Prednisolone / Prednisone
- IV / OralPrednisolone / PrednisonePanafcort, Predsone, Sone
Mechanism of Action
- Suppresses the body’s normal inflammatory response through reduced monocyte recruitment, suppression of arachidonic acid metabolites - prostaglandin, leukotriene, platelet-activating factor and reduced production of interleukins, TNF-α, GM-CSF
Clinical Use
- Indications
- Acute asthma
- Exacerbations of COPD
- Croup
- Other inflammatory conditions - dermatitides, ulcerative colitis, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, acute gout, rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative arthritides, systemic lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis nodosa
- Cerebral oedema
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Replacement therapy for adrenocortical insufficiency
- Immunosuppression post organ transplant
- Adverse Effects
- Immunosuppression (risk of infection)
- Osteoporosis
- Steroid-induced diabetes mellitus
- Cushing’s - central obesity, ‘moon’ face, buffalo hump, thin skin, peripheral oedema, striae, bruising
- CNS - cognitive impairment / emotional instability / fatigue
- Renal - sodium & water retention / hypertension / oedema
- GIT - peptic ulceration, nausea / vomiting
- Muscle wasting
- Ocular - cataract / glaucoma