Prednisolone

Drug Class:	Commonly Known As:	Category:
Corticosteroid

Prednisolone - Side Effects, Precautions, and Contraindications

What side effects can Prednisolone cause?

Increased risk of unusual infection
Slow wound healing
Reactivation of old viral disease such as herpes
Poorer diabetic and blood pressure control
Salt level disturbance in the blood
Gastritis / gastric ulcers
Increased appetite and weight gain
Water retention leading to swelling of legs and body
Depression, euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, restlessness
Irregular menstrual periods

If high dose steroids are required over a prolonged period of time, you may develop:

Cushing's syndrome
Cataracts and glaucoma
Reduced immunity to unusual infections
Osteoporosis
Diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure
Thinning of skin / easy bruising
Increased hair growth / excessive acne
Growth suppression in children

Before taking Prednisolone , what precautions must I follow?

Before taking Prednisolone, tell your doctor if you

Are allergic to any drug
Are taking any other medications or over-the-counter medications
Have liver, kidney or heart disease
Have history of gastritis, gastric ulcers, or other intestinal problems
Have diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, thyroid disease or myasethenia gravis
Have Hepatitis B or C (including carrier state)
Have any type of infection such as tuberculosis (TB) or fungus
Have a history of herpes virus eye infection
Have a history of osteoporosis or unusual fractures
Have depression or any psychiatric problems
Are pregnant or breast-feeding, or planning to get pregnant

Other precautions:

In order to maximize your safety and the effectiveness of treatment, you must adhere to your specified appointments for close monitoring and treatment adjustment. Regular monitoring of blood pressure, blood sugar and salt levels are important
Do NOT adjust or stop your treatment on your own without your doctor's supervision as this may worsen your condition or cause harmful side effects. If you run out of Prednisolone tablets before your next appointment, please contact our Call Centre Staff at Tel No: 6227 7266
If you have diabetes mellitus or high blood pressure, it is highly recommended for you to monitor your control closely if you have your own glucometer or automated blood pressure monitoring devices.
Your resistance to infections may be reduced during treatment. You should avoid excessive crowds or reduce your chance of acquiring infections such as chicken pox, measles or tuberculosis (TB) from others. You must consult a doctor if you feel unwell or are exposed to people with chicken pox, measles or tuberculosis (TB).
Inform your doctor about your treatment before any immunisation, vaccination or skin tests. You should not receive live vaccines while on high dose treatment.
Avoid alcohol while you are taking Prednisolone to avoid gastric ulcers.
If you have taken high dose Prednisolone for a prolonged period of time, you may require supplementary steroids during periods of stress (e.g severe injuries, infections, asthma attacks, after a major surgery). Do carry an identification card (eg, Medic-Awas card) which indicate your need to any potential emergency medical personnel.
Use of high dose steroids during pregnancy may result in low birth weight of fetal abnormality. Steroids can also be secreted into breast milk. Please discuss with your doctor if you intend to breast-feed.