Prednisone
Prednisone, a commonly prescribed steroid, plays a significant role in managing kidney-related inflammation and other symptoms. This page is dedicated to providing you with a clear overview of how prednisone works, its potential benefits, and important considerations to keep in mind.
Starting a new medicine and managing kidney disease treatment can come with challenges and uncertainty. We're here to support you with reliable information that can help ease your concerns and make your treatment journey as smooth as possible. By learning more about prednisone and other medicines, you'll be better prepared to discuss this treatment option with your health care provider and make informed decisions that align with your health goals.
- Medically reviewed by
- AKF's Medical Advisory Committee
- Last updated
- August 28, 2024
What is prednisone?
Prednisone is a prescription steroid medicine used to lower inflammation in your body and calm your immune system. Inflammation is the result of your body's reaction to something and can be seen in symptoms like rashes, joint pain, and swelling. Your immune system is your body's system to protect against infection.
Prednisone can be taken by adults and children in many different ways, including by mouth, injection or inhaler. It is usually taken as a pill for kidney diseases treated with steroids or after a kidney transplant.
Prednisone belongs to a class of medicines called corticosteroids.
How does prednisone slow down the damage to my kidneys?
Prednisone lowers inflammation), which can help prevent or slow kidney damage in certain types of kidney disease and help your body accept a new kidney after a transplant.
Prednisone can help prevent or slow kidney damage caused by some types of kidney diseases called glomerular diseases. Glomerular diseases include (but are not limited to):
- Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)– Scarring of the glomeruli
- Minimal change disease (MCD) – Damage to the glomeruli, which most often happens in children
- IgA nephropathy – Damage that happens when immunoglobulin A (IgA) proteins stick to the glomeruli and cause inflammation (swelling)
Prednisone can also lower inflammation from other conditions, such as connective tissue diseases or allergic reactions, including when they may hurt the kidneys.
These diseases may:
- Damage the tiny filters in your kidneys (glomeruli) that clean your blood
- Prevent the glomeruli from filtering out acids and other waste products from your blood, so the waste builds up in your bloodstream
- Allow protein to leak into your urine (pee) so you have less protein in your blood to remove extra fluid from your body. This can cause swelling in your face, hands, feet, upper belly area and ankles.
- Acute interstitial nephritisis a disease that causes inflammation (swelling) around part of your kidney's filters called tubules. Prednisone may improve outcomes and accelerate renal recovery.
Prednisone helps calm the reaction of your immune system to keep it from rejecting a new kidney after a transplant. Doctors may prescribe it with several other medicines to lower the chance of rejection.
What are some common side effects of prednisone?
Common side effects of prednisone include:
- Headaches
- Changes in mood
- Slower healing of cuts and bruises
- Acne
- Feeling tired (fatigue)
- Feeling dizzy
- Changes in appetite
- Weight gain
- Swelling in the face, arms, hands, lower legs or feet
- High blood pressure
- Increased feelings of anxiety
- Inability to sleep
- At high doses, it can suppress the immune system, making you have a higher risk for infections
The more prednisone you take and the longer you take it, the more likely you will have side effects. It also raises blood sugar, so doctors check blood sugar levels of people with diabetes while they are on this medicine.
It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about medication and medication management questions you have.
