From The Doctors Mouth

Prednisone, Prednisolone, Sone, Solone, Panafcorte, Panafcortelone, Dexamethasone The main message is that you should follow instructions on taking this medication carefully. If in doubt ring your doctor or pharmacist for advice. These tablets are commonly known as "cortisone" or Steroids. They come in different strengths, and the dosage is usually once daily. Often the dose requires gradual reduction before stopping . (The exception is when the duration of treatment is 3 or 4 days only or less) Steroids/cortisone are often used to treat asthma, allergy, and rarer diseases eg, polymyalgia, temporal arteritis, some forms of arthritis, as well as other conditions such as pressure on the brain, sarcoidosis (a lung disease) and some forms of leukaemia and cancer. Long term use is avoided whenever possible due to well-known side effects which almost always occur: Weight Gain, Osteoporosis (weak bones that break or cause a hunched appearance), Stretch Marks, Bruis