Sterapred DS Side Effects

Generic name: prednisone

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 17, 2025.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Sterapred DS.

Applies to prednisone: oral solution, oral tablet, oral tablet delayed release Side Effects associated with prednisone. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Sterapred DS.

Applies to prednisone: oral solution, oral tablet, oral tablet delayed release.

Precautions

If you will be taking this medicine for a long time, it is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits for any unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine. Blood or urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

If you are using this medicine for a long time, tell your doctor about any extra stress or anxiety in your life, including other health concerns and emotional stress. Your dose of this medicine might need to be changed for a short time while you have extra stress.

Using too much of this medicine or using it for a long time may increase your risk of having adrenal gland problems. Talk to your doctor right away if you have more than one of these symptoms while you are using this medicine: blurred vision, dizziness or fainting, a fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat, increased thirst or urination, irritability, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may cause you to get more infections than usual. Avoid people who are sick or have infections and wash your hands often. If you are exposed to chickenpox or measles, tell your doctor right away. If you start to have a fever, chills, sore throat, or any other sign of an infection, call your doctor right away.

Check with your doctor right away if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, eye pain, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

While you are being treated with prednisone (the active ingredient contained in Sterapred DS) do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Prednisone may lower your body's resistance and the vaccine may not work as well or you might get the infection the vaccine is meant to prevent. In addition, you should not be around other persons living in your household who receive live virus vaccines because there is a chance they could pass the virus on to you. Some examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, influenza (nasal flu vaccine), poliovirus (oral form), rotavirus, and rubella. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.

This medicine may cause changes in mood or behavior for some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you have depression, mood swings, a false or unusual sense of well-being, trouble with sleeping, or personality changes while taking this medicine.

This medicine might cause thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) or slow growth in children if used for a long time. Tell your doctor if you have any bone pain or if you have an increased risk for osteoporosis. If your child is using this medicine, tell the doctor if you think your child is not growing properly.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain skin tests.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Sterapred DS

Along with its needed effects, prednisone may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking prednisone:

Other side effects of Sterapred DS

Some side effects of prednisone may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to prednisone: compounding powder, oral delayed release tablet, oral solution, oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported adverse effects associated with corticosteroid use include fluid retention, alteration in glucose tolerance, high blood pressure, behavior and mood changes, increased appetite and weight gain. Occurrence is often associated with dose and duration of therapy; long-term effects include HPA suppression, Cushingoid appearance, cataracts and increased intraocular pressure/glaucoma, osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures.^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Decreased carbohydrate and glucose tolerance, increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetics, lipid abnormal, negative nitrogen balance caused by protein catabolism, hypokalemia, hypokalemic alkalosis, metabolic alkalosis, potassium loss, sodium retention with resulting edema, increased appetite and weight gain, anorexia and weight loss, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Bradycardia, cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac enlargement, circulatory collapse, congestive heart failure, ECG changes caused by potassium deficiency, edema, fat embolism, hypotension, hypertension or aggravation of hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in premature infants, myocardial rupture following recent myocardial infarction, necrotizing angiitis, syncope, tachycardia, thromboembolism, thrombophlebitis, vasculitis^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Frequency not reported: Adrenal insufficiency associated symptoms including arthralgias, buffalo hump, amenorrhea, postmenopausal bleeding or menstrual irregularities, development of cushingoid state, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, moon face, secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness (particularly in times of stress as in trauma, surgery, or illness), increased or decreased motility and number of spermatozoa^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Blurred vision, cataracts (including posterior subcapsular cataracts) central serous chorioretinopathy, secondary bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, exophthalmos, glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Frequency not reported: Abdominal distention, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gastric irritation, nausea, oropharyngeal candidiasis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage, perforation of the small and large intestine (particularly in patients with inflammatory bowel disease), ulcerative esophagitis, vomiting^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Frequency not reported: Immunosuppression, aggravation/masking of infections, decreased resistance to infection^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Arthralgia, aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads, increased risk of fracture, loss of muscle mass, muscle weakness, myalgias, osteopenia, osteoporosis, pathologic fracture of long bones, steroid myopathy, tendon rupture (particularly of the Achilles tendon), vertebral compression fractures, suppression of growth in pediatric patients^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Anaphylaxis, angioedema, allergic reactions^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Frequency not reported: Arachnoiditis, benign intracranial hypertension, convulsions, dementia, dizziness, EEG abnormalities, impaired cognition, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema, increased motor activity, ischemic neuropathy, severe tiredness or weakness, meningitis, neuritis, neuropathy, paraparesis/paraplegia, sensory disturbances^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Amnesia, anxiety, delirium, depression, emotional instability and irritability, euphoria, hallucinations, severe psychiatric symptoms, insomnia, long-term memory loss, mania, mood swings, neuritis, neuropathy, paresthesia, personality changes, psychiatric disorders including steroid psychoses or aggravation of preexisting psychiatric conditions, restlessness, schizophrenia, verbal memory loss, withdrawn behavior^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Anemia, neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, moderate leukocytosis, lymphopenia, eosinopenia, polycythemia^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Frequency not reported: Acne, acneiform eruptions, allergic dermatitis, alopecia, angioedema, angioneurotic edema, atrophy and thinning of skin, dry scaly skin, ecchymosis and petechiae (bruising), erythema, facial edema, hirsutism, impaired wound healing, increased sweating, lupus erythematosus-like lesions, perineal irritation, purpura, rash, striae, subcutaneous fat atrophy, suppression of reactions to skin tests, telangiectasis, thin fragile skin, thinning scalp hair, urticaria, hypertrichosis^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatase elevations (usually reversible upon discontinuation), hepatomegaly^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Hiccups, pulmonary edema^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Frequency not reported: Kaposi's sarcoma^[Ref]

Other

• Frequency not reported: Vertigo, pyrexia, abnormal fat deposits, malaise^[Ref]

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• What is considered a high dose of prednisone?
• What's a good prednisone taper schedule?
• Is it OK to drink alcohol with Prednisone?
• How long can you take prednisone safely?
• Prednisone: What are 12 Things You Should Know?
• How long does it take for prednisone to work?
• Do I take all 6 prednisone pills at once on the first day?
• How long does prednisone stay in your system?
• Why does prednisone cause weight gain?

Further information

Sterapred DS side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer