AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty
- Prednisone is used for conditions like arthritis, blood cell disorders, lupus, and more.
- It can also treat inflammatory bowel conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
- Other uses of prednisone include treating leukemia, lymphoma, psoriasis, and tuberculosis.
- Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice.
Prednisone is a type of steroid medication that can treat diseases caused by inflammation or an overactive immune system.
Your doctor may prescribe you prednisone for many different conditions, including arthritis, blood cell disorders, and some skin diseases.
Here's what you need to know about how prednisone works and what conditions it's used for.
How prednisone works
Prednisone is a man-made version of cortisol, a hormone that influences your immune system. It works by slowing down the production of cytokine proteins that cause inflammation – where your immune system sends extra white blood cells to certain areas of your body to fight off invaders like viruses and bacteria.
When you take a steroid like prednisone, "your immune system is hindered and cannot mount a full immune response," says Yana Puckett, MD, a surgical oncologist at West Virginia University School of Medicine.
This is an important way to treat autoimmune disorders, in which your immune system overreacts and starts attacking your own cells.
Prednisone usually comes as a pill and you'll need a prescription from your doctor to get it. Here are five of the common conditions that can be treated with prednisone.
1. Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system attacks the tissues in your joints, causing inflammation - this leads to pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Prednisone can help ease painful symptoms and bring down swelling by reducing the cytokine proteins causing inflammation.
Studies show that prednisone can also help slow down joint damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
2. Skin diseases
Certain skin disorders send your skin's immune system into overdrive. "This results in over-production of inflammatory markers that make the skin red, inflamed, peel, and hurt," Puckett says.
Prednisone can fight these symptoms by decreasing the pro-inflammatory proteins produced in your cells, says Puckett.
Some of the most common skin disorders treated by prednisone include:
- Severe eczema
- Rashes caused by sarcoidosis
- Lichen planus
3. Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system attacks various areas of your body, including your skin, joints, mouth, and brain. This can cause a variety of symptoms like rashes, headaches, and mouth ulcers.
Prednisone is often prescribed to treat lupus, as it can bring down many inflammation symptoms and help prevent your immune system from damaging your body's tissues.
Prednisone can cause problems like diabetes and bone thinning if you take it for long periods, so doctors will usually prescribe it for as short a time as possible - generally three months or less. Your doctor may try other medications like pain relievers for more long-term treatment.
4. Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is an autoimmune disorder that develops when there are too many inflammatory cytokines produced in your digestive tract, Puckett says. When organs like your small intestine and colon become inflamed, it can trigger symptoms like severe diarrhea, stomach pain, and weight loss.
This inflammation raises your risk of bacterial infections and also can damage the cells in your digestive tract.
Prednisone can help bring down inflammation and ease Crohn's disease symptoms by reducing the cytokine proteins produced in your digestive tract, says Puckett.
5. Blood cell disorders
Anemia is a condition caused by low red blood cell count, and in some cases, it occurs when your immune system destroys your own red blood cells. Prednisone can help treat anemia and fight off symptoms like fatigue and rapid heartbeat by lowering your immune system's response, Puckett says.
In some cases, your immune system can also attack your platelets, the parts of blood cells your body uses to create clots and stop bleeding. Using prednisone to suppress your immune system can help bring your platelet count back to normal.
Other uses for prednisone
Your doctor may also prescribe prednisone to treat:
- Psoriasis
- Lymphoma
- Multiple sclerosis
- Tuberculosis
- Kidney disorders
- Swelling from a brain injury or tumor
- Severe allergies
- Leukemia
- Ulcerative colitis
- Organ transplant rejection
Insider's takeaway
Prednisone is a versatile steroid medication that helps combat the symptoms of autoimmune diseases of the skin, joints, and other organs.
Prednisone can help relieve pain and swelling as well as prevent long-term damage to the body like joint damage, kidney failure, and skin damage. However, it can also have harmful side effects like fatigue, headaches, diabetes, weight gain, and weakened bones.
To avoid developing any serious side effects, your doctor should monitor your treatment carefully and you should always get prednisone from a licensed medical provider, Puckett says.