What side effects should we watch for?
Common ones are a bigger appetite and weight gain, poor sleep, and mood changes. Over time steroids can raise blood pressure and blood sugar, thin the bones and make infections more likely.
The full answer, with the sources, is in the guide.
Sources
- NHS medicines: Prednisolone
- NHS: Polymyalgia rheumatica, treatment
- Arthritis UK (formerly Versus Arthritis): Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)
- US National Institutes of Health (NIAMS): Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis
Reviewed 2026-11-09 · next review 2027-11-09