prednisone
Brand names: Deltasone, Rayos
Prednisone is a steroid medicine that reduces inflammation in the body. It can treat many different conditions.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.04/unit
Generic Available
Yes (25 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Prednisone treats conditions like arthritis, severe allergies, asthma, skin problems, and certain cancers.
Common side effects
Fluid retention, Mood changes, Weight gain
Key warnings
If you take prednisone for a long time, your body may not produce enough of its own natural steroids.
How It Works
Prednisone is a corticosteroid that works by decreasing inflammation. It suppresses your immune system, which reduces swelling and other immune responses. This helps control the symptoms of various diseases.
How to Take It
Take prednisone exactly as your doctor tells you. Your dose may be between 5 mg to 60 mg per day. Your doctor may change your dose depending on your condition and how you respond to the medicine. If you take it for a long time, do not stop suddenly; your doctor will slowly lower your dose.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Prednisone may harm an unborn baby. It can also pass into breast milk and may affect the nursing infant.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take two doses at once.
Storage
Store prednisone at room temperature, away from heat and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 369,292 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 482,856 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1995–2025.
Total Reports
482,856
Death-Related Reports
50,090
Hospitalization Reports
166,315
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 64,646 |
| 2 | OFF LABEL USE | 53,164 |
| 3 | FATIGUE | 39,612 |
| 4 | PAIN | 36,926 |
| 5 | DYSPNOEA | 33,819 |
| 6 | ARTHRALGIA | 32,404 |
| 7 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 27,784 |
| 8 | NAUSEA | 27,703 |
| 9 | DIARRHOEA | 27,473 |
| 10 | HEADACHE | 25,770 |
| 11 | RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS | 24,414 |
| 12 | PNEUMONIA | 24,097 |
| 13 | RASH | 22,256 |
| 14 | PYREXIA | 21,127 |
| 15 | MALAISE | 20,286 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
If you take prednisone for a long time, your body may not produce enough of its own natural steroids. This can make it hard for your body to respond to stress, like during an illness or surgery. You should not stop taking prednisone suddenly, as this can cause serious withdrawal symptoms.
Known Drug Interactions
albuterol, systemic and inhaled mebendazole amoxicillin medroxyprogesterone ampicillin, with or without sulbactam methylprednisolone atenolol metronidazole azithromycin metoprolol caffeine, dietary ingestion nadolol cefaclor nifedipine co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) nizatidine diltiazem norfloxacin dirithromycin ofloxacin enflurane omeprazole famotidine prednisone, prednisolone felodipine ranitidine finasteride rifabutin hydrocortisone roxithromycin isoflurane Sorbitol (purgative doses do not inhibit theophylline absorption) isoniazid sucralfate isradipine terbutaline, s...
Mechanism: Prednisone does not change the speed at which theophylline leaves your system.
What to do: Your doctor likely does not need to adjust your theophylline dose while you take this medicine.
In a CYP2D6 drug-drug interaction trial, the C max and AUC of dextromethorphan (CYP2D6 substrate) were increased 2.8- and 2.9-fold, respectively, when dextromethorphan was given with abiraterone acetate 1,000 mg daily and prednisone 5 mg twice daily.
Mechanism: Taking these two drugs together can change how your liver processes other common medications, potentially causing those other drugs to build up in your system.
What to do: Your doctor should review all your other medicines to ensure their levels do not become too high while you are taking this combination.
Alternative corticosteroids including beclomethasone, prednisone and prednisolone (for which PK and/or PD are less affected by strong CYP3A inhibitors relative to other steroids) should be considered, particularly for long term use.
Mechanism: Darunavir can interfere with how the body handles many steroids, but prednisone is less affected by this process than other options.
What to do: Prednisone is a preferred choice if you need a steroid while taking darunavir, particularly for long-term use.
Darunavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, rilpivirine, tenofovir, boceprevir, prednisone, rifabutin, and omeprazole had no clinically significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of dolutegravir.
Mechanism: Prednisone does not change how the body handles dolutegravir.
What to do: No special changes are needed when taking these two drugs together.
Prednisone : There was a case report that a liver-transplanted patient treated with prednisone developed acute adrenal cortex insufficiency when a 3 month therapy with fluconazole was discontinued. The discontinuation of fluconazole presumably caused an enhanced CYP3A4 activity which led to increased metabolism of prednisone. Patients on long-term treatment with fluconazole and prednisone should be carefully monitored for adrenal cortex insufficiency when fluconazole is discontinued.
Mechanism: When you stop taking fluconazole, your body starts breaking down prednisone much faster. This can cause your steroid levels to drop too low, which can be dangerous.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for signs of low steroid levels if you stop taking fluconazole.
Common Questions
Can prednisone cure my condition?
Will I gain weight while taking prednisone?
Can I drink alcohol while taking prednisone?
Does prednisone affect my blood sugar?
Can prednisone weaken my bones?
Can I get vaccines while taking prednisone?
Does prednisone cause mood swings?
How long will it take for prednisone to work?
Can I stop taking prednisone suddenly?
What should I do if I have side effects?
What are the common side effects of prednisone?
Does prednisone interact with other medications?
What drug class is prednisone?
Is prednisone safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Corticosteroid
Other drugs grouped near prednisone — same-class peers and common alternatives.
abatacept
Orencia
Orencia is a medicine that helps to reduce inflammation.
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acetaminophen
Tylenol
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a medicine that can relieve pain and reduce fever.
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acetaminophen/hydrocodone
Vicodin, Norco
This medicine contains acetaminophen and hydrocodone.
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acetaminophen/oxycodone
Percocet
Percocet is a strong pain medicine.
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adalimumab
Humira
Idacio is a medicine that blocks a protein called TNF.
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for prednisone
The FDA label for prednisone (sold under brand names such as Deltasone, Rayos) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Corticosteroid class. Prednisone treats conditions like arthritis, severe allergies, asthma, skin problems, and certain cancers. Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Fluid retention, Mood changes, Weight gain.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 369,292 voluntary reports. The database also lists 9 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.04.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: August 31, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages