How Long Does Prednisone Stay In Your System

What is prednisone

Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug, particularly effective as an immunosuppressant drug; it is also used as an anti-inflammatory agent for certain moderate allergic reactions, as well as for some autoimmune diseases, and even cancer, albeit at higher doses.

After you ingest the drug, it does not exert any biological effect until it is metabolized by the liver, and converted into the pharmacologically active chemical ‘prednisolone’. This chemical, in turn, binds itself to the Alpha and Beta glucocorticoid receptors which are present within body tissues, thereby reducing inflammation.

Tapering off prednisone

If you have been prescribed to take prednisone for more than 7 days, then under no circumstances should you abruptly stop, as this will leave you with significant adverse side effects. The ideal way to lay-off of the drug is by tapering your dose slowly over a period of further 7 days.

How long does it take for your system to completely eliminate prednisone

The elimination half-life of prednisolone has been suggested to be around 3 to 4 hours. Generally for most drugs, including prednisone, complete elimination requires 5.5 lives. Thus, it can be expected that the drug will be completely excreted from your system after 16 to 22 hours on average.

Does Prednisone test positive on a drug screen
Urine Test	Yes	Prednisone is a corticosteroid; it is not looked for in tests which are generally done to detect anabolic steroids and other illicit opioids. In case you do test positive, showing the doctor’s prescription will prevent you from getting into trouble.
Saliva Test	Untraceable	–
Blood Test	Yes	As with the urine test, prednisone will not be found in your blood unless it is being looked for.
Hair follicle Test	Untraceable	–