Essay on Pharmacology: Hypertension and High Blood Pressure

Submitted By sciencefan
Words: 1792
Pages: 8

Generic Name: prednisone

Brand names
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Deltasone Liquid Pred Meticorten Orasone Prednicen-M Prednicot Sterapred Sterapred DS

Uses Prednisone is used alone or with other medications to treat the symptoms of low corticosteroid levels (lack of certain substances that are usually produced by the body and are needed for normal body functioning). Prednisone is also used to treat other conditions in patients with normal corticosteroid levels. These conditions include certain types of arthritis; severe allergic reactions; multiple sclerosis (a disease in which the nerves do not function properly); lupus (a disease in which the body attacks many of its own organs); and certain conditions that affect the lungs, skin, eyes, kidneys blood, thyroid, stomach, and intestines. Prednisone is also sometimes used to treat the symptoms of certain types of cancer. Prednisone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works to treat patients with low levels of corticosteroids by replacing steroids that are normally produced naturally by the body. It works to treat other conditions by reducing swelling and redness and by changing the way the immune system works.

Prednisone is in a class of drugs called steroids. Prednisone prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation. Prednisone is used to treat many different conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or breathing disorders

Adverse Reactions

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:


problems with your vision;

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swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath; severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions); bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood; pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate); low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Less serious side effects may include:
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sleep problems (insomnia), mood changes; acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration; slow wound healing; increased sweating; headache, dizziness, spinning sensation; nausea, stomach pain, bloating; or changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

Prednisone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
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headache dizziness difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep inappropriate happiness extreme changes in mood changes in personality bulging eyes acne thin, fragile skin red or purple blotches or lines under the skin slowed healing of cuts and bruises increased hair growth changes in the way fat is spread around the body extreme tiredness weak muscles irregular or absent menstrual periods decreased sexual desire heartburn increased sweating

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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vision problems eye pain, redness, or tearing sore throat, fever, chills, cough, or other signs of infection seizures depression loss of contact with reality confusion muscle twitching or tightening shaking of the hands that you cannot control numbness, burning, or tingling in the face, arms, legs, feet, or hands upset stomach vomiting lightheadedness irregular heartbeat sudden weight gain shortness of breath, especially during the night dry,