The last time I took prednisone was Sunday, it is now Wednesday and I'm still feeling the side effects of withdrawal (headaches, nausea, irritability, steroid acne fluctuation, water retention). Learn how prednisone causes insomnia, osteoporosis, and weight gain from Dr. Megan as she teaches fellow pharmacists how to help their patients suffering from drug-induced side effects. Dr. Megan. Understanding Corticosteroid Side Effects Steroids are often extremely effective in relieving the pain and other symptoms of inflammatory arthritis and other forms of rheumatic disease. In some cases, they may be life-saving. Prednisone (prednisolone) is one of the most successfully and one of the most commonly used drug for treating a variety of diseases, but it can have many side effects. Some of the effects of long-term steroid use on our health are: weight gain, increased appetite, loss of muscle mass and bone density, increased fatty deposits, reduction in zinc, Vitamin D, and C levels; loss of potassium. When used for a short time, Prednisone is unlikely to cause side effects. However, prolonged use is not recommended because of the risk of metabolic disorders, bacterial or fungal infections, and diabetes. Prednisone is a potent drug. It should be taken after consultation with a doctor and under the medical practitioner’s supervision. Prednisone can be prescribed in different dosage amounts, depending on what condition is being treated. Exercising a couple of safety tips will help to relieve, and/or avoid any side effects from taking this drug. Prednisone Side Effects While prednisone is often helpful in getting the inflammation under control quickly, it may come with side effects. One potential side effect is increased appetite, which can, unfortunately, result in significant weight gain for some people. Children taking prednisone for any length of time should be monitored closely for any signs of long-term side effects such as impaired growth. To avoid growth impairment in children, smaller prednisone dosages (less than 0.5 milligrams per kilogram per day) are often recommended. Prednisone is a steroid. The reason it's prescribed is it's very effective in relieving inflammation in patients. Like other corticosteroid medications, prednisone has very negative side effects. Wolkowitz et al. 7 examined psychiatric side effects in a group of 12 healthy volunteers receiving 80 mg/day of prednisone for 5 days. Most subjects reported some symptoms, including depressed or elevated mood, irritability, lability, insomnia, increased energy, anxiety, or depersonalization, but no group mean changes in psychiatric rating scales could be demonstrated perhaps due to the.