💊 Prednisolone Oral Liquid 5 mg/5 mL (Pediatric) – As Licensed
📄 Description:
Prednisolone is a synthetic glucocorticoid corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and immunosuppressive properties. The oral liquid form (5 mg per 5 mL) is designed for children and patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets.
💊 Prescription / Use:
- Indications:
- Bronchial asthma and acute asthma exacerbations
- Allergic conditions (urticaria, angioedema, drug reactions)
- Autoimmune disorders (e.g., juvenile idiopathic arthritis, lupus)
- Nephrotic syndrome (relapse or induction therapy)
- Acute exacerbations of inflammatory bowel disease
- Croup, severe skin reactions
- Replacement therapy in adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease)
- Typical Dosage:(To be determined by physician)
- Children: Usually 0.5–2 mg/kg/day in divided doses
- Doses must be adjusted based on age, weight, and severity
- Often used as short-course therapy for acute flare-ups
- May require tapering after prolonged use
- Route: Oral
- Formulation: Palatable syrup or suspension
🔬 Nature:
- Drug class: Corticosteroid (Glucocorticoid)
- Form: Oral Liquid (syrup or suspension)
- Concentration: 5 mg per 5 mL
- Type: Intermediate-acting steroid
- Mechanism: Suppresses inflammation and immune responses
🌟 Advantages:
- Easier dosing in children than tablets
- Useful for younger children and elderly with swallowing issues
- Rapid absorption and onset of action
- Can be titrated more precisely by mL dosing
- Available in flavored formulations for better compliance
📦 Common Packaging:
- Supplied in amber bottles of 30 mL, 60 mL, or 100 mL
- Comes with measuring cap or dropper
- Label includes drug concentration, expiry, batch no., and instructions
- Pediatric-specific formulations are sugar-free or low sugar
🧊 Storage:
- Store at 15–25°C
- Protect from light and freezing
- Shake well before use (especially suspensions)
- Use within 30–60 days after opening (as per label)
- Keep out of reach of children
⚠️ Precautions:
- Use lowest effective dose for shortest duration
- Avoid live vaccines during use
- Caution in:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Infections (e.g., TB, fungal)
- Glaucoma and growth delays
- Adverse Effects (especially with prolonged use):
- Increased appetite, weight gain
- Mood swings, irritability
- Elevated blood sugar or BP
- Weakened immunity
- Stunted growth (long-term use in children)
- Gastric upset
👩⚕️ Patient Advice
- Follow the prescribed dose carefully—use a dosing syringe or cup
- Give with food or milk to reduce gastric irritation
- If given long-term, monitor child’s growth and development
- Do not stop suddenly—tapering is important
- Wash hands before and after administering
- Avoid exposure to people with infections
- Store medication safely and check expiry