All About Prednisone www.gihealth.com

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What is prednisone? Prednisone is a steroid. Steroids are a group of hormones with similar chemical structures. They are normally produced by your adrenal glands, located on top of your kidneys, and your reproductive organs (ovaries and testicles). Steroids help control metabolism, inflammation, immune function, salt and water balance, development of sexual characteristics and your ability to withstand the stress of illness and injury

1. Weight gain Usually the most dreaded of prednisone's side-effects, increased appetite and weight gain are seen to some degree by nearly all patients. The amount of weight gain varies from individual to individual. In addition to causing weight gain, prednisone also tends to redistribute body fat to places that are undesirable, particularly the face (moon face), back of the neck (buffalo hump), and abdomen. The higher the dose and the longer the treatment, the greater the effect. To some extent these changes can be minimized by exercise and the dietary changes described below. If you find this confusing, a consultation with a registered dietitian or nutritionist may be helpful. Ask your doctor for a recommendation. Osteoporosis

Most of us don't realize that our bones are living organs that are constantly changing. Every day old bone cells die and new ones are created to take their place. Prednisone increases the loss of bone and slows the formation of new bone cells. Eventually, this may result in a decrease in bone density, or osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a common condition in adult Americans causing over 1.5 million fractures each year, including more than 300,000 hip fractures. Prednisone may cause osteoporosis even in people who are not usually at high risk such as males and young people. In people susceptible to osteoporosis, prednisone may accelerate the process of bone loss and increases the risk of fracture of the spine or hip. Other risk factors include