User:Mr. Ibrahem/Prednisone
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prednisone is a glucocorticoid medication mostly used to suppress the immune system and decrease inflammation in conditions such as asthma, COPD, and rheumatologic diseases.[1] It is also used to treat high blood calcium due to cancer and adrenal insufficiency along with other steroids.[1] It is taken by mouth.[1]
Clinical data | |
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Trade names | Deltasone, Liquid Pred, Orasone, others |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a601102 |
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Pregnancy category |
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Routes of administration | By mouth |
Drug class | Glucocorticoid[1] |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 70% |
Metabolism | prednisolone (liver) |
Elimination half-life | 3 to 4 hours in adults. 1 to 2 hours in children[2] |
Excretion | Kidney |
Identifiers | |
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Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C21H26O5 |
Molar mass | 358.434 g·mol−1 |
3D model (JSmol) | |
Melting point | 230 °C (446 °F) |
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NY (what is this?) (verify) |
Common side effects with long term use include cataracts, bone loss, easy bruising, muscle weakness, and thrush.[1] Other side effects include weight gain, swelling, high blood sugar, increased risk of infection, and psychosis.[3][1] It is generally considered safe in pregnancy and low doses appear to be safe when breastfeeding.[4] After prolonged use, prednisone needs to be stopped gradually.[1]
Prednisone must be converted to prednisolone by the liver before it becomes active.[5][6] Prednisolone then binds to glucocorticoid receptors, activating them and triggering changes in gene expression.[3]
Prednisone was patented in 1954 and approved for medical use in the United States in 1955.[1][7] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines as an alternative to prednisolone.[8] It is available as a generic medication.[1] In the United States, the wholesale cost per dose was less than US$0.30 in 2018.[9] In 2017, it was the 22nd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 25 million prescriptions.[10][11]