Uses
Prednisolone is used alone or with other medications to treat the symptoms of low corticosteroid levels (lack of certain substances that are usually produced by the body and are needed for normal body functioning). Prednisolone is also used to treat certain conditions that affect the blood, skin, eyes, central nervous system, kidneys, lungs, stomach, and intestines. It is also used to treat allergic reactions; and certain types of arthritis; multiple sclerosis (a disease in which the nerves do not function properly); and to help prevent transplant rejection (attack of the transplanted organ by the body) in certain adults who have received a transplant. Prednisolone is also sometimes used to treat symptoms of certain types of cancer. Prednisolone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works by reducing swelling and redness and by changing the way the immune system works.
Side Effects Of Prednisolone
Prednisolone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- headache
- nausea
- extreme changes in mood, including unusual happiness
- changes in personality
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- thin, fragile skin
- slowed healing of cuts and bruises
- acne
- thinning hair
- increased appetite
- changes in the way fat is spread around the body
- increased sweating
- irregular or absent menstrual periods
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
- sore throat, fever, chills, cough, or other signs of infection
- seizures
- muscle weakness
- vision problems
- depression
- loss of contact with reality
- sudden weight gain
- stomach swelling
- swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- rash
- hives
- itching
- Prednisolone may slow growth and development in children. Your child’s doctor will watch his or her growth carefully. Talk to your child’s doctor about the risks of giving prednisolone to your child.
- Prednisolone may increase the risk that you will develop osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking prednisolone and about things that you can do to decrease the chance that you will develop osteoporosis.
- Some patients who took prednisolone or similar medications developed a type of cancer called Kaposi’s sarcoma. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking prednisolone.
Prednisolone may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
Warnings & Precautions
Before taking prednisolone:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to prednisolone, other corticosteroids such as prednisone (Rayos), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in prednisolone products. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: aminoglutethimide (Cytadren; no longer available in the US); amphotericin (Abelcet, Ambisome, Amphotec); anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naproxen) and selective COX-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib (Celebrex); carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol, others); cholestyramine (Prevalite); cyclosporine (Neoral, Gengraf, Sandimmune); digoxin (Lanoxin); diuretics (‘water pills’); erthryomycin (E.E.S. Erythrocin); estrogens including hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, implants, and injections); isoniazid (Laniazid, in Rifamate, in Rifater); ketoconazole (Nizoral); medications for diabetes including insulin; phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifater, in Rifamate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor if you have a fungal infection (other than on your skin or nails). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take prednisolone.
- tell your doctor if you have an eye infection or have ever had eye infections that come and go. Also, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had cataracts; glaucoma (a condition in which increased pressure in the eye can lead to a gradual loss of vision); threadworms (a type of worm that can live inside the body); Cushing’s syndrome (a condition where the body produces too much of the hormone cortisol); diabetes; high blood pressure; heart failure; malaria (a serious infection that is spread by mosquitoes in certain parts of the world and can cause death); emotional problems, depression, or other types of mental illness; osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become weak and fragile and can break easily); tuberculosis (TB); ulcers; or liver, kidney, intestinal, heart, or thyroid disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking prednisolone, call your doctor.
- do not have any vaccinations (shots to prevent diseases) without talking to your doctor.
- you should know that prednisolone may decrease your ability to fight infection and may prevent you from developing symptoms if you get an infection. Stay away from people who are sick and wash your hands often while you are taking this medication. Be sure to avoid people who have chickenpox or measles. Call your doctor immediately if you think you may have been around someone who had chickenpox or measles.
Dosage Of Prednisolone
Prednisolone comes as a tablet, an orally disintegrating tablet (tablet that dissolves quickly in the mouth), a solution (liquid), and as a suspension (liquid) to take by mouth with food. Your doctor will probably tell you to take your dose(s) of prednisolone at a certain time(s) of the day every day. Your personal dosing schedule will depend on your condition and on how you respond to treatment. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take prednisolone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often or for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor.
To take the orally disintegrating tablet, use dry hands to peel back the foil packaging. Immediately take out the tablet and place it on your tongue. The tablet will quickly dissolve and can be swallowed with or without water. Do not chew, split, or break the tablet.
Your doctor may change your dose of prednisolone during your treatment to be sure that you are always taking the lowest dose that works for you. Your doctor may also need to change your dose if you experience unusual stress on your body such as surgery, illness, infection, or a severe asthma attack. Tell your doctor if your symptoms improve or get worse or if you get sick or have any changes in your health during your treatment.
If you are taking prednisolone to treat an ongoing condition, this medication may help control your condition but will not cure it. Continue to take prednisolone even if you feel well. Do not stop taking prednisolone without talking to your doctor. If you suddenly stop taking prednisolone, your body may not have enough naturally produced steroids to function normally. This may cause symptoms such as extreme tiredness, weakness, slowed movements, upset stomach, weight loss, changes in skin color, sores in the mouth, and craving for salt. Call your doctor if you experience these or other unusual symptoms while you are taking decreasing doses of prednisolone or after you stop taking the medication.
Other
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body’s response to prednisolone.
If you are having any skin tests such as allergy tests or tuberculosis tests, tell the doctor or technician that you are taking prednisolone.
If you have diabetes, prednisolone may increase your blood sugar level. If you monitor your blood sugar (glucose) at home, test your blood or urine more frequently than usual. Call your doctor if your blood sugar is high.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
