Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Prednisone?

Is it dangerous to combine alcohol and prednisone? Some medications can lose effectiveness or lead to dangerous side effects when mixed with alcohol.

Contact Bright Future Recovery today to learn more about addiction treatment in Northern California. 

What Is Prednisone?

Prednisone is a synthetic (lab-created) glucocorticoid, which is a type of corticosteroid. It is derived from cortisone, which is also a synthetic corticosteroid.

Unlike anabolic steroids, which are often used (and abused) to increase muscle mass, prednisone and other corticosteroids are typically prescribed to reduce inflammation and address autoimmune concerns.

Conditions treated with prednisone include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Asthma
• Lupus
• Ulcerative colitis
• Inflammatory bowel diseases
• Crohn’s disease
• Some allergic reactions
• Certain skin diseases
• Addison’s disease

Prednisone earned approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1955, and has also been included in the World Health Organization’s Model List of Essential Medicines. 

Side Effects and Other Dangers

Every prescription medication can cause unintended adverse reactions. In the case of prednisone, the more common side effects include:

• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Fluid retention
• Increased appetite
• Weight gain
• Mood swings

More dangerous side effects, many of which are associated with long-term prednisone use, include:

• Glaucoma and cataracts
• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Osteoporosis (loss of bone mass)
• Muscle weakness
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Viral, bacterial, and/or fungal infections
• Bleeding in the stomach
• Severe allergic reaction

Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Prednisone?

The general consensus on combining prednisone and alcohol is that it’s not a great idea. Some sources advocate for complete abstinence from alcohol while taking prednisone, while others suggest that moderate alcohol use may be OK.

For example, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) advises patients to limit their alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day to minimize risk of osteoporosis.  

The ACR indicates that this is general guidance that may not be applicable to each person, noting that “clinicians and patients should use a shared decision-making process that accounts for patients’ values, preferences, and comorbidities.”

Alcohol and Prednisone: Risk Factors

Your risk of being harmed by combining alcohol with prednisone can be influenced by several factors, including:

• What condition you are taking prednisone to treat
• The amount of your daily prednisone dose 
• How long you’ve been taking prednisone
• The amount and frequency of your alcohol use
• If you have any co-occurring medical or mental health concerns

Alcohol and Prednisone: Dangers

As noted earlier in today’s post, prednisone can cause a variety of adverse effects. Alcohol can also expose a person to significant harm. 

When someone uses alcohol and prednisone at the same time, the combination may intensify the effects that either substance can cause on their own. Potential negative outcomes can include:

• Bone damage: Alcohol-related nutritional deficiencies can put a person at risk of osteoporosis. Long-term prednisone use can also lead to bone mass loss.
• Infectious diseases: Prednisone suppresses some functions of the immune system, which is why infections are among its potential side effects. Alcohol use can also diminish your body’s natural ability to fight off bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
• Type 2 diabetes: Using either alcohol or prednisone can cause elevated blood sugar levels. Using both substances at the same time can intensify this effect, which can put you in danger of developing Type 2 diabetes.
• Gastrointestinal difficulties: Both of these drugs can cause or exacerbate digestive problems, ulcers, bleeding, nausea, and related complications.
• Liver damage: Alcohol puts considerable strain on the liver, which can lead to liver disease and eventually liver failure. Prednisone use can also contribute to a buildup of fat in the liver, which can diminish its ability to filter toxins from the bloodstream.
• Overweight and obesity: Alcohol and prednisone have both been linked with weight gain.
• Mental health concerns: Prednisone can lead to mood swings, while alcohol is a risk factor for several psychiatric conditions. Combining these drugs can contribute to the onset or worsening of various mental health problems.

What Happens if I Can’t Stop Drinking?

If your doctors advises you to avoid combining prednisone and alcohol, but you find it difficult to stop drinking, that could be a sign of alcohol use disorder (alcoholism).

Signs of Alcohol Addiction

Common symptoms of alcoholism include:

• Drinking more, or for a longer period of time, than you intended to
• Feeling like you need alcohol to “loosen up,” deal with stress, and/or experience happiness
• Forgetting to pay bills, neglecting to show up for appointments, or failing to meet other responsibilities as a result of your alcohol use
• Lying to friends and family members about how much and how often you drink
• Using alcohol in circumstances that pose a clear physical danger, such as drinking and driving or drinking while using other drugs
• Continuing to use alcohol even after incurring some type of harm (such as health problems, job loss, the end of a relationship, or being arrested) due to previous drinking
• No longer participating in enjoyable or important activities as a result of your alcohol use
• Needing to drink more than you used to in order to experience the effects of alcohol
• Developing withdrawal symptoms when you try to end or curtail your alcohol use
• Having a persistent desire to quit drinking, but being unable to do so

If these symptoms sound familiar to you, talk to your doctor or schedule an assessment with a reputable rehab program in your area. Alcohol addiction is a treatable condition. With the right type of care and a concerted effort on your part, you can escape the darkness of compulsive drinking and begin to live a much healthier and more hopeful life in recovery. 

Learn More About Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Northern California

Bright Future Recovery offers comprehensive, personalized addiction treatment services in a luxurious environment. 

Treatment options at our alcohol rehab in Northern California include detox, residential care, an intensive outpatient program, and a virtual outpatient program. We also provide dual diagnosis services to patients who have been struggling with co-occurring mental health concerns.

To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Contact page or call us today.