Prednisone tips from pharmacists

• Taking prednisone in the morning with food can help to reduce side effects like upset stomach and trouble sleeping.

• If you have high blood pressure or high blood sugar, monitor your blood pressure and blood sugar levels while on prednisone treatment. This medicine can raise your blood pressure and blood glucose levels.

• Talk to your doctor before getting a vaccine while on prednisone.

• If you have been on prednisone for more than a week, your doctor will give you a dosing schedule to slowly reduce the dose. Stopping prednisone suddenly can be dangerous.

• Call your doctor right away if you develop symptoms of infection while on prednisone, such as fever, chills, cough, flu-like symptoms, trouble passing urine, or wounds that will not heal.