You mentioned prednisone - nobody should be on that long term. It was the first thing my doc took me OFF, as he said it wasn't good beyond emergency use - and that was just 2 months, if i recall.
He's the only doctor I've found here who knows what he's doing. Yes, he prescribes drugs, but is extremely careful as most of his patients come with symptoms of drug-reactions from other less-careful "doctors".
Just to add, I'm still researching the epigenetic damage done to me by drugs - maybe have a fresh delve every 6 months - I've even hit paywall-dirt, knowledge hidden behind paid databases. But I have found info that my doc agreed could be true - the only problem is that even knowing that there is still no known antidote to reverse the damage.
My son was on it from age 8 to age 16. His pediatric gastroenterologist was the head of pediatric gastroenteroloy of Tisch/NYU, a very big honcho. I trusted him to know how much was too much. The fact is, he did know my son had taken too much but, as a special needs patient to begin with (vaccine injury likely), my son was given subpar care. I believe this effect is eugenics.
I'm glad you've found a doctor who does not overprescribe. The older doctors are much better, but they are dying off or getting too sick to work (via age and/or lethal injection) in droves now. I have ceased going to those quacks altogether for myself. Their standard diagnostic tests alone can kill you.