Prednisone (Prednisone) - Summary

PREDNISONE SUMMARY

Prednisone tablets contain prednisone which is a glucocorticoid. Glucocorticoids are adrenocortical steroids, both naturally occurring and synthetic, which are readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

Prednisone tablets are indicated in the following conditions:

Endocrine disorders: primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the first choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance); congenital adrenal hyperplasia; hypercalcemia associated with cancer; nonsuppurative thyroiditis.

Rheumatic disorders: as adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in: psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy), ankylosing spondylitis, acute and subacute bursitis, acute nonspecific tenosynovitis, acute gouty arthritis, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, synovitis of osteoarthritis, epicondylitis.

Collagen diseases: during an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of: systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic dermatomyositis (polymyositis), acute rheumatic carditis.

Dermatologic diseases: pemphigus; bullous dermatitis herpetiformis; severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome); exfoliative dermatitis; mycosis fungoides; severe psoriasis; severe seborrheic dermatitis.

Allergic states: control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment: seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis; bronchial asthma; contact dermatitis; atopic dermatitis; serum sickness; drug hypersensitivity reactions.

Ophthalmic diseases: severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye and its adnexa such as: allergic corneal marginal ulcers, herpes zoster ophthalmicus, anterior segment inflammation, diffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditis, sympathetic ophthalmia, allergic conjunctivitis, keratitis, chorioretinitis, optic neuritis, iritis and iridocyclitis.

Respiratory diseases: symptomatic sarcoidosis; Loeffler’s syndrome not manageable by other means; berylliosis; fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy; aspiration pneumonitis.

Hematologic disorders: idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults; secondary thrombocytopenia in adults; acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia; erythroblastopenia (RBC anemia); congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia.

Neoplastic diseases: for palliative management of: leukemias and lymphomas in adults, acute leukemia of childhood.

Edematous states: to induce a diuresis or remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome, without uremia, of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus.

Gastrointestinal diseases: to tide the patient over a critical period of the disease in: ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis.

Nervous system: acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis.

Miscellaneous: tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy; trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement.

See all Prednisone indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Prednisone

Effect of abiraterone acetate and prednisone compared with placebo and prednisone on pain control and skeletal-related events in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: exploratory analysis of data from the COU-AA-301 randomised trial. [2012]
docetaxel chemotherapy... INTERPRETATION: In patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Randomized phase II trial of docetaxel plus prednisone in combination with placebo or AT-101, an oral small molecule Bcl-2 family antagonist, as first-line therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. [2012]
AT-101 (A) or placebo in chemonaive mCRPC... CONCLUSIONS: AT-101 was tolerable but did not extend OS when combined with DP in

Randomized phase II trial of docetaxel plus prednisone in combination with placebo or AT-101, an oral small molecule Bcl-2 family antagonist, as first-line therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. [2011.11.29]
BACKGROUND: AT-101 (A), a small molecule oral inhibitor of the Bcl-2 family, has activity alone and in combination with docetaxel (Taxotere) and prednisone (DP) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial compared DP combined with either AT-101 (A) or placebo in chemonaive mCRPC... CONCLUSIONS: AT-101 was tolerable but did not extend OS when combined with DP in mCRPC; a potential benefit was observed in high-risk patients.

The clinical efficacy of 3 mg/day prednisone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: evidence from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled withdrawal clinical trial. [2011.09]
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, withdrawal clinical trial was conducted of prednisone <5 mg/ day versus placebo in 31 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These patients had been treated with long-term 1-4 mg/day of prednisone, 22 with 3 mg/day, in usual clinical care at a single academic clinical setting...

Randomized, blinded trial of weekend vs daily prednisone in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [2011.08.02]
OBJECTIVE: To perform a double-blind, randomized study comparing efficacy and safety of daily and weekend prednisone in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)... CONCLUSIONS: Weekend dosing of prednisone is equally beneficial to the standard daily dosing of prednisone. Analysis of side effect profiles demonstrated overall tolerability of both dosing regimens. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class I evidence that weekend prednisone dosing is as safe and effective as daily prednisone in preserving muscle strength and preventing body mass index increases in boys with DMD over a 12-month period.

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Clinical Trials Related to Prednisone

Prednisone-Placebo vs Prednisone-Valacyclovir in Bell´s Palsy [Completed]
Since steroids carry a moderate beneficial effect in Bell's palsy, and to address this question, valacyclovir was added to prednisone for the treatment of this condition.

Prednisone Timed-Release Tablet (TRT) Study: TRT Formulation of Prednisone Compared to Standard Prednisone in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis [Completed]
The objective of this study is to investigate if low doses of prednisone TRT, given at night and, with active drug release at 2 am, are more effective in controlling joint stiffness, and other disease symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis than standard prednisone given in the morning. Treatment duration per patient takes 12 months (the double-blind comparative study takes 3 months; 9 months subsequent open treatment on the TRT-medication).

Comparison of Melphalan-Prednisone (MP) to MP Plus Thalidomide in the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Very Elderly Patients (> 75 Years) With Multiple Myeloma [Terminated]
In multiple myeloma, combination chemotherapy with melphalan plus prednisone has been usedsince the 1960s and is regarded as the standard of care in very elderly patients. We assess whether the addition of thalidomide at 100 mg/day to this combination would improve survival.

CoQ10 and Prednisone in Non-Ambulatory DMD [Suspended]
This study will help determine if CoQ10 and prednisone, alone and as a combination decrease the decline in cardiopulmonary and skeletal muscle function that occurs in the wheelchair confined phase of DMD. Participants who are enrolled in this study should not have taken any corticosteroids within the last six months. This is a 13-month, prospective, randomized study comparing a daily prednisone arm (0. 75mg/kg/day), a CoQ10 arm (serum of greater than 2. 5 ug/mL) and a combination arm (prednisone and CoQ10) with an enhanced standard of care arm in wheelchair confined males age 10 to 18 years with an established DMD diagnosis.

Study of MLN8237 in Patients With Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Receiving a Standard Docetaxel/Prednisone Regimen [Recruiting]
This is a randomized, open-label, multicenter, Phase 2, two-arm study that will evaluate the efficacy and safety of MLN8237 given orally in combination with docetaxel and prednisone as a treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). It will be preceded by a Phase 1 portion to determine tolerable doses and schedules of MLN8237 and docetaxel to be evaluated in the Phase 2 portion.

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Reports of Suspected Prednisone Side Effects

Pneumonia (146),  Pyrexia (112),  Anaemia (98),  Febrile Neutropenia (97),  Nausea (89),  Neutropenia (89),  Dyspnoea (88),  Diarrhoea (88),  Fatigue (86),  Sepsis (77), more >>

PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Prednisone review by 58 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		Mild Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		rheumatoid arthritis
Dosage & duration:		5 mg taken once per day for the period of 6 months
Other conditions:		none
Other drugs taken:		Humira, methotrexate, lorazapame
		Reported Results
Benefits:		reduced the fatigue, swelling and pain associated with RA
Side effects:		mild tendency to gain weight, however appetite which had been flagging was regained
Comments:		Take the medication in larger doses at the very beginning, and then taper off gradually. Very important to taper, no sudden stops or starts to this medication, adverse effects if you do.

Prednisone review by 28 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		Moderate Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		Sudden Sensorineural hearing loss
Dosage & duration:		60mg total daily dose taken 30mg bid for 9 days and then taper down for the period of 14 days
Other conditions:		None
Other drugs taken:		Zyrtec and Birth Control
		Reported Results
Benefits:		I regained my hearing after a virus caused sudden sensorineural hearing loss in my left ear by taking Prednisone.
Side effects:		Night waking, restlessness, increased speech, mild mania, GI abnormalities, stomach upset, nausea.
Comments:		I regained my hearing after a virus caused sudden sensorineural hearing loss in my left ear by taking Prednisone.

Prednisone review by 59 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Moderately Effective
Side effects:		Severe Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		allergic reaction on face to a cosmetic
Dosage & duration:		6400 mg. tapered over 18 days taken 3 x daily for the period of 14 days
Other conditions:		none
Other drugs taken:		none
		Reported Results
Benefits:		Facial swelling reduced dramatically over 3 days, only to return (less so) as a side effect. I could have just taken Benadryl, and although it would have taken longer to recover from the allergic reaction (possibly another week), I would have been normal without side effects, and without withdrawal effects. The drug took a modest problem and created a far worse one. I told the physician I reacted strongly to drugs. Since then I've learned that some physicians are quite blasé about the side effects of prednisone -- apparently that old adage about "first do no wrong" is no longer important.
Side effects:		constant : pulse pounding throughout body, flushed face, odd-looking eyes (dilated), high blood pressure ( systolic range 145-194; ), fatigue, severe insomnia, nervousness, inability to concentrate, mild vertigo (spill, drop, lurch, and fall). Withdrawal symptoms (fatigue, tinnitus, leg aches) continue after 4 weeks, though improving gradually. increasing over time : panic attacks, anxiety
Comments:		Oral, 10 mg. tablets, 3 days at 60mg, gradual tapering over 18 days