A short term, high dose prednisone treatment restored enough kidney function for my sister that she is no longer looking at a transplant or dialysis.

Bi-weekly, 5mg doses of prednisone to treat chronic pancreatitis have extended the life of one of my cats going on 5 years now, and greatly increased her quality of life in her senior age. The same dose occasionally treats another cats intermittent IBD that otherwise, before treatment, would eventually progress to triaditis and hospitalization.

Yes, it has side effects, and patients should be made aware of that. But acting like it's something that should never be given is ignorant at best. It is cheap, widely available, and is a first-line treatment for a number of conditions.