Prednisone

Prednisone is used orally for a multitude of inflammatory disorders.
For specific dose recommendations: See the specific disease discussion.

Contraindications:

• Systemic fungal infection.
• Relative contraindication:
• Active mycobacterial infection, with the exception of reactional states in patients with leprosy on active anti-leprosy therapy.

Precaution:

• Prednisone can mask evidence of serious bacterial infection, particularly with long term therapy of more than 50 mg daily.
• Any febrile episode should be cause for the assessment of possible septicemia.

Adverse effects:

• Cushingoid changes
• Steroid myopathy
• Psychosis
• Exacerbation of GI ulcer
• Exacerbation of hypertension
• Pseudotumor cerebri
• Many others, please consult your compendium.

Dosage:

• Please consult the specific disease discussion.

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