Prednisolone is a steroid drug of the glucocorticoid class of drugs. It is used in various inflammatory, autoimmune & cancer conditions.
USES OF PREDNISOLONE
- Asthma
- Various types of dermatitis
- Allergic rhinitis
- Steven-Johnson Syndrome
- Adrenocortical insufficiency.
- Acute Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis
- Autoimmune anemia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Acute leukemia
- Aggressive lymphoma
- Multiple sclerosis
- Lupus
- Acute COPD
- Aspergillosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Spondylitis
DOSAGE FOR PREDNISOLONE
Dosage forms available:
- Tablets: 1 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 50 mg
- Suspension: 15 mg/5 ml, 20 mg/5 ml
- Syrup: 5 mg/5 ml
- Oral disintegrating tablets: 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg
- Eye drops: 1%
- Ointment: 0.5%
- Injection
Dosage guidelines:
- Spondylitis: 60 mg dose once a day
- Osteoarthritis: 60 mg dose once a day
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: 60 mg dose once a day.
Missed dose: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Overdose:
a) Administration of gastric lavage & inducing vomiting.
b) Dialysis of kidney & rehydration therapy.
SIDE EFFECTS
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Blurred vision
- Decrease in the amount of urine
- dizziness
- Fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
- Headache
- Mood disorder
- Noisy, rattling breathing
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
- Pounding in the ears
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling of the fingers, hands, feet, or lower legs
- Trouble thinking, speaking, or walking
- Unwanted weight gain.
ADVERSE EFFECTS ARISING FROM PREDNISOLONE
- Fluid & electrolyte retention
- Hypokalemia
- Congestive heart failure
- Steroid myopathy, loss of muscle mass
- Osteoporosis
- Peptic ulcer
- Hemorrhage
- Pancreatitis
- Esophagitis
- Increased intracranial pressure
- Convulsions
- Vertigo
- Menstrual irregularities
- Increased intraocular pressure
- High blood sugar
PRECAUTIONS & CONTRAINDICATIONS
Prednisolone is contraindicated and precaution is advised in patients with following conditions:
- Hormonal insufficiency
- Endocrine gland problems
- Immunosuppression
- Neuromuscular disorders
- CNS problems
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Diabetes
- Diverticulitis
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Myasthenia gravis
- Liver dysfunction
- Renal dysfunction
- Thyroid disease.
INTERACTIONS OF PREDNISOLONE
- Prednisolone may enhance the toxic effect of AchE inhibitors.
- Hypokalemic effect of Amphotericin B is enhanced when in combination with prednisolone.
- Fluid retention effects of androgens are also enhanced.
- Antacids can decrease the bioavailability to oral corticosteroids.
- Prednisolone diminishes the therapeutic effect of anti diabetic drugs.
- When carbimazole is given with prednisolone, the serum concentration of the latter is decreased.
- Diltiazem in combination with prednisolone may increase the serum concentration of the latter.
- Corticosteroids diminish the therapeutic effect of hyaluronidase.
- Corticosteroids may enhance the adverse effects of NSAIDs.
- Prednisolone when given in presence of quinolone antibiotics may enhance the toxic effect of the latter & increase chances of tendon rupture.
- Corticosteroids can enhance the anticoagulant effect of Vitamin K.
IN PREGNANCY, BREAST FEEDING & CHILDREN
- Pregnancy: Prednisolone is a pregnancy category D drug, & is usually contraindicated in pregnant women.
- Breast Feeding: The drug is excreted in breast milk & is contraindicated in breast feeding mothers.
- Children: Given in extreme conditions.