Prednisolone Generic: Indication, Side effects, Dosage Regimen, Cost
How expensive is Prednisolone?
In Canadian pharmacies, the cheapest form of prednisolone would be tablets, costing around $10 per 10 mg pill. A more expensive option would be the syrup, which starts at $3 per mg. As a rule, oral solution is a good choice for children, who often refuse to take tablets.
Eye drops will cost about $4 per mg. Even though this remedy is much more narrow-purposed than the above-mentioned forms, it is still good value for money, as eye drops are not consumed abundantly.
Luckily, prednisolone is covered by most insurance plans, so you will most likely be able to get the medication without cost, or with a considerable discount. However, if your insurance company does not cover this medication, then we’d recommend saving at least a little money by purchasing larger packages of pills or larger oral solution bottles are more cost-effective.
Prednisolone properties and indications
Prednisolone is a corticosteroid drug that is used to treat a wide range of joint, skin, eye, blood, pulmonary and allergic diseases, such as:
- Dermatitis
- Diseases of the connective tissue
- Severe allergies
- Leukemia/anemia
- Various forms of arthritis
- Shock state
- Optic neuritis
- Bronchial asthma
- Crohn’s disease/ulcerative colitis
This medication can interact with intracellular receptors, cause lymphoid tissue involution, suppress the antibody response, slow down the inflammatory processes, etc.
Choosing the proper prednisolone dosage
The described drug is sold in three different forms – pills, oral solution, and eye drops. Tablets come in such dosages as 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and even 50 mg. Prednisolone syrup has two different concentrations of the active ingredient, 1 or 3 mg per ml. Eye drops contain a 1% concentration of the main active substance.
Prednisolone should be used only as prescribed by your doctor. Be sure only to use the dose as recommended by your doctor. In most cases, the recommended dose varies from 5 to 60 mg per day, depending on the intensity of the disorder being treated.
The length of a course of prednisolone prescription is determined individually for each patient. It may last from a couple of weeks to years, depending on the characteristics of your symptoms. At the beginning of the course, you will be given a higher dose, which is then gradually reduced with improvements in results.
Ways of usage and adverse events of the remedy
Prednisolone tablets should not be taken on an empty stomach. Also, they need to be swallowed whole with a glass of water. The oral solution should be measured with a beaker, oral syringe, measuring cup, or any other precision measuring tool.
Eye drops should be applied in a sitting position, with your head tilted back. Slightly pull down the lower eyelid with one, then bring the tip closer to the pupil and squeeze out the required dose.
Taking prednisolone might cause some side effects, the most frequent of which are:
- Muscle weakness
- Weight gain
- Digestive disorders
- Increased sweating
- Delayed wound healing
- Amnesia
- Problems with urination
- Mood swings
- Irregular heartbeat
If any of the following symptoms appear, immediately stop taking prednisolone and describe the symptoms to the doctor. Long-term use of the medication may lead to even more severe secondary events, such as:
- Blurred vision
- Insomnia
- Osteoporosis,
- Delay in sexual development
- Weakening of the immune system
- Slower growth
- Malaise
If you have been prescribed a long course of treatment with prednisolone, then you should take note of these tips, as they will minimize the chance of side effects appearing:
- Stick to a balanced diet, which helps maintain the availability of all the necessary vitamins and micronutrients in your body.
- Measure a proper dose carefully and take the medication at the same time every day and try not to miss doses. Sometimes, even a slight overdose may cause long-lasting annoying consequences.
- Try to avoid stressful situations, as they are shown to weaken the human immune system.
- Adjust sleep patterns – go to bed at the same time each night and sleep for no less than 7 hours.
- Undergo a full physical examination at least once a year for the best chance of catching health issues before they worsen.
Prednisolone contraindications
If you suffer from any of the disorders mentioned below, you should consult with a general practitioner before taking the drug:
- Systemic mycosis
- Different types of ulcers
- Diabetes
- Active tuberculosis
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
- Severe hepatic insufficiency
- Eye infections
- Herpes
- Lactose intolerance
- Mental illnesses
Prednisolone is contraindicated for children under three years of age. It can not be taken simultaneously with live attenuated vaccines and estrogens. We also strongly discourage you from mixing prednisolone with alcohol, as it may cause a number of serious side effects.
Prednisolone and pregnancy
If you need to start taking this medication during pregnancy, then it’s important to consider that prednisolone has a negative effect on both mother and fetus. Long-term treatment usually leads to reduced fetal growth. It is recommended discussing this question with your doctor and decide whether the benefits of prednisolone consumption are worth the risk or if it’d be better to find an alternative method of treatment.
The drug can be taken while breastfeeding without concern, unless the child suffers from hyperbilirubinemia or is allergic to prednisolone.