Will being on 10mg/day of prednisone (tapered down from 3 wks@20mg, 1wk@15mg) make it harder to fight off gastroenteritis? i have ulcerative colitis.

Maybe, but...: Think of Prednisone as a suppressant of the immune system. It serves to reduce the immune response that causes colitis flares. It also reduces your chance to fight infection. Of course, colitis when active also reduces your chance to fight infection. Prednisone has many pros and cons, & has many short term benefits for a colitis sufferer, but is never a long-term drug choice. Be well--.

Steroid gastritis: Corticosteroids like Prednisone can cause gastritis and ulcers, but ironically is used to treat episodes of colon ulcers and flares from ulcerative colitis. If you require several days of prednisone, or have recurrent uc attacks for which you have to take prednisone, then consideration of a protective med for your stomach is a good idea. Prilosec otc and Prevacid (lansoprazole) are otc, talk to your GI doc.