Prednisolone

Uses

Prednisolone eye drops is used for the treatment of steroid-responsive inflammation of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, cornea and anterior segment of the globe.

Prednisolone tablet, Injection is used forAllergy and anaphylaxis: bronchial asthma, drug hypersensitivity reactions, serum sickness, angioneurotic oedema, anaphylaxis.

Respiratory disease: allergic pneumonitis, asthma, occupational asthma, pulmonary aspergillosis, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary alveolitis, aspiration of foreign body, aspiration of stomach contents, pulmonary sarcoid, drug induced lung disease, adult respiratory distress syndrome, spasmodic croup.

Rheumatic disorders: rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, juvenile chronic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, mixed connective tissue disease.

Arteritis/collagenosis: giant cell arteritis/polymyalgia rheumatica, mixed connective tissue disease, polyarteritis nodosa, polymyositis.

Blood disorders: haemolytic anaemia (auto-immune), leukaemia (acute and chronic lymphocytic), lymphoma, multiple myeloma, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Cardiovascular disorders: post-myocardial infarction syndrome, rheumatic fever with severe carditis.

Endocrine disorders: primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Gastro-intestinal disorders: Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, persistent coeliac syndrome (coeliac disease unresponsive to gluten withdrawal), auto-immune chronic active hepatitis, multisystem disease affecting liver, biliary peritonitis.

Infections (with appropriate chemotherapy): helminthic infestations, Herxheimer reaction, infectious mononucleosis, miliary tuberculosis, mumps orchitis (adult), tuberculous meningitis, rickettsial disease.

Muscular disorders: polymyositis, dermatomyositis.

Neurological disorders: infantile spasms, Shy-Drager syndrome, sub-acute demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Ocular disease: scleritis, posterior uveitis, retinal vasculitis, pseudo-tumours of the orbit, giant cell arteritis, malignant ophthalmic Graves disease.

Renal disorders: lupus nephritis, acute interstitial nephritis, minimal change glomerulonephritis.

Skin disorders: pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid, systemic lupus erythematosus, pyoderma gangrenosum.

Miscellaneous: sarcoidosis, hyperpyrexia, Behçets disease, immunosuppression in organ transplantation.

Prednisolone is used for the treatment of steroid-responsive inflammation of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, cornea and anterior segment of the globe.

Prednisolone is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Inflammation, Inflammatory Conditions, Ocular Infections, Irritations and Inflammations, Ocular Inflammation, Organ Transplant Rejection

How Prednisolone works

The short term effects of corticosteroids are decreased vasodilation and permeability of capillaries, as well as decreased leukocyte migration to sites of inflammation. Corticosteroids binding to the glucocorticoid receptor mediates changes in gene expression that lead to multiple downstream effects over hours to days.

Glucocorticoids inhibit neutrophil apoptosis and demargination; they inhibit phospholipase A2, which decreases the formation of arachidonic acid derivatives; they inhibit NF-Kappa B and other inflammatory transcription factors; they promote anti-inflammatory genes like interleukin-10.

Lower doses of corticosteroids provide an anti-inflammatory effect, while higher doses are immunosuppressive. High doses of glucocorticoids for an extended period bind to the mineralocorticoid receptor, raising sodium levels and decreasing potassium levels.

Dosage

Prednisolone dosage

The initial dosage of Prednisolone may vary from 5 mg to 60 mg daily depending on the disorder being treated. Divided daily dosage is usually used.

The appropriate individual dose must be determined by trial and error and must be re-evaluated regularly according to activity of the disease.

In general, initial dosage shall be maintained or adjusted until the anticipated response is observed. The dose should be gradually reduced until the lowest dose, which will maintain an adequate clinical response is reached.

During prolonged therapy, dosage may need to be temporarily increased during periods of stress or during exacerbations of the disease. When the drug is to be stopped, it must be withdrawn gradually and not abruptly.

Intermittent dosage regimen: A single dose of Prednisolone in the morning on alternate days or at longer intervals is acceptable therapy for some patients. When this regimen is practical, the degree of pituitary-adrenal suppression can be minimized.

Use in children: Corticosteroids cause growth retardation in infancy, childhood and adolescence, which may be irreversible. Treatment should be administered where possible as a single dose on alternate days.

Specific dosage guidelines-

Allergic and skin disorders: initial doses of 5-15 mg daily are commonly adequate.

Collagenosis: Initial doses of 20-30 mg daily are frequently effective. Those with more severe symptoms may require higher doses.

Rheumatoid arthritis: The usual initial dose is 10-15 mg daily. The lowest daily maintenance dose compatible with tolerable symptomatic relief is recommended.

Blood disorders and lymphoma: An initial daily dose of 15-60 mg is often necessary with reduction after an adequate clinical or haematological response. Higher doses may be necessary to induce remission in acute leukaemia.

Adult: Instill one drop into the conjunctival sac two to four times daily. During the initial 24 to 48 hours, the dosing frequency may be increased if necessary. Care should be taken not to discontinue the therapy before completing the course.

Paediatri: Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

Side Effects

Elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) with possible development of glaucoma and infrequent optic nerve damage, posterior subcapsular cataract formation and delayed wound healing. Fungal and viral infections of the cornea are particularly may develop coincidentally with long-term applications of steroid.

General side-effects include leucocytosis, hypersensitivity including anaphylaxis, thromboembolism, nausea, and malaise.

Toxicity

The oral LD₅₀ of prednisolone acetate in mice is 1680 mg/kg. Patients experiencing an overdose of oral prednisolone acetate may experience an increased severity in the adverse effects of corticosteroids. Overdose of oral prednisolone acetate may be treated by gastric lavage or inducing vomiting if the overdose was recent, as well as supportive and symptomatic therapy. Chronic overdosage may be treated by dose reduction or treating patients on alternate days. An overdose by the ophthalmic route is not expected to cause problems.

Precaution

Shake the bottle well before use. Prolonged use of corticosteroids may result in damage to the optic nerve and defects in vision. If this product is used for longer period of time, intraocular pressure should be routinely monitored.

Caution is necessary when oral corticosteroids, including Prednisolone, are prescribed in patients with the following conditions like-Tuberculosis, Hypertension, Congestive heart failure, Liver failure, Renal insufficiency, Diabetes mellitus or in those with a family history of diabetes, Osteoporosis, Patients with a history of severe affective disorders and particularly those with a previous history of steroid-induced psychoses, Epilepsy, Peptic ulceration, Previous Steroid Myopathy.

Undesirable effects may be minimized by using the lowest effective dose for the minimum period and by administering the daily requirement as a single morning dose on alternate days. Frequent patient review is required to titrate the dose appropriately against disease activity.

Interaction

Hepatic microsomal enzyme inducers: Drugs which can cause liver enzyme induction such as phenobarbitone, phenytoin, rifampicin, rifabutin, carbamazepine, primidone and aminoglutethimide may reduce the therapeutic efficacy of corticosteroids by increasing the rate of metabolism.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Concomitant administration of ulcerogenic drugs such as indomethacin during corticosteroid therapy may increase the risk of Gl ulceration.

Anticoagulants: Response to anticoagulants may be reduced or, less often, enhanced by corticosteroids.

Vaccines: Live vaccines should not be given to individuals with impaired immune responsiveness. The antibody response to other vaccines may be diminished.

Oestrogens: Oestrogens may potentiate the effects of glucocorticoids and dosage adjustment may be required if oestrogens are added to or withdrawn from a stable dosage regimen.

Other: The desired effects of hypoglycaemic agents (including insulin), anti-hypertensives and diuretics are antagonised by corticosteroids and the hypokalaemic effect of acetazolamide, loop diuretics, thiazide diuretics and carbenoxolone are enhanced.

Food Interaction

• Avoid excessive or chronic alcohol consumption. Alcohol may cause gastric irritation.
• Take with food. Food reduces gastrointestinal irritation.

Volume of Distribution

The volume of distribution of the active metabolite, prednisolone, is 0.22/0.7L/kg.

Elimination Route

Prednisolone acetate oral suspension given at a dose equivalent to 15mg prednisolone has a C_max of 321.1ng/hr, a T_maxof 1-2 hours, and an AUC of 1999.4ng*hr/mL. The absorption pharmacokinetics of prednisolone acetate are not significantly different from a comparable dose of prednisolone.

Half Life

Oral prednisolone acetate has a plasma half life of 2-3 hours.

Clearance

Data regarding the clearance of prednisolone acetate is not readily available.

Elimination Route

Prednisolone acetate is predominantly excreted in the urine.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy: Prednisolone is pregnancy category C. So, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Lactation: Corticosteroids are excreted in small amounts in breast milk and infants of mothers taking pharmacological doses of steroids should be monitored carefully for signs of adrenal suppression.

Contraindication

Prednisolone (Eye drops) is contraindicated in viral diseases of the cornea, conjunctiva and known hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of Prednisolone (Eye drops) or other corticosteroids.

Systemic infections unless specific anti-infective therapy is employed. Hypersensitivity to any ingredient. Ocular herpes simplex because of possible perforation.

Special Warning

Use in the elderly: Treatment of elderly patients, particularly if long term, should be planned bearing in mind the more serious consequences of the common side effects of corticosteroids in old age, especially osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, hypokalemia, susceptibility to infection and thinning of the skin. Close clinical supervision is required to avoid life-threatening reactions.

May need to increase dose in patients with hyperthyroidism to achieve therapeutic effects.

Acute Overdose

A one-time accidental overdose of Prednisolone Ophthalmic Suspension generally will not cause acute problems. Long time overdose may show general side-effects. In accidental overdose sufficient water should be taken to dilute the medication.

Report of acute toxicity and/or death following overdose of glucocorticoids are rare. No specific antidote is available; treatment is supportive and symptomatic. Serum electrolytes should be monitored.

Storage Condition

Store in a cool, dry place and protect from light. Keep out of the reach of children. Protect from freezing. Shake well before using.

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