Prednisolone and Prednisone Oral: Dosing

Therapeutic action

Intermediate-acting steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (corticosteroid).

Indications

Symptomatic treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases or reactions.

Forms and strengths

• 5 mg tablet.
• 5 mg soluble tablet.

Dose and duration

Dosage varies according to the indication, symptom severity, clinical response, and patient tolerance. If treatment lasts longer than 10 days, a high initial dose should be reduced as quickly as possible to the lowest effective dose.

Duration varies according to indication. In the event of treatment longer than 3 weeks, decrease doses gradually to avoid adrenal suppression.

• Child and adult: 0.5 to 2 mg/kg once daily in the morning or in 2 divided doses, maximum 80 mg daily.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

• In case of systemic infection, only administer if the patient is under antimicrobial treatment.
• Do not administer to patients with active peptic ulcer unless the ulcer is under treatment.
• May cause adrenal suppression, muscle atrophy, growth retardation, increased susceptibility to infections, sodium and water retention with oedema and hypertension, osteoporosis, hypokalaemia, and digitalis toxicity due to potassium loss in patients taking digitalis glycosides.
• Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
• Breast-feeding: no contra-indication. Use the lowest effective dose. For treatment longer than 7 days with doses higher than 40 mg daily, take tablets just after a feed and wait 4 hours before the next feed if possible.
• Take with food.