Guide To The Conditions Prednisone Treats

Prednisone is a prescription medication in a class of drugs referred to as corticosteroids. Prednisone can be given in several ways, including as an injection, pill, or inhalant. Prednisone works through reducing the activity of an individual's immune system. An individual's immune system is responsible for protecting the tissues from harmful substances and foreign pathogens. The immune system in a healthy individual's body responds when an injury occurs, or disease develops. Prednisone helps decrease these responses to ease symptoms that cause more harm than good, such as swelling and inflammation. Some disorders cause an individual's immune system to abnormally and inappropriately attack healthy tissues in their body, and prednisone can help stop the immune system from doing so. However, prednisone can have side effects such as headaches, mood changes, acne, dizziness, fatigue, weight gain, appetite changes, and edema.