Can You Drink Alcohol with Prednisolone

Prednisolone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is often prescribed for its anti-inflammatory and autoimmune-responsive qualities.

As a synthetic substance, Prednisolone is man made, often in a laboratory or controlled environment in which exact measurements and quantities can be ensured.

A corticosteroid is a substance that is designed to mimic cortisol and takes its place in the body where it may not be being produced in sufficient quantities or at all.

This works by suppressing inflammation in specific areas and alleviate some more serious symptoms that often co-occur with conditions such as asthma and arthritis.

As Prednisolone is a prescription substance, this means that it must always be acquired over the counter. This is usually as a result of a doctors’ recommendation/prescription but can also be in emergency situations.

Prednisolone is not generally taken for long periods of time, so individuals should establish their prescription schedule at the time of prescription and be aware of its effects.

What is Prednisolone commonly prescribed to treat?

As a prescription substance, Prednisolone is generally prescribed to treat the following or similar conditions:

Inflammatory and autoimmune diseases/conditions – i.e., rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS) flare-ups, and lupus
Eye conditions – itching or redness, as well as swelling caused by infections of the eye of inflammation of the area around the eye
Respiratory conditions – includes severe allergic reactions, as well as flare-ups as a result of asthma
Gastrointestinal conditions – i.e., Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the large intestine)
Endocrine conditions – replaces cortisol when not enough/none is produced

Please be aware that not all individual cases will be treated the same way and this is not an extensive list of diagnoses.

There are many more conditions that Prednisolone can benefit, and there are also some instances in which the above conditions may not benefit from being treated by Prednisolone.

How Prednisolone is taken

In general, Prednisolone is prescribed in three main forms.

These forms are as follows:

Tablets – for oral consumption
Oral liquids – to be consumed like a beverage and the fastest acting method (1)
Eye drops – for direct application to the area of affect

The method of an individual’s Prednisolone consumption will generally depend on the condition for which they are hoping to benefit from the treatment of.

For example, eye inflammation and soreness generally always requires Prednisolone in eye drop form, whereas internal issues such as arthritis-based issues and digestive system conditions can require other methods.

The dosage that is required also heavily depends on the individual receiving the drug, as an individual’s age, weight, and the severity of their condition can all greatly impact this.

Speak to a medical professional should you have a preference that can be accommodated for.

Side effects of Prednisolone

As with all substances, Prednisolone can have a multitude of side effects. These can occur whether the individual is following their prescription or not, but those who follow their prescription as instructed are likely to experience far fewer issues.

In general, Prednisolone is not taken for long periods of time, but in the cases where this is unavoidable, individuals may experience some of the following symptoms:

Mood changes/swings – sudden or unexplained changes to mood, including positive and negative emotions
Weight gain – some effects of the substance can cause the individual to gain weight, often as a result of an affected metabolism
High blood pressure – in some cases, prolonged use of Prednisolone can lead to an increased pressure in blood veins and arteries
Osteoporosis – referring to weakened bones, this is another risk of prolonged use of Prednisolone
Increased risk of developing infections

Please be aware that this list is not extensive and there are many more side effects that have been reported in a small number of cases. Individuals with concerns should always contact their prescriber/medical professional in the case of any doubt.

How to stop taking Prednisolone

With most substances, the body will begin to build up a tolerance to the effects on the body. This means that individuals should never stop taking Prednisolone all of a sudden, especially after a long period of taking it.

This is because it can have a serious shock impact on the body and cause a host of withdrawal impacts – most of which are unpleasant and can be avoided in most cases.

In most cases, the medical professional who prescribed Prednisolone originally will develop a tapering programme, meaning that the amount that the individual is consuming will slowly decrease over time to help alleviate any negative impacts that may arise.

In terms of cortisol, this is the best way; it allows the individual to slowly adapt to producing its own cortisol again and be independent of the substance that Prednisolone is providing.

Interactions with other substances: is Prednisolone dangerous to mix?

Most drugs come with warnings about consumption with other substances, and Prednisolone is no different.

Generally, it is not recommended to consume Prednisolone with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Nurofen) due to the increased risk of developing stomach ulcers.

Stomach ulcers are caused when digestive acids damage the stomach lining (usually protected by a mucus layer), meaning that it is often recommended for individuals to eat something before consuming these substances as well, though this is often decided by the medical prescriber at the time of prescription.

Alcohol and Prednisolone

Though Prednisolone is often prescribed in the field of alcohol-related issues (2), this does not mean that the two substances should be consumed at the same time.

Generally, when consuming Prednisolone as a part of a medically prescribed treatment programme, individuals will be told not to drink on the substance and avoid alcohol where possible.

As well as antagonising some of the symptoms that Prednisolone is prescribed for, alcohol can have many of the same effects as the side effects. This includes mood changes, weight gain, and heightened blood pressure, but can also impact an individual’s judgement.

In some cases, this can lead to missed doses and therefore a lowered rate of effectiveness.

What to do if you have consumed alcohol and Prednisolone

In the situations where an individual is concerned about their Prednisolone prescription and potential alcohol intervention, they should speak to a medical professional as soon as possible.

In emergency cases (if the individual starts to feel unwell, for example), the relevant emergency services should be contacted without delay.

Alcohol in of itself can cause serious health issues, so being aware of what the individual has consumed and when is a great way to avoid serious health complications and work toward treating the issues appropriately and where needed.

Alcohol addictions and Prednisolone

In some cases, individuals who require Prednisolone as a prescription may also be struggling with an alcohol addiction.

In these cases, the prescription of Prednisolone is not often recommended due to the interactions of the substances, and another alternative may have to be found.

Often, these individuals will be encouraged to enter some form of rehabilitation to treat and manage their addiction, as well as managing the symptoms of any additional health issues they are struggling with.

All individuals who are struggling with alcoholism are encouraged to enter some form of rehabilitation as it is often life-threatening and can result in lifelong problems when attempting to rehabilitate alone.

The detoxification process alone (where the individual withdraws) comes with multiple health risks, meaning that it is always essential that individuals seek some form of medical and/or professional support in finding and starting the most suitable recovery programme for them.

Rehabilitation for alcoholism: what is the process?

All rehabilitation through Rehab Recovery will follow the proceeding three key stages. These are outlined below:

Detoxification – where the individual prepares physically for recovery and rehabilitation by going though withdrawal. This includes the removal of harmful chemicals in the body that have built up throughout the duration of an individual’s addiction and requires a safe and appropriate withdrawal schedule.
Rehabilitation/therapy – the bulk of treatment where individuals focus on their mental health through an endless number of therapeutic options, some more counselling-based and others more holistic.
Aftercare – an individual can continue to rehabilitate for the rest of their life if they choose, so aftercare refers to any ongoing treatments that the individual receives after their main therapies and rehabilitative practices within rehab itself. This can be supplemented with an aftercare support officer, or the individual can continue learning with independent materials and resources provided by their addiction rehabilitation provider.

Further information and support available through Rehab Recovery

To learn more about anything mentioned in this article, or any queries relating to Prednisolone, alcohol, addiction, or rehabilitation, contact our support line today.

No matter how short or long-term an individual’s addiction may be, Rehab Recovery is ready and waiting to support anyone who needs it.

Get in touch today through our addiction support line on 0800 088 66 86.

References

[1] Pickup, M.E., 1979. Clinical pharmacokinetics of prednisone and prednisolone. Clinical pharmacokinetics, 4(2), pp.111-128.

[2] Kulkarni, A.V., Kumar, K., Giri, S., Arab, J.P., Venishetty, S., Premkumar, M., Kadnur, H.B., Sharma, M., Alla, M., Iyengar, S. and Nayak, G., 2025. Infections in standard or tapered dose of prednisolone for alcohol-associated hepatitis: a randomized trial (STASH trial). Official journal of the American College of Gastroenterology| ACG, 120(12), pp.2821-2831.