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.

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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Prednisone

New Cardiology Research Presented At CHEST 2009
Source: Liver Disease / Hepatitis News From Medical News Today [2009.11.05]
Coronary Risk Factors Increase After Liver Transplantation (#7991) Patients who have undergone a liver transplant may have a significantly increased risk for developing cardiovascular risk factors. Researchers from New York Medical College assessed the incidence of new coronary risk factors and coronary artery disease in 200 patients (mean age, 58 years) after liver transplantation. All patients received prednisone for the first 3 months after transplantation.

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Published Studies Related to Prednisone

Multinational, Double-Blind, Phase III Study of Prednisone and Either Satraplatin or Placebo in Patients With Castrate-Refractory Prostate Cancer Progressing After Prior Chemotherapy: The SPARC Trial. [2009.10.05]
PURPOSE: This multinational, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III trial assessed the efficacy and tolerability of the oral platinum analog satraplatin in patients with metastatic castrate-refractory prostate cancer (CRPC) experiencing progression after one prior chemotherapy regimen... CONCLUSION: Oral satraplatin delayed progression of disease and pain in patients with metastatic CRPC experiencing progression after initial chemotherapy but did not provide a significant OS benefit. Satraplatin was generally well tolerated. These results suggest activity for satraplatin in patients with CRPC who experience progression after initial chemotherapy.

Efficacy of melphalan and prednisone plus thalidomide in patients older than 75 years with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: IFM 01/01 trial. [2009.08.01]
PURPOSE: Until recently, melphalan and prednisone were the standards of care in elderly patients with multiple myeloma. The addition of thalidomide to this combination demonstrated a survival benefit for patients age 65 to 75 years. This randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III trial investigated the efficacy of melphalan and prednisone plus thalidomide in patients older than 75 years with newly diagnosed myeloma... CONCLUSION: This trial confirms the superiority of the combination melphalan and prednisone plus thalidomide over melphalan and prednisone alone for prolonging survival in very elderly patients with newly diagnosed myeloma. Toxicity was acceptable.

The treatment of multiple myeloma using vincristine, carmustine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone (VBMCP) alternating with high-dose cyclophosphamide and alpha(2)beta interferon versus VBMCP: results of a phase III Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study E5A93. [2009.05.15]
BACKGROUND: A randomized controlled trial tested the hypothesis that aggressive initial therapy using high-dose cyclophosphamide (HiCy) and alpha(2)beta interferon (IFN) may be superior to standard combination alkylating agent regimens in the treatment of newly diagnosed myeloma... CONCLUSIONS: The study showed no significant benefit with the addition of HiCy and IFN to VBMCP.

Maintenance rituximab after cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone prolongs progression-free survival in advanced indolent lymphoma: results of the randomized phase III ECOG1496 Study. [2009.04.01]
PURPOSE: To determine if maintenance rituximab (MR) after standard chemotherapy improves progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced-stage indolent lymphoma... CONCLUSION: The E1496 study provides the first phase III data in untreated indolent lymphoma that MR after chemotherapy significantly prolongs PFS.

Randomized, controlled trial of prednisone, cyclophosphamide, and cyclosporine in lupus membranous nephropathy. [2009.04]
Patients with lupus membranous nephropathy (LMN) are at substantial long-term risk for morbidity and mortality associated with protracted nephrotic syndrome, including ESRD.In conclusion, regimens containing CsA or IVCY are each more effective than prednisone alone in inducing remission of proteinuria among patients with LMN.

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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.

Velcade-Melphalan-Prednisone in Older Untreated Multiple Myeloma Patients. [Active, not recruiting]
This protocol is planned as a multicentric, national, open-label trial designed to evaluate, first, optimal dose of Velcade® (Bortezomib) in combination with melphalan and prednisone. After optimal dose is known, the second aim is evaluate safety and tolerance of V-MP plan, in respond terms, in a cohort of 60 patients. Finally, the entire results will be compared with those obtained from a series of 100 patients, all of them over 70 years old, diagnosed of Multiple Myeloma belonging to the GEM protocol finished in May 2003

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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 18 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		Moderate Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		Ulcerative Colitis
Dosage & duration:		60 MG/day; 10 MG tablets taken 3 tablets twice a day for the period of for about 3 months
Other conditions:		none
Other drugs taken:		Sulfasalazine
		Reported Results
Benefits:		I never really had any complications with my disease. It seemed to help treat the ulcers in my colon. It also let me be able to eat normal foods because when a person has Ulcerative Colitis they have to monitor what they eat and usually have to eat bland foods. It really helped me a lot but the side effects took away from the overall rating. The side effects most likely worsened because I was on the drug for a long period of time.
Side effects:		I had dry eyes, trouble gaining weight, and loss of energy.
Comments:		My doctor had me start out by taking 6 tablets a day, three at breakfast and three at dinner. After 2 and a half months he had me start taking 4 tablets a day and 1/2 a pill less every week, until i was down to 1/2 a pill a day for a week. After that I stopped taking the pills.

Prednisone review by 50 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		Moderate Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		Severe recurrent sinus infections
Dosage & duration:		9 mg a day for several days taken several times over several years for the period of Anywhere from 7 to 15 days
Other conditions:		Sinus infection!
Other drugs taken:		An antibiotic, not necessarily the same one each time
		Reported Results
Benefits:		I was given a short course of prednisone to take, along with whatever antibiotic I was currently on, whenever the antibiotic alone was not clearing up the sinus infection. The prednisone worked like a charm, but at a cost.
Side effects:		Sleeplessness! Taking the prednisone was like drinking ten cups of coffee every night or like being on speed. I had unnatural amounts of energy -- nervous energy -- and wore myself out during the time I was taking the prednisone. It always helped to clear up the infection, but then I had to recover from the prednisone. This is a scary drug.
Comments:		In addition to whatever antibiotic I was currently on, I was to take 9 mg. of prednisone -- the first few times, it was 3 mg with each meal, but that was really too much, so later we did the three tabs all at once in the morning -- a day for several days, sometimes as few as 7, sometimes as many as 15. Then, I had to taper off the amount I took for several days, in 3 mg increments for a few days each new dose. Finally, I would be off it. This time.