DEAR DR. GOTT:
What are some of the side effects of prednisone or an overdose of it? My elderly dad who is 82 and fairly healthy came down with a cold a few months ago. He saw his doctor who prescribed prednisone, two pills by mouth four times a day for five days. After taking four days he became delirious and nearly lost consciousness. He went back to the doctor who simply said “Oh, yeah”.

My father seems to be tired a lot, has very little energy and is short of breath. He is seeing a heart specialist who diagnosed him with a fibrillating heart. He never had heart problems before the prednisone. Could the medication have caused his heart problem?

DEAR READER:
Prednisone is an oral corticosteroid and is not an appropriate treatment option for trivial colds. [Read more...]