Weird Side Effects

I know prednisone can cause GI side effects. It increases stress hormones (to help fight inflammation), so it would make sense that if you already have IBS, your symptoms could be impacted by the change (I have a different functional GI disorder), but my dad didn’t specifically experience that side effect.

Ditto to the change in urinalysis levels. Do you recall which numbers are off? Although how that I think about it, my dad felt so off when he started taking prednisone that he wasn’t really drinking fluids and got sort of dehydrated, which tends to throw off his labs. The differences weren’t considered clinically significant though.

excerpt: Prednisone is a corticosteroid medication that directly affects the immune system and inflammation levels. It is used to treat flare-ups for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as many other autoimmune conditions (when your body’s immune system attacks healthy cells by mistake). Although prednisone is highly effective in controlling temporary inflammation, it can come with possible side effects, like fluid retention, weight gain, and mood changes.

Several MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam members have mentioned frequent urination during Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis flare-ups. Some feel it’s related to kidney disease, and others have noted prediabetes or diabetes as a potential cause. Other members have wondered if it’s caused by medication.

Frequent urination isn’t the most common side effect of prednisone, but it’s also not unheard of. One member said, “When I take prednisone or budesonide, I urinate much more frequently, which is a known side effect of steroids. It’s worth looking up the side effects of all of your meds if you haven’t already, just in case. Also, if it hasn’t been checked, get your blood glucose level checked, as frequent urination is associated with increased blood sugar.”

Steroid use can affect blood sugar levels and the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), which could cause changes in urinary habits. In rare instances, steroids like prednisone can also cause issues with the adrenal glands. If you notice you’re more thirsty than usual or need to pee frequently while using these drugs, be sure to tell your doctor, so they can rule out any serious side effects.
https://www.mycrohnsandcolitisteam.com/resources/frequent-urination-with-prednisone-ways-to-manage-it

https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-prednisone-side-effects-1941763