What does it do?

Prednisone is a steroid medicine used with other medicines to prevent transplant rejection.

How should you take it?

Take prednisone regularly as directed, usually in the morning. Take with food and a glass of water.

What if you forget a dose?

Take the missed dose if you remember on the same day. If not, skip the dose and carry on as normal. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Can you take other medicines?

Some medicines available without a prescription may react with prednisone including:

• anti-inflammatories, such as diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren®), ibuprofen (e.g. Nurofen®), or aspirin (e.g. Disprin®, in doses used for pain relief). These can also be found in some cold and flu medicines (e.g. Nurofen Cold and Flu®).

Tell your pharmacist or doctor about all medicines or treatments that you may be taking, including vitamins, herbal products (e.g. echinacea) or recreational drugs.

What side effects might you notice?

Side Effects	Recommended action
Changes in vision Peeing more often, feeling thirsty Muscle or bone aches and pains	Tell your doctor
Mood changes, restlessness, trouble sleeping Weight gain, swollen feet or legs Skin thinning, acne	Tell your doctor if troublesome
Stomach upset	Take with food and tell your doctor if symptoms continue

If you notice any other effects, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other information:

• It may be dangerous to stop taking prednisone suddenly. Your doctor at the transplant clinic may reduce the dose gradually.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• Long term use of steroids may be associated with a range of side effects such as: round face, change in body shape, change in hair growth, thinning of the bones, increased blood pressure and diabetes.
• Long-term use of prednisone can weaken your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight infections. Tell your doctor if you become unwell or come into contact with someone who has a contagious infection such as chicken pox or measles.
• Ask your doctor what vaccines you might need before you start and while you are taking prednisone. You should not have a live vaccine while taking prednisone.
• Prednisone, when used with other immunosuppressant medicines, can rarely cause serious bone damage. This is called avascular necrosis and is caused by a loss of blood supply to the bone. It most commonly occurs in the hip and may cause pain or difficulty walking. In some cases surgery is required to treat this.
• It is important to tell anyone who gives you medical or dental treatment that you are taking prednisone.