II. Indications

  1. Acute Asthma Exacerbation
  2. Anti-inflammatory and Immunosuppresive Agent
  3. Nephrotic Syndrome
  4. Multiple Sclerosis
  5. Primary Adrenal Insufficiency

III. Mechanism

  1. See Systemic Corticosteroid
  2. Prednisolone, other than not requiring first-pass metabolism, is identical to its prodrug Prednisone
  3. Intermediate activity duration (longer than Hydrocortisone, shorter than Dexamethasone)
  4. Intermediate Glucocorticoid (5 fold more than Hydrocortisone) activity
  5. Low mineralcorticoid activity (half that of Hydrocortisone)

IV. Medications

  1. Prednisolone (Prelone) Tablets: 5 mg
  2. Prednisolone (Orapred ODT) Orally Disintegrating Tablets: 10 mg, 15 mg, 30 mg
  3. Prednisolone (Prelone) Syrup: 15 mg/5 ml
  4. Prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred) Solution: 5 mg/5 ml, 10 mg/5 ml, 15 mg/5 ml, 20 mg/5ml, 25 mg 5 ml
  5. Other non-systemic formulations
    1. See Ophthalmic Corticosteroid (for Prednisolone acetate drops)

V. Dosing

  1. General
    1. See specific conditions for dosing protocols
    2. Prednisone dosing is equivalent to Prednisolone dosing
  2. Adult
    1. Dose 5 to 60 mg orally daily
  3. Child
    1. Dose: 1-2 mg/kg/day (up to 60 mg/day) orally daily or divided twice daily
    2. Maximum: 60 mg per day

VI. Pharmacokinetics

  1. Requires no first pass metabolism via the liver (unlike Prednisone)
  2. Medium potency
  3. Medium anti-inflammatory potency
  4. Has Mineralocorticoid Activity
  5. Medium Half-Life (~36 hours)

VII. Adverse Effects

VIII. Safety

  1. See Systemic Corticosteroid
  2. Pregnancy Category C
  3. Considered safe in Lactation

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Related Studies

Cost: Medications

prednisolone (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
PREDNISOLONE 15 MG/5 ML SOLN Generic $0.11 per ml
PREDNISOLONE 5 MG/5 ML SOLN Generic $0.56 per ml
PREDNISOLONE AC 1% EYE DROP Generic $5.19 per ml
PREDNISOLONE SOD 1% EYE DROP Generic $4.54 per ml

Ontology: prednisolone (C0032950)

Definition (NCI) A synthetic glucocorticoid with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties. After cell surface receptor attachment and cell entry, prednisolone enters the nucleus where it binds to and activates specific nuclear receptors, resulting in an altered gene expression and inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production. This agent also decreases the number of circulating lymphocytes, induces cell differentiation, and stimulates apoptosis in sensitive tumor cells populations. (NCI04)
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A drug that lessens inflammation and suppresses the body's immune response. It may also kill cancer cells. Prednisolone is used to treat disorders in many organ systems and to treat the symptoms of several types of leukemia and lymphoma. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Prednisolone is a type of therapeutic glucocorticoid.
Definition (MSH) A glucocorticoid with the general properties of the corticosteroids. It is the drug of choice for all conditions in which routine systemic corticosteroid therapy is indicated, except adrenal deficiency states.
Definition (CSP) synthetic glucocorticoid with the general properties of the corticosteroids.
Definition (PDQ) A synthetic glucocorticoid with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties. After cell surface receptor attachment and cell entry, prednisolone enters the nucleus where it binds to and activates specific nuclear receptors, resulting in an altered gene expression and inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production. This agent also decreases the number of circulating lymphocytes, induces cell differentiation, and stimulates apoptosis in sensitive tumor cells populations. Check for "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=43296&idtype=1" active clinical trials or "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=43296&idtype=1&closed=1" closed clinical trials using this agent. ("http://nciterms.nci.nih.gov:80/NCIBrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI_Thesaurus&code=C769" NCI Thesaurus)
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Steroid (T110)
MSH D011239
SnomedCT 317418003, 325425005, 116601002, 52388000
LNC LP18169-0, MTHU003522
English Prednisolone, Pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, 11,17,21-trihydroxy-, (11beta)-, Prednisolone [for preparations see rectal prednisolone], Prednisolone [see rectal pred], 1,2-Dehydrohydrocortisone, (11beta)-11,17,21-Trihydroxypregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, Metacortandralone, Delta(1)Hydrocortisone, Delta-F, Delta1-dehydro-hydrocortisone, Prednisolonum, Prednisolone [endocrine use], prednisolone (medication), PREDNISOLONE, Prednisolone [Chemical/Ingredient], prednisoLONE, Prednisolone [for preparations see rectal prednisolone] (product), Prednisolone [endocrine use] (product), .delta.1-Hydrocortisone, Deltahydrocortisone, Deltahydrocortisone preparation, Metacortandralone preparation, Prednisolone preparation, Prednisolone product, Prednisolone (substance), Prednisolone preparation (product), PRDL, Prednisolone [endocrine use] (substance), Prednisolone [for preparations see rectal prednisolone] (substance), Prednisolone preparation (substance), prednisolone, PrednisoLONE
Swedish Prednisolon
Czech prednisolon, depersolon
Finnish Prednisoloni
Russian DEPERZOLON, PREDNIZOLON, ДЕПЕРЗОЛОН, ПРЕДНИЗОЛОН
Japanese プレドニソロン, デルポPD, ドニソロン, プレドニン, シエリゾロン, プレドニゾロン
Spanish preparado con metacortandralona, preparado con prednisolona (producto), prednisolona (producto), preparado con deltahidrocortisona, preparado con prednisolona, prednisolona (uso endocrino), prednisolona (para preparaciones ver prednisolona rectal), prednisolona (uso endocrino) (producto), prednisolona (para preparaciones ver prednisolona rectal) (producto), prednisolona (sustancia), prednisolona, preparado de deltahidrocortisona, preparado de metacortandralona, preparado de prednisolona (producto), preparado de prednisolona (sustancia), preparado de prednisolona, Prednisolona
Croatian PREDNIZOLON
Polish Encortolon, Prednizolon
French Prednisolone
German Prednisolon
Italian Prednisolone
Portuguese Prednisolona