The Facts About Prednisone
Prednisone was first introduced in 1955 as a cortisone like drug. It is a corticosteroid. It is known by the brand names Aspred-C, Deltasone, Liquid Pred, Meticorten, Orasone, Panasol-S, Paracort, Prednicen-M, Predisone Intensol, SK-Prednisone, Sterapred, and Sterapred-DS. All in the United States. In Canada Prednisone is known by the brand names Winpred, Apo-Prednisone, Metreton, and Novoprednisone. Prednisone is available by a doctor’s prescription in tablets, syrup, and as an oral solution. The oral solution dosage is 5mg/5ml, the syrup dosage is 5mg/5ml (5%alcohol), and the tablet dosages are 1 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 25 mg, and 50 mg. A generic form of Prednisone is available. Taking this medication with milk or food is advised to cut down on stomach upset.
Prednisone is good relief for inflammatory and allergic disorders and as an immunosuppressant. It is also prescribed as a prevention of rejection in organ transplantations.
Its side effects include weight gain, increased appetite, water and salt retention, immune suppression, mild depression, and impaired wound healing. There is easy bruising with prednisone therapy.
Prednisone should not be taken by individuals who have had an allergic reaction to it, an active peptic ulcer, an active herpes simplex virus eye infection, active tuberculosis, or a fungal infection.
Long term use of prednisone produces “functional dependence” and increased blood sugar, a rounding of the face, thinning of the skin, retarded growth, loss of bone texture, and added fat deposits on the trunk of the body.
Prednisone as Apo-Prednisone is presented in the following ways [From the MedSafe Data Sheet]:
APO-PREDNISONE 1mg tablets are round, white, biconvex, 5.5mm in diameter and identified P over 1 on one side. Each tablet contains 1mg prednisone and typically weighs 80mg.
APO-PREDNISONE 2.5mg tablets are round, white, biconvex, 6.0mm in diameter and identified P over 2.5 on one side. Each tablet contains 2.5mg prednisone and typically weighs 87mg.
APO-PREDNISONE 5mg tablets are round, white, flat-faced with bevelled edges, 6.5mm in diameter and identified P over 5 on one side. Each tablet contains 5mg prednisone and typically weighs 94mg.
APO-PREDNISONE 10mg tablets are round, white, flat-faced with bevelled edges, 8.0mm in diameter with a breakline on one side. Each tablet contains 10mg prednisone and typically weighs 188mg.
APO-PREDNISONE 20mg tablets are round, red, biconvex, 6.5mm in diameter and identified P over 20 with a breakline on one side. Each tablet contains 20mg prednisone and typically weighs 97mg.
APO-PREDNISONE 50mg tablets are round, red, biconvex, 9.0mm in diameter. Each tablet contains 50mg prednisone and typically weighs 243mg.
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