For me I am usually prescribed it for a short time to get my inflammation down. Never as needed. My doctor says it's kind of like an antibiotic. Take it for the time prescribed to get everything under control.

I have taken it for flare ups. I only took it for 1 or 2 days. After starting acupuncture I haven’t needed it and take otc pain relievers like Tylenol instead.

As others have said it things bones but it also rises sugar levels in your body. I wear a diabetes monitor on my arm and when I take Prednisone it spikes like crazy and normally takes a week or so to normalize after I take my last Prednisone pill. Now that I've seen what it does first hand I have to be in a major flare before grabbing for the Prednisone. It is a wonder drug for inflammation but use it sparingly. Good luck.

My first rheumy put me on 2.5 mg presnisone daily. My next rheumy increased to 7.5 mg daily and doubled my hydroxychloroquin. It’s been two years. I am concerned for myself remaining on the prednisone.

My Rheumatologist and Hip Surgeon told me never to take Prednisone again due to brittle bones from RA and Sjogrens. And, i havent had many doses of that in my life.