Prednisone a man-made version of a hormone produced naturally by the adrenal gland that can help reduce inflammation and stop allergic responses. It is prescribed when the body is not producing enough of this chemical on its own.
How does it work?
For PNH, it may be used to decrease hemolysis caused by PNH. It may make the complement system less active. Prednisone does not stop all hemolysis, however, and it does have a lot side effects, especially if taken for a long time. Currently, doctors disagree about whether it should be used by PNH patients.
For aplastic anemia it may be used to stop the effects of serum sickness after immunosuppressive therapy with ATG.
Prednisone may also increase counts of white blood cells and platelets in some bone marrow failure patients.
What are common side effects?
Some common side effects of Prednisone include:
- sleep problems (insomnia)
- mood changes
- increased appetite
- acne
- increased sweating
- dry or thinning skin
- slow wound healing
- headache, dizziness, spinning sensation
- nausea, stomach pain
Most people who take prednisone for a long time use it only every other day. This schedule eases the most severe side effects of prednisone.