Prednisone(pred’ ni sone)
Apo-Prednisone (CAN), Novo-Prednisone (CAN), Prednisone Intensol Concentrate, RayosDNC, Winpred (CAN)
PREGNANCY CATEGORY C
PREGNANCY CATEGORY D (RAYOS)
Drug Classes
Corticosteroid (intermediate-acting)
Glucocorticoid
Hormone
Therapeutic Actions
Enters target cells and binds to intracellular corticosteroid receptors, initiating many complex reactions that are responsible for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects.
Indications
Replacement therapy in adrenal cortical insufficiency
Hypercalcemia associated with cancer
Short-term management of various inflammatory and allergic disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, collagen diseases (eg, SLE), dermatologic diseases (eg, pemphigus), status asthmaticus, and autoimmune disorders
Hematologic disorders: Thrombocytopenia purpura, erythroblastopenia
Ulcerative colitis, acute exacerbations of MS and palliation in some leukemias and lymphomas
Trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement
Contraindications and Cautions
Contraindicated with allergy to corticosteroids, infections, especially tuberculosis, fungal infections, amebiasis, vaccinia and varicella, and antibiotic-resistant infections; lactation.
Use cautiously with renal or liver disease, hypothyroidism, ulcerative colitis with impending perforation, diverticulitis, active or latent peptic ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease, heart failure, hypertension, thromboembolic disorders, osteoporosis, seizure
disorders, diabetes mellitus, hepatic disease, pregnancy (monitor infants for adrenal insufficiency).
Available Forms
Tablets—1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 50 mg; DR tablets—1, 2, 5 mg; oral solution—5 mg/5 mL, 5 mg/mL
Dosages
Adults
Individualize dosage depending on severity of condition and patient’s response. Administer daily dose before 9 AM to minimize adrenal suppression. If long-term therapy is needed, consider alternate-day therapy. After long-term therapy, withdraw drug slowly to avoid adrenal insufficiency. Initial dose, 5–60 mg/day PO. For maintenance therapy, reduce initial dose in small increments at intervals until lowest dose that maintains satisfactory clinical response is reached. For acute exacerbations of MS, 200 mg/day PO for 1 wk, then 80 mg PO every other day for 1 month.
Pediatric patients
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