How long does it take prednisone to get out of your system?
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on March 21, 2025.
I am having a few side effects and have stopped taking it and I want the side effects to go away!
It takes approximately 16.5 to 22 hours for Prednisone to be out of your system.
The elimination half life of prednisone is around 3 to 4 hours. This is the time it takes for your body to reduce the plasma levels by half.
It usually takes around 5.5 x half-life for a drug to be completely eliminated from your system.
This is (5.5 x 3) 16.5 hours to (5.5 x 4) 22 hours for Prednisone.
Other factors also need to be taken into account and include:
1. How much and how often you have taken the drug.
2. Your metabolic rate – a slower metabolism will increase the time a drug remains in your system.
3. Your age and health – older age and poor health will generally increase the time the drug stays in your system.
4. Body mass – generally the bigger you are the longer a drug will remain in your system.
See also: https://www.drugs.com/ppa/prednisone.html
Read next
What is considered a high dose of prednisone?
The starting dose of prednisone may be between 5 mg to 60 mg per day. A dose above 40 mg per day may be considered a high dose. However, everybody responds differently to prednisone, so what might be a high dose depends on the person and the condition. Continue reading
What's a good prednisone taper schedule?
The best prednisone taper will depend upon how long you have been taking the medicine, your dose, and why you are being treated. If you've been treated with a high dose of prednisone, or taken it for more than a few weeks, you will need to slowly stop your medicine, usually over a period of days, weeks or months. Your healthcare provider will determine your prednisone tapering schedule. Continue reading
Is it OK to drink alcohol with Prednisone?
Although there is no direct drug interaction between prednisone and alcohol, mixing them together is not a good idea because some of the effects of alcohol and the side effects of prednisone are similar, so taking both at the same time can increase the risk of these side effects occurring. Continue reading
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Drug information
- Prednisone Information for Consumers
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- Side Effects of Prednisone (detailed)
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