Prednisone Withdrawal

Prednisone withdrawal is better considered as adrenal insufficiency secondary to adrenal suppression from long-term prednisone therapy. Prednisone withdrawal issues are very rare with short term treatment with prednisone. In general courses of prednisone lasting less than two weeks do not require prednisone taper and withdrawal symptoms is manifest by adrenocortical insufficiency are not a problem. With longer-term prednisone therapy a slow prednisone taper is necessary in order to prevent a possible adrenal crisis from insufficient naturally produced cortisol.

Cortisol is the primary adrenocortical steroid made in the adrenal cortex. The adrenal cortex releases cortisol at times of stress such as fever, serious illness, surgery or major injury. Any of these situations can lead to an adrenal crisis if a patient has been on prednisone for a long period of time leading to atrophy and inability of the adrenal cortex to produce adequate reserves of cortisol.

It’s very important to discuss with your physician discontinuation of prednisone and to very gradually undergo prednisone withdrawal is a medication. Most physicians are very familiar with this need to taper prednisone after prolonged use and you should not try to discontinue long-term prednisone therapy without careful physician supervision. See prednisone side effects for more information we have for you.