Prednisolone

General

• Type: Corticosteroid
• Dosage Forms:
• Common Trade Names:

Special Populations

• Pregnancy Rating: C
• Lactation: Probably Safe
• Renal Dosing
  • Adult: no adjustment
  • Pediatric: no adjustment
• Hepatic Dosing
  • Adult: not defined
  • Pediatric: not defined

Contraindications

• Allergy to class/drug

Adverse Reactions

Serious

• adrenal insufficiency
• Cushing syndrome
• immunosuppression
• infection
• HTN
• CHF
• diabetes mellitus
• steroid psychosis
• GI perforation/ulcer
• osteopenia/osteoporosis
• hypokalemic alkalosis
• steroid myopathy
• tendon rupture
• pseudotumor cerebri
• ICP incr.
• seizures
• glaucoma
• cataracts
• pancreatitis
• growth suppression (long-term use, peds pts)
• exophthalmos
• anaphylaxis
• withdrawal sx if abrupt D/C (high dose or long-term use)

Common

• sodium and fluid retention
• diaphoresis
• headache
• vertigo
• insomnia
• nervousness
• mood swings
• edema
• muscle weakness
• BP elevated
• glucose intolerance
• petechiae/ecchymosis
• facial erythema
• menstrual irregularities
• hypokalemia
• IOP incr.
• impaired wound healing (long-term use)
• Cushing syndrome
• skin pigmentation abnormality
• hirsutism
• urticaria

Pharmacology

• Half-life: 18-36h
• Metabolism: liver, CYP450: 3A4 substrate
• Excretion: urine
• Mechanism of Action: exact mechanism of anti-inflammatory action unknown; inhibits multiple inflammatory cytokines; produces multiple glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid effects