Prednisone is a drug to reduce inflammation in allergies, autoimmune diseases, joint and muscle diseases, as well as skin disease. Prednisone is a type of corticosteroid drug.
Predison works by suppressing the immune system response, thereby reducing inflammation. Prednisone can only be obtained with a doctor's prescription.
Prednisone trademarks: Eltazon, Flites 5, Ifison, Inflason, Lexacort, Pehacort, Prednisone, Prednisone, Remacort, Trifacort.
What is Prednisone?
| group | Corticosteroids |
| Category | Prescription drugs |
| Benefit | Reduce inflammation |
| Used by | Adults and children |
| Prednisone for pregnant and lactating women | Category C: Animal studies have shown adverse effects on the fetus, but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women. Drugs should only be used if the expected benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus. Category D (delayed release tablets): There is positive evidence of risks to the human fetus, but the benefits may outweigh the risks, for example in dealing with life-threatening situations. Prednisone is absorbed into breast milk. If you are breastfeeding, do not use this medicine without consulting your doctor first. |
| Drug form | Tablets and caplets |
Warnings Before Using Prednisone:
- Do not use prednisone if you are allergic to this medicine or to other corticosteroid medicines.
- Tell your doctor if you have or are currently suffering from kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid disease, infectious disease, or heart failure.
- Tell your doctor if you have ever had a peptic ulcer, diverticulitis, or colitis.
- Tell your doctor if you have or are currently suffering from osteoporosis. myasthenia gravis, diabetes, or hypertension.
- Tell your doctor if you plan to get vaccinated while taking prednisone.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines and supplements.
- If an allergic drug reaction or overdose occurs after taking prednisone, see a doctor immediately.
Prednisone Dosage and Directions
The following is the dose of prednisone that is generally given by doctors based on the disease experienced by the patient:
Condition: Allergy
- Mature: 5–60 mg per day.
The maintenance dose and duration of treatment will be adjusted according to the response to therapy and the patient's condition.
Condition: acute asthma
- Mature: 40–60 mg, 1–2 times daily, for 3–10 days.
- Children aged 0–11 years: 1-2 mg/kg body weight per day, for 3-10 days. The maximum dose is 60 mg per day.
Condition: Bursitis
- Mature: 5–60 mg per day. The maintenance dose and duration of treatment will be adjusted according to the response to therapy and the patient's condition.
Condition: Rheumatoid arthritis
- Mature: 10 mg/day. The maintenance dose and duration of treatment will be adjusted according to the response to therapy and the patient's condition.
Condition: Multiple sclerosis
- Mature: 200 mg per day, for a week, followed by 80 mg every 2 days, for a month.
Condition: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
- Mature: 1-2 mg/kg body weight per day. The maintenance dose and duration of treatment will be adjusted according to the patient's body response to therapy and the patient's general condition.
Condition: Pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis (carinii) jirovecii (as adjunct therapy)
- Mature: 40 mg, 2 times daily, for the first 5 days; followed by 40 mg, once daily, for the next 5 days. The dose may be reduced to 20 mg, over the next 11 days until the inflammation subsides.
How to Use Prednisone Correctly
Be sure to always read the directions on the medicine package and follow your doctor's advice before using prednisone. Do not increase or decrease the dose, and do not take this medicine for longer than recommended.
Do not stop taking prednisone without consulting your doctor first. Discontinuation of this drug needs to be done gradually to prevent withdrawal symptoms and side effects.
It is recommended to take prednisone with food or milk to prevent stomach pain. Food or milk will protect the stomach wall from being irritated.
If you forget to take prednisone, it is advisable to take it immediately if the break with the next schedule is not too close. If it is close, ignore it and do not double the dose.
Store prednisone in a dry place with a cool temperature. Keep out of reach of children.
Prednisone Interactions with Other Drugs and Ingredients
Here are some interaction what might happen if you use prednisone along with certain medications:
- Increased effectiveness of prednisone, when used with estrogen hormone preparations (eg birth control pills)
- Decreased effectiveness of prednisone, if used with rifampicin, phenytoin, barbiturates, or bupropion
- Increased risk of developing hypokalemia when used with amphotericin B
- Decreased blood levels of prednisone, when used with antacids
- Increase the effectiveness of cardiac glycoside drugs and cyclophosphamide
- Decreased levels of praziquantel in the blood
- Decreased effectiveness of antidiabetic drugs
- Decreased effectiveness of somatropin
- Increased removal of potassium from the body, when used with laxative drugs
- Increased risk of gastric bleeding, if taken with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Increased pressure inside the eyeball (intraocular), when used with anticholinergic drugs, such as atropine
- Increased risk of myopathy (muscle disorders), if used with hydroxychloroquine
If given with a live vaccine, such as the MMR vaccine, prednisone can reduce the body's ability to respond to this type of vaccine.
Prednisone Side Effects and Dangers
Some of the side effects that can occur after using prednisone are:
- Nauseous
- Throw up
- Heartburn
- Excessive sweating
- Pimple
- Hard to sleep
- Decreased appetite
Check with your doctor if the side effects mentioned above do not subside. Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to the drug, such as an itchy rash on the skin, swelling of the lips and eyes, and difficulty breathing or have serious side effects, such as:
- Muscle cramp
- Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Unexplained fatigue
- Swelling of the legs or hands and face
- Drastic weight gain
- Easy bruising
- Severe stomach pain