribed prednisone, you may wonder how long it will take for this medicine to work and what other important information you should know.

Continue reading to learn about prednisone's uses, safety, and more.

How Quickly Does Prednisone Start to Work?

Prednisone is commonly prescribed in its immediate-release formulation. As such, when taken orally (by mouth) as a tablet or liquid, it is quickly absorbed and reaches its peak effect in one or two hours.

Prednisone is also available in a delayed-release formulation under the brand name Rayos. This formulation reaches its peak effect in about six hours. However, prednisone can be used for various conditions, and not all conditions will respond immediately.

Some people will take a high dose of prednisone for a shorter time, while others will take a lower dose for a longer time.

While many medications have standard dosing guidelines, prednisone dosing will be individualized. This is based on the following, among other factors:

  • Condition being treated

  • Severity of symptoms

  • Response to treatment

Therefore, how quickly prednisone will work will vary based on many factors. Talk to your healthcare provider about your condition(s) and ask how long it should take for prednisone to work for you.

How Long Does Prednisone Last?

The half-life of a drug is the amount of time it takes for half of a drug to leave your body. After the last dose, prednisone takes about five half-lives to leave your body.

The half-life of immediate-release prednisone is about 2 to 4 hours. The half-life for delayed-release prednisone is about 2 or 3 hours, similar to immediate-release prednisone.

This means the drug would leave your body between 10 to 20 hours after you take your last dose.

<p>Johner Images / Getty Images</p> Removing medication from a blister pack

Johner Images / Getty Images

Removing medication from a blister pack

What Is Prednisone Used For?

Prednisone belongs to the corticosteroid drug class, often referred to as steroids. It's not an anabolic steroid, a manufactured form of testosterone that's sometimes misused and can cause harmful effects. Rather, corticosteroids are similar to hormones that your adrenal glands make. They work by reducing inflammation.

Prednisone can treat many conditions related to inflammation and the immune system, including the following examples as well as many more:

Some healthcare providers prescribe prednisone off-label (for a use not FDA-approved) for other conditions. This includes the following:

Prednisone Dosing

As mentioned above, prednisone dosing is based on a patient's individual factors, like:

  • Type of condition being treated

  • Symptom severity

Sometimes, the healthcare professional will prescribe a higher dose to start. They may then instruct you to taper to a lower dose slowly before stopping the medication. This helps avoid adrenal gland problems.

Some individuals may be prescribed a high dose for several days without a taper. Yet others may take a low dose daily to keep symptoms of a chronic condition at bay.

General guidelines note that a common dose of immediate-release or delayed-release prednisone is anywhere from 5 to 60 milligrams (mg) daily.

Because Rayos (delayed-release prednisone) starts working several hours after taking it, healthcare providers may strategically dose the medicine. For example, someone who has stiffness in the morning due to rheumatoid arthritis may take Rayos at night to wake up feeling less stiff.

Rayos tablets should not be chewed, broken, or divided.

Due to the risk of side effects, especially with long-term use, healthcare providers prescribe prednisone at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time possible.

These are general guidelines, and your healthcare provider will discuss your dosing schedule with when prescribing prednisone.

What Precautions Are There for Prednisone?

Prednisone is not appropriate for everyone. Before taking prednisone, tell your healthcare provider about:

  • Your medical history

  • Medical conditions you have that the provider is not aware of

  • Medication allergies you have that the provider is not aware of

The following individuals should not take prednisone:

  • People allergic to prednisone or any ingredient in the medication

  • People with a systemic fungal infection (a fungal infection that can affect the skin and organs)

  • People with cerebral malaria (a severe complication of malaria that affects the brain)

There are also individuals with certain medical conditions in which the healthcare provider would weigh the benefits and risks of prescribing prednisone. If you use prednisone, you will be closely monitored.

Side Effects & Safety

Prednisone has many potential side effects and complications associated with long-term use. Although healthcare professionals prescribe prednisone at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time, side effects can still occur. Before you take prednisone, discuss potential side effects with your healthcare provider.

Common side effects include:

  • Weight gain, especially in the face, upper back, and torso

  • Bloating/swelling

  • Increased appetite

  • Mood changes

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • Menstrual cycle changes

  • Problems with memory/thinking

  • Muscle or joint pain

  • Weakness

  • Headache

  • Dizziness

  • Vertigo (spinning sensation)

  • Nausea

  • Slow wound healing

  • Acne

  • Increased sweating

  • Skin changes, such as thinning skin, bruising, or pinpoint spots under the skin

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening, or you think you have a medical emergency.

Severe side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

  • Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), seeking emergency medical help if you have urticaria (hives), difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat

  • Adrenal insufficiency (this occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormone cortisol)

  • Muscle weakness

  • Cushing's syndrome (a condition that occurs when the body is exposed to too much cortisol)

  • Infection

  • Diabetes (high blood sugar)

  • Pseudotumor cerebri (increased pressure in the skull)

  • Seizures

  • High blood pressure

  • Congestive heart failure

  • Inflammation of the pancreas

  • Gastrointestinal (stomach and intestinal) perforation (holes) and ulcers (sores)

  • Exophthalmos (bulging eyes)

  • Osteonecrosis (death of a portion of bone)

  • Tendon rupture

Additionally, some side effects can occur due to long-term prednisone use, such as the following:

  • Osteoporosis (a condition that causes thin, weak bones)

  • Glaucoma (a group of conditions that damage the eye's optic nerve and can lead to vision loss and blindness if untreated)

  • Cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye)

  • Immunosuppression

  • Kaposi's sarcoma (a rare form of skin cancer)

  • Withdrawal symptoms (if the drug is not slowly tapered)

Prednisone may also affect growth in children, so children who take prednisone will be closely monitored.



Report Side Effects

Prednisone may cause other side effects. Call your healthcare provider if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. If you experience a serious side effect, you or your provider may send a report to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or by phone (800-332-1088).



What Special Dietary Guidance Do I Need to Follow?

Take prednisone with food to help prevent stomach discomfort, and ask your healthcare provider if you need to make dietary changes while taking prednisone. For instance, some individuals may need to eat less salt, while other need more potassium and calcium.

Other dietary considerations include limiting the following:

  • Caffeine: Caffeine, in combination with prednisone, may increase blood pressure. If you regularly consume caffeine, consult your healthcare provider.

  • Alcohol: Avoid alcohol while taking prednisone. Prednisone and alcohol can increase the risk of stomach and intestinal bleeding, ulcers (sores), and perforations (holes).

Prednisone Drug Interactions

Tell your healthcare provider about all your medicines, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or supplements.

While taking prednisone, do not start any new medications without approval from your healthcare provider. Some drug interactions include:

This is not a complete list of interactions. Consult your healthcare provider for more information about interactions and how they may affect you.

Summary

Prednisone is a corticosteroid, or steroid, medication prescribed for various conditions that cause inflammation. It has many potential side effects. Some can be very serious, especially with long-term use. Healthcare providers prescribe prednisone at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time to minimize complication risks.

Generally, prednisone starts working quickly. However, the expected results may vary based on the type and severity of the condition. Consult with your healthcare provider regarding how prednisone can affect you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is prednisone?

Prednisone is a prescription steroid medicine used to treat various conditions due to inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and others.

What is prednisone used for?

Prednisone can be used for many conditions, such as severe allergic reactions, lupus, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, gout, and many other conditions related to the lungs, skin, eyes, blood, thyroid, stomach, and intestines.

What does prednisone do?

Corticosteroids like prednisone are chemically similar to cortisol, a natural hormone in the body that reduces inflammation. They work by reducing inflammation and immune system activity.