Prednisolone is a steroid that prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.
Generic name: prednisolone
- What is prednisolone?
- What are the possible side effects of prednisolone?
- What is the most important information I should know about prednisolone?
- What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using prednisolone?
- How should I take prednisolone?
- What happens if I miss a dose?
- What happens if I overdose?
- What should I avoid while using prednisolone?
- What other drugs will affect prednisolone?
- Where can I get more information?
Prednisolone is used to treat many different inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, allergic conditions, glandular (endocrine) disorders, and conditions that affect the skin, eyes, lungs, stomach, nervous system, or blood cells.
Prednisolone can also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
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Prednisolone 5 mg-WHAT
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What are the possible side effects of prednisolone?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction : hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;
- bruising, thinning skin, or a wound that will not heal;
- severe depression, personality changes, unusual thoughts or behavior;
- new or unusual pain in an arm or leg or in your back;
- bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
- severe upper abdominal pain spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting;
- an attack (convulsions); or
- low potassium – leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeat, fluttering breasts, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling.
Steroids can affect the growth of children. Tell your doctor if your child does not grow normally while using this medicine.
Common side effects are:
- fluid retention (swelling in your hands or ankles);
- dizziness, spinning sensation;
- changes in your period;
- headache;
- muscle pain or weakness; or
- upset stomach, bloating.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about prednisolone?
You should not use this medicine if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using prednisolone?
You should not use prednisolone if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- a fungal infection anywhere in your body.
Prednisolone can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Steroids can also worsen an infection you already have, or reactivate an infection you have recently had. Notify your doctor of any illness or infection that you have had in the past few weeks.
To make sure prednisolone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you ever:
- active tuberculosis;
- a thyroid disease;
- herpes infection of the eyes;
- stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis or diverticulitis;
- depression, mental illness or psychosis;
- liver disease (especially cirrhosis);
- high bloodpressure;
- osteoporosis;
- a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis; or
- multiple sclerosis.
Also tell your doctor if you have diabetes. Steroid medicines can increase the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood or urine. You may also need to adjust the dose of your diabetes medication.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
It is not known whether prednisolone passes into breast milk or if it could affect the breastfeeding baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
How should I take prednisolone?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally adjust your dose. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Prednisolone is sometimes taken every other day. Follow your doctor’s dosing instructions very carefully.
Measure the liquid medicine with the supplied dosing syringe or with a special measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose measuring device, ask your pharmacist.
You may need to shake the oral suspension (liquid) well before measuring a dose. Follow the directions on your medicine label.
Keep the disintegrating tablet in the blister pack until you are ready to take the medicine. Open the package with dry hands and remove the foil from the tablet package (do not push the tablet through the foil). Remove the tablet and place it in your mouth.
Let the disintegrating tablet dissolve in your mouth without chewing. Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. If desired, you can drink liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet.
Your dose needs may change if you experience unusual stress, such as a serious illness, fever, or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about such a situation that affects you.
This medicine may cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using prednisolone.
You should not stop using prednisolone suddenly. Follow your doctor’s instructions for tapering your dose.
Carry a medical alert label or carry an ID card stating that you are using prednisolone. Any medical professional who treats you should know that you are taking steroid medications.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using prednisolone. You may need to stop taking the medicine for a short time.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of prednisolone.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek medical attention or call the Poison Helpline at 1-800-222-1222.
An overdose of prednisolone is not expected to cause life-threatening symptoms. However, long-term use of high steroid doses can lead to symptoms such as thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your face, neck, back and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence or loss of interest in sex.
What should I avoid while using prednisolone?
Do not receive a “live” vaccine while taking prednisolone. The vaccine may not work as well during this time and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhus, yellow fever, varicella (chicken pox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu vaccine (influenza vaccine).
Do not receive a smallpox vaccine or you could have serious complications.
Avoid being close to people who are sick or have infections. Contact your doctor for preventative treatment if you are exposed to chickenpox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even deadly in people taking steroid medications.
What other drugs will affect prednisolone?
Other drugs can interact with prednisolone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all of your current medicines and any medicines you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about prednisolone.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others and use this medicine only for the prescribed indication.
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