💊 Prednisolone (Prednisolone)
Prednisolone is a corticosteroid used mainly for its potent anti-inflammatory effects in disorders of many organ systems. It is available by prescription only, and the dose and duration are set by your doctor according to the condition and your response.
In Arabic: بريدنيزولون
🏷️ Brand names & manufacturers
Prednisolone🏭 Aurobindo Pharma LimitedDailyMed✅ What it is used for
- Endocrine disorders such as adrenocortical insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, nonsuppurative thyroiditis and hypercalcemia associated with cancer
- Rheumatic disorders as short-term adjunctive therapy: psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (including juvenile), ankylosing spondylitis, bursitis, acute gouty arthritis
- Collagen diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, acute rheumatic carditis and dermatomyositis
- Dermatologic diseases such as pemphigus, dermatitis herpetiformis, severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), exfoliative dermatitis and severe psoriasis
- Severe allergic states not controlled by conventional treatment: allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, contact and atopic dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity, serum sickness
- Severe inflammatory and allergic eye diseases such as allergic conjunctivitis, keratitis, iritis, uveitis and optic neuritis
- Respiratory diseases such as symptomatic sarcoidosis, Loeffler's syndrome, berylliosis, aspiration pneumonitis, and fulminating or disseminated tuberculosis with appropriate antituberculous therapy
- Hematologic disorders (listed in the label indications)
🧪 Active ingredient
The active ingredient is prednisolone, a synthetic adrenocortical steroid that is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. It is primarily used for its potent anti-inflammatory effects, and it also modifies the body's immune responses and causes profound, varied metabolic effects.
🌿 Benefits
- Reduces inflammation in many organ systems
- Controls severe allergic conditions
- Helps control flares of rheumatic and immune-mediated diseases
- Supports treatment of adrenocortical deficiency states
📝 How to use
- Taken by mouth, at the dose set by your doctor or pharmacist only
- The dose varies between patients depending on the disease and response; do not change it without medical advice
- After long-term therapy, the drug should be withdrawn gradually rather than stopped abruptly
- Your doctor may prescribe alternate-day therapy (a double dose every other morning) to reduce certain unwanted effects during long-term use
💊 Dosage forms
- Tablets 5 mg (per the supplied label)
⚠️ Common side effects
- Sodium and fluid retention
- Potassium loss and high blood pressure
- Muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass
- Menstrual irregularities
- Headache and vertigo
- Increased sweating, thin fragile skin, bruising
- Abdominal distention
- Decreased carbohydrate tolerance and raised blood sugar
🚨 Serious — seek medical help
- Peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage, pancreatitis, ulcerative esophagitis
- Osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, pathologic fractures, aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads
- Convulsions and increased intracranial pressure with papilledema (pseudotumor cerebri)
- Posterior subcapsular cataracts, increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma
- Congestive heart failure in susceptible patients
- New or worsened infections, which may be severe and at times fatal
- Growth suppression in children and secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness, particularly in times of stress
- Manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus or increased insulin requirements
⛔ Do not use if
- Systemic fungal infections
❗ Warnings & precautions
- Suppresses the immune system and increases the risk of infection with any pathogen; it may mask some signs of infection
- May reactivate latent tuberculosis; patients at risk need monitoring and chemoprophylaxis during prolonged therapy
- Varicella and measles can be serious or even fatal in non-immune patients; avoid exposure and tell your doctor promptly if exposed
- Hepatitis B virus reactivation can occur in hepatitis B carriers
- Under unusual stress, an increased dose before, during and after the stressful situation may be needed as directed by the doctor
- Do not give by intra-articular, intrabursal, intratendinous or intralesional route in the presence of acute local infection
- Do not stop abruptly after long-term therapy
🔄 Drug interactions
- The label text provided does not detail drug interactions; tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines and supplements you take
- The label notes increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetic patients
🤰 Pregnancy
The label text provided does not include pregnancy information. Consult your doctor before use during pregnancy.
🍼 Breastfeeding
The label text provided does not include breastfeeding information. Consult your doctor before use while breastfeeding.
🧒 Children
Used in children for some conditions (e.g., juvenile rheumatoid arthritis), but it may suppress growth; children are monitored closely and the doctor sets the dose.
👴 Older adults
The label text provided does not include specific information for the elderly. The doctor sets the dose and monitors the patient.
🌡️ Storage
Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). Keep in a well-closed container with a child-resistant closure, out of reach of children.
⏰ Missed dose
The label text provided does not include missed-dose instructions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist, and do not double a dose on your own.
🆘 Overdose
The label text provided does not include overdose information. If an overdose is suspected, contact your doctor or poison control center or go to the emergency department immediately.
💰 Price & brands in your area
🏛️ Official price in Palestine — Ministry of Health price list:
| Product | Company | Pack | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| PREDNITAB 5 MG TAB. PREDNISOLONE ACETATE | BPC | 40 | 17 ₪ |
| PREDNILET 15 MG SYRUP 60 ML PREDNISOLONE 15 MG | BPC | 60 ML SYRUP | 20 ₪ |
| PREDNITAB 20 MG 20 TAB PREDNISOLONE | BPC | 20 tab | 25 ₪ |
| PREDONE SYRUP 15 MG/ 5ML PREDNISOLONE | Pharmacare Store | 120 ML | 30 ₪ |
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Mechanism of action
Synthetic glucocorticoid, readily absorbed from the GI tract, used primarily for potent anti-inflammatory effects; it causes profound and varied metabolic effects and modifies the body's immune responses to diverse stimuli.
Labeled dosing
Per the label: initial dosage ranges from 5 mg to 60 mg per day depending on the disease, individualized to the disease and patient response. After a favorable response, decrease gradually to the lowest dose maintaining adequate clinical response. After long-term therapy, withdraw gradually. Alternate-day therapy (twice the usual daily dose every other morning) may be used to minimize HPA suppression and other undesirable effects. The dose is set by the physician.
- Contraindication: systemic fungal infections
- Monitor for infection, reactivation of latent TB (chemoprophylaxis during prolonged therapy) and hepatitis B reactivation
- Varicella zoster immune globulin or immunoglobulin prophylaxis may be indicated after varicella or measles exposure in non-immune patients
- Increase dose during unusual stress
- Note increased antidiabetic requirements; monitor blood pressure, fluid/electrolytes, bone and eye status
🎓 Key points for students
- Class: corticosteroid, glucocorticoid receptor agonist
- Mechanism: anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects
- Key adverse effects: fluid retention, hypertension, osteoporosis, peptic ulcer, cataracts, Cushingoid state, growth suppression in children
- Only contraindication listed: systemic fungal infections
- Key point: taper gradually after long-term therapy to avoid adrenal insufficiency
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Can I stop prednisolone suddenly?
No. After long-term therapy it should be withdrawn gradually under your doctor's supervision.
Does it affect immunity?
Yes, it suppresses the immune system and increases infection risk; tell your doctor if you develop fever or signs of infection.
Does it affect people with diabetes?
It may raise blood sugar and increase insulin or antidiabetic medicine needs, so follow-up with your doctor is needed.
Can children take it?
It is used in some conditions, but it may suppress growth; the doctor sets the dose and monitors the child.
When should I contact my doctor immediately?
If you are exposed to chickenpox or measles, or develop severe stomach pain, signs of infection or vision changes.
⚕️ For education only — not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start or stop any medicine without advice. Source: official FDA drug label via openFDA (2024-02), simplified. Updated: 2026-11-10.