{"id":631354,"date":"2025-02-11T16:21:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T21:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=631354"},"modified":"2025-02-11T16:21:27","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T21:21:27","slug":"prednisone-side-effects-uti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/prednisone-side-effects-uti\/","title":{"rendered":"Can prednisone cause a UTI?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prednisone<\/span><\/a> is a generic corticosteroid that\u2019s approved to treat various medical conditions, primarily those dealing with the immune system and that cause inflammation. Examples include asthma, autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain cancers. <\/span>Prednisone<\/span><\/a> is a generic medication that is also sold under the brand names Omnipred, Millipred, Econopred, Flo-Pred, Orapred, and Pediapred.<\/span><\/p>\n

One characteristic of prednisone is that it can suppress your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, not everyone who takes prednisone will experience infections. Here\u2019s what we know.<\/span><\/p>\n

A prednisone UTI: Why it may happen<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Prednisone, as well as other corticosteroids, can increase the risk of <\/span>UTIs<\/span><\/a> in certain individuals. But there are various factors at play, and prednisone doesn\u2019t cause UTIs in everyone who takes it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

David Sheyn<\/span><\/a>, MD, an OB-GYN and associate professor of urology at Case Western Reserve University says certain people are simply more prone to UTIs in general. For example, females are more likely than men to get UTIs, as are people who use urinary catheters or have had previous urologic surgery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Justin Houman<\/span><\/a>, MD, a urologist at Tower Urology and assistant professor of Urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, explains that prednisone itself doesn\u2019t directly cause you to get a UTI. \u201cHowever, it can increase the risk of UTIs in certain individuals because it suppresses the immune system,\u201d he says. \u201cBy lowering your body\u2019s ability to fight infections, prednisone can make you more susceptible to bacterial overgrowth and infections, including in the urinary tract.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s important to understand that it\u2019s<\/span> prednisone\u2019s job to suppress the immune system<\/span><\/a> in order to reduce inflammation in certain conditions. \u201cWhile this is beneficial for managing conditions like autoimmune diseases or allergies, it can also impair the body’s ability to fight off bacteria in the urinary tract,\u201d Dr. Houman says. For some people, prednisone also alters the balance of bacteria in the body, which increases the risk of infections like UTIs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other prednisone side effects<\/span><\/h2>\n

Like any other prescription medication,<\/span> prednisone can cause side effects.<\/span><\/a> The probability of side effects occurring is dependent on how long you\u2019ve been taking the medication, with<\/span> longer durations more likely to cause side effects<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn general, short-term use of steroids is considered fairly safe,\u201d Dr. Sheyn says. \u201cIt is important to know that when doctors prescribe steroids, we use the shortest possible duration and lowest possible dose to treat a specific condition and always monitor for serious side effects (which are generally considered uncommon).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to an <\/span>increased risk of infections<\/span><\/a> when taking prednisone, the following are other potential side effects to watch for, according to Dr. Houman:<\/span><\/p>\n