Prednisolone

💊 What is Prednisolone used for?

• •Hormone (endocrine) problems, such as adrenal insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, nonsuppurative thyroiditis, and high calcium caused by cancer
• •Rheumatic conditions as short-term add-on treatment, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, bursitis, tenosynovitis, and gouty arthritis
• •Collagen diseases during a flare or as maintenance in selected cases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and acute rheumatic carditis
• •Severe skin conditions, such as pemphigus, severe psoriasis, severe seborrheic dermatitis, and exfoliative dermatitis
• •Severe or incapacitating allergic conditions that have not responded to conventional treatment, such as allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, and serum sickness
• •Severe eye inflammation and allergic eye conditions, such as uveitis, iritis, optic neuritis, and allergic conjunctivitis
• •Certain lung conditions, such as symptomatic sarcoidosis, berylliosis, and aspiration pneumonitis
• •Certain blood conditions, such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults and acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia
• •Palliative (symptom-easing) management of leukemias and lymphomas in adults and acute leukemia in children

How it works

The label says corticosteroids suppress the immune system. It does not describe the mechanism in more detail.

How it is usually taken

• •The label says the dose is individualized to the disease being treated and the patient's response, and must be determined by the prescriber. The label says the dose should be decreased or stopped gradually when it has been given for more than a few days. Hormone therapy is described as an add-on to conventional therapy, not a replacement for it. The label also says that when a long-term treatment is being used, blood pressure, body weight, lab tests (including blood glucose and potassium), and chest X-rays should be checked at regular intervals. Follow the instructions from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Comes as

• •Oral solution (liquid), 15 mg of prednisolone in each 5 mL
• •Supplied in bottles of 60 mL and 120 mL

⚠️ Prednisolone side effects

🛑 Who should not take Prednisolone, and who should be careful

The label says not to take it if

• 🚨You have a systemic fungal infection. The label lists this as a contraindication.
• 🚨The label also says to avoid use in the presence of systemic fungal infections unless the medicine is needed to control drug reactions.

Tell your doctor before taking it if

• •The label warns that corticosteroids increase the risk of infection, may make infections worse, and can hide some signs of infection.
• •The label says to watch for infection and that the medicine may need to be stopped or lowered if an infection develops.
• •Tell your prescriber if you have tuberculosis or a positive tuberculin test, since reactivation can occur and monitoring is needed.
• •The label says hepatitis B should be screened for before treatment, especially for prolonged use.
• •Tell your prescriber if you have been in the tropics or have unexplained diarrhea, since the label says amebiasis should be ruled out.
• •The label says Strongyloides (threadworm) infection should be considered and the medicine used with great care.
• •If you are under unusual stress, the label says a higher dose of a rapidly acting corticosteroid may be needed before, during, and after the stressful situation.
• •If you have not had chickenpox or measles, or are not immune, the label says to take particular care to avoid exposure.

🔀 Prednisolone with other medicines, food and alcohol

The label says to discuss these with your doctor or pharmacist

The label does not say.

Alcohol and food

The label does not say.

🤰 Prednisolone in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

The label does not say.

Breastfeeding

The label does not say.

🗓️ Storage, missed doses and taking too much

Storage

The label's storage section lists only the package details (bottles of 60 mL and 120 mL). It does not give storage temperature or other storage instructions in the text provided. Ask your pharmacist how to store it.

If a dose is missed

The label does not say.

If too much is taken

The label does not say.

🗒️ Questions to ask about Prednisolone

• How much should I take, and how will my dose be lowered over time?
• Do I need to be checked for tuberculosis or hepatitis B before starting?
• What should I do if I am exposed to chickenpox or measles?
• Are there any infections I should watch for while taking this medicine?
• How often will my blood pressure, weight, and lab tests be checked?
• What should I do if I am under unusual stress, such as surgery or illness?
• Can this medicine affect my blood sugar or my diabetes medicines?

❓ Prednisolone: frequently asked questions