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Prednisone is a synthetic steroid hormone, which is prescribed for a great number of medical conditions. This steroid is most noted for its use in preventing and treating rejection in organ transplantation. This steroid, or more correctly corticosteroid, is usually taken orally but can be administered via intramuscular injection.

One of the serious side effects of prednisone therapy is what is known as steroid-induced psychosis. Steroid-induced psychosis is characterized by hallucinations and delusions. If the patient experiences steroid-induced psychosis during prednisone therapy, dosage reduction or discontinuance of prednisone is recommended. It is advised that prednisone dosage should be tapered and not abruptly ceased.

This is because the adrenal gland, the gland responsible for the production of steroid hormones in the body, may have been suppressed by prolonged use of prednisone. As such, the adrenal gland may have atrophied and it would take some time for it to recover. Since most steroids are necessary for the body to function stopping abruptly your body’s source of hormones may cause further health problems.

Several medications are found to be effective in treating steroid-induced psychosis and these include risperidone. Patients who suffer from steroid-induced psychosis are advised against taking tricyclic antidepressants because it reportedly worsens prednisone psychiatric side effects.