Prednisolone at a glance
Medicine class
Systemic corticosteroid (glucocorticoid).
Main role
Reduces inflammation and dampens immune responses.
Taking tablets
Take standard tablets after food. Swallow gastro-resistant tablets whole.
Stopping treatment
Do not stop suddenly without prescriber advice; illness may flare and withdrawal symptoms or adrenal insufficiency can occur.
What is Prednisolone used for?
Prednisolone is licensed for many conditions that respond to systemic glucocorticoids.
Severe allergic disorders and asthma.
Inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis and inflammatory muscle disease.
Severe inflammatory skin diseases.
Inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Respiratory disorders such as sarcoidosis; selected serious infections only with appropriate anti-infective treatment.
Selected blood disorders, leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and renal disorders.
The gastro-resistant product is also licensed in contexts including adrenal insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and organ-transplant immunosuppression.
How does Prednisolone work?
Prednisolone acts like a glucocorticoid hormone. It alters inflammatory and immune responses, reducing swelling, redness, pain and tissue damage while making the immune system less active.
Prednisolone preparations and strengths
Gastro-resistant tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 1 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 1 mg, 5 mg
How to take Prednisolone
Follow the dispensing label. Do not change or stop treatment without advice.
Take standard tablets after food to reduce stomach upset.
Swallow gastro-resistant tablets whole; they may be taken with or without food.
Indigestion medicines can reduce absorption of gastro-resistant tablets. Follow the separation instructions in the leaflet or from your pharmacist.
Prednisolone side effects
Common or expected effects
- Indigestion or stomach discomfort
- Increased appetite and weight gain
- Difficulty sleeping or restlessness
- Increased sweating
- Mild mood changes
- Fluid retention, raised blood pressure or increased blood glucose
- Easy bruising and slower wound healing, particularly with longer exposure
Get urgent medical advice
- Serious or unusually severe infection, sometimes with muted symptoms
- Severe depression, mania, psychosis, confusion or suicidal thoughts
- Gastrointestinal bleeding or severe abdominal pain
- Severe allergic reaction
- Adrenal insufficiency, particularly after abrupt withdrawal
- New or significant eyesight changes
- Severe muscle weakness, abnormal heartbeat or other signs of low potassium
Prednisolone in pregnancy
Prednisolone can be used during pregnancy when clinically needed. Discuss pregnancy or plans to conceive with the prescriber so benefits, possible fetal-growth effects and any additional monitoring can be considered. Do not stop treatment without advice.
Prednisolone while breastfeeding
Prednisolone is a preferred systemic corticosteroid during breastfeeding because only small amounts enter milk and there is extensive experience of use. Extra assessment or infant monitoring may be appropriate with substantial or prolonged exposure, or when the infant is premature or unwell.
Prednisolone interactions
Check prescription, pharmacy and herbal products with a pharmacist or prescriber before combining them with prednisolone.
NSAIDs, including ibuprofen and aspirin
May increase stomach ulceration or bleeding risk.
Warfarin and other coumarin anticoagulants
The anticoagulant response can increase or decrease, so closer monitoring may be required.
Insulin and other diabetes medicines
Prednisolone can raise blood glucose and alter medicine requirements.
Common questions about Prednisolone
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is prednisolone an anabolic steroid?
No. It is a corticosteroid used to modify inflammation and immune activity.
Can prednisolone be stopped suddenly?
Not without checking with the prescriber. Sudden withdrawal may cause illness to flare, withdrawal symptoms or adrenal insufficiency.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.