Key takeaways:
Prednisone (Rayos, Prednisone Intensol) is an oral corticosteroid medication. It treats several inflammatory, autoimmune, and allergic health conditions.
You should avoid alcohol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) while taking prednisone. It’s also a good idea to take it with food or milk to reduce the chance of stomach issues.
Prednisone starts working a few hours after you take it. But it may take a couple of days before you experience its effects. You shouldn’t stop taking prednisone on your own, especially if you’ve been taking it long-term. This could lead to steroid withdrawal.
Prednisone is available as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you find ways to save on the cost of your prescription.
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When you’re given a prescription for prednisone (Rayos, Prednisone Intensol), you’re likely looking for relief from issues such as an allergic reaction, asthma, or an autoimmune condition. Prednisone is an oral corticosteroid (steroid) medication. It helps reduce swelling by mimicking a natural hormone in your body called cortisol.
If you or your child just started taking prednisone, you may wonder when it might start to kick in. Other common concerns — such as whether or not you can drink alcohol on prednisone — are also helpful to learn about.
Whether you’re prescribed a short- or long-term course of prednisone, here are some tips to ensure you get the most from your medication.
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1. Side effects are less likely when you take prednisone with food
It’s a good idea to take prednisone with a meal or snack.
When starting a prednisone prescription, your pharmacist may tell you to take it with food or milk. This helps prevent an upset stomach, which is a common prednisone side effect.
2. Try to avoid drinking alcohol while taking prednisone
Alcohol doesn’t change how prednisone works, but it’s best to avoid or reduce drinking while you’re taking it.
This is mostly because of side effects. Alcohol and prednisone both weaken your immune system, meaning your risk of infection goes up when they’re in your body at the same time. The pairing can also impact your mood and sleep quality and contribute to nausea, heartburn, or stomach ulcers.
Your prescriber is the best resource to help you decide when to safely add alcohol back into your routine.
3. Take prednisone soon after you wake up
Prednisone can cause you to feel awake and activated. It’s usually better to take prednisone in the morning because of this. Taking it closer to bedtime will likely keep you up at night. One exception to this rule is with delayed-release prednisone — which we’ll discuss next.
Once you’ve established a prednisone routine, consistency is key. Try to take your dose(s) at the same time, the same way, every day. This helps build a healthy habit and makes it less likely that you’ll miss a dose.
4. Prednisone starts working relatively quickly
For most people, prednisone starts working a few hours after your first dose. But that doesn’t mean you’ll always see noticeable effects right away. Depending on why you’re taking prednisone, it may take a couple of days before you notice any benefits. This is especially true for chronic conditions.
Rayos, a delayed-release (DR) version of prednisone, takes longer to start working than standard versions of prednisone. It starts to kick in after about 4 hours. This delay is intended to help the medication work better in certain situations. For example, when it’s taken at night, Rayos can help relieve morning pain and stiffness caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
What does taking prednisone feel like? Hear from three people about the side effects they’ve experienced while taking prednisone and the benefits they’ve seen.
How much does prednisone cost? Learn more about what you can expect to pay and find savings tips to help you afford prednisone.
Drug interactions: Prednisone can interact with several common daily medications. Find out if you might need a dosage change or another adjustment to your medications before taking prednisone.
5. Prednisone doesn’t stay in your system for very long
Prednisone typically stays in your system for less than 1 day.
After you take a dose of prednisone, your body starts to break it down and get rid of it. The time it takes for half of your original dose to leave your body is called the half-life. The half-life can be used to predict how long the medication will stay in your system.
After about 4 to 5 half-lives, a medication is considered “cleared” from the body. For adults, prednisone’s half-life is around 3 to 4 hours. This means it can stay in your system for up to 20 hours. For children, the half-life is 1 to 2 hours, so it can stay in their system for up to 10 hours.
6. Try to avoid combining prednisone and Advil
Use caution about taking prednisone with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and aspirin (Bayer Aspirin, Bufferin, and others). Taking NSAIDs and prednisone together may raise your risk of developing stomach ulcers.
Out of caution, talk with your healthcare team before taking an over-the-counter NSAID while taking prednisone. They can also tell you about other drug interactions to keep in mind.
7. Don’t worry about 1 or 2 missed doses
If you take prednisone every day and miss or forget a dose, there’s no need to panic. Just take your dose as soon as you remember. But if it’s close to the time of your next scheduled dose, you should skip the dose you missed altogether. You should not take a “catch-up” dose, or take two doses at once.
However, if you were prescribed a short-term course of prednisone, these instructions may differ. Your prescriber may ask you to take multiple tablets at a time if you receive the medication late in the day or accidentally miss a dose. Make sure to defer to their instructions.
If you miss multiple doses in a row, prednisone may not work as well. And in rare cases, missing more than a few days of prednisone can lead to steroid withdrawal. This can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and stomach cramps. People taking steroid prescriptions long term are more likely to experience steroid withdrawal than those who take them for just a few days.
8. There are a number of prednisone side effects to keep in mind
In addition to upset stomach and trouble sleeping, prednisone has some other side effects to be aware of. This is especially true if you’re taking it long term. Here are some common side effects to watch out for and some tips for managing them.
High blood sugar
Your blood glucose (sugar) levels may go up while taking prednisone, even if your blood sugar was previously under control.
This risk is especially relevant for people living with diabetes. While you’re taking prednisone, you may need to check your blood sugar more often. This will help you stay informed and take action if your blood sugar levels don’t stay within your goal range.
High blood pressure
There’s a chance your blood pressure could go up while taking prednisone. This is because of the natural role that cortisol plays in your body.
If you’ve been told that you have high blood pressure, your prescriber may want you to check your blood pressure more often while you’re taking prednisone. If your blood pressure reading jumps to 180/120 mmHg or higher, don’t ignore it — even if you don’t have any noticeable symptoms. Contact your prescriber right away or seek emergency treatment.
Weight gain and fluid retention
Steroids such as prednisone can increase your appetite. This may cause you to eat more and gain weight while taking prednisone, especially if you take it long term. Steroids can also cause your body to hold on to extra fluid. Excess fluid can also lead to weight gain, often referred to as “water weight.”
There are a few strategies to help prevent weight gain while taking prednisone:
Avoid foods that are high in sugar and unhealthy fats.
Avoid or minimize alcohol.
Wear compression socks.
More severe side effects
They’re rare, but prednisone can also cause more severe side effects. These side effects are more often seen in people who take prednisone for a long time. Potential risks include:
Higher risk of infection
Heart disease
Kidney injury
If you experience signs or symptoms of any of these conditions, reach out to your healthcare team right away.
How to save money on your prednisone prescription
Prednisone is available as an oral tablet and oral solution (liquid). Both the tablets and solution are available as generic versions that are relatively affordable. GoodRx can help you find ways to save on the cost of your prescription.
You can find 30 tablets of generic prednisone 20 mg for $5.99 at certain pharmacies with a free GoodRx coupon. An equivalent amount of prednisone oral liquid can cost $80.10.
Frequently asked questions
It depends. If you’re treating symptoms of a short-lived condition, such as poison ivy or an asthma flare, inflammation often goes away after taking prednisone. But with chronic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation may return if you stop taking prednisone. Talk to your healthcare team about how long you’ll need to take prednisone and what to expect if and when you stop taking it.
There are a couple of reasons why you may feel bad after taking prednisone.
First of all, prednisone can cause side effects such as mood changes, sweating, and trouble sleeping. This can be unpleasant for some people. But these side effects typically go away once you stop taking prednisone. And many people only need a short course of prednisone to treat their condition.
Another thing to consider is that many of the conditions prednisone treats can also make you feel sick or run down. In this case, prednisone can help you feel better as it starts to reduce inflammation in the body. If you’re having severe or bothersome side effects while taking prednisone, reach out to your healthcare team for guidance.
It depends. If you’re treating symptoms of a short-lived condition, such as poison ivy or an asthma flare, inflammation often goes away after taking prednisone. But with chronic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation may return if you stop taking prednisone. Talk to your healthcare team about how long you’ll need to take prednisone and what to expect if and when you stop taking it.
There are a couple of reasons why you may feel bad after taking prednisone.
First of all, prednisone can cause side effects such as mood changes, sweating, and trouble sleeping. This can be unpleasant for some people. But these side effects typically go away once you stop taking prednisone. And many people only need a short course of prednisone to treat their condition.
Another thing to consider is that many of the conditions prednisone treats can also make you feel sick or run down. In this case, prednisone can help you feel better as it starts to reduce inflammation in the body. If you’re having severe or bothersome side effects while taking prednisone, reach out to your healthcare team for guidance.
The bottom line
Prednisone (Rayos, Prednisone Intensol) is a steroid used to treat a range of health issues, including inflammation, allergies, and autoimmune conditions. To help limit side effects, it’s best to take it with food, avoid alcohol and NSAIDs, and take your dose in the morning.
Prednisone begins working within hours, but it might take a few days to feel symptom relief. If you've been taking it for a while, don’t stop taking it suddenly — talk to your prescriber first to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
More severe prednisone side effects include a higher risk of infection, weakening of bones, and eye problems. But they’re more likely with long-term use. It’s best to talk to your healthcare team about the risks and benefits of prednisone before taking it.
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