💊 Prednisolone Tablet 20 mg – As Licensed
📄 Description:
Prednisolone is a systemic corticosteroid that mimics natural hormones produced by the adrenal glands. It is used to reduce inflammation, suppress immune responses, and treat a wide range of chronic and acute conditions. The 20 mg strength is typically used in moderate to high-dose regimens, often at the start of treatment or during severe disease flares.
💊 Prescription / Use:
- Indications:
- Autoimmune diseases: lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis
- Severe allergic conditions: angioedema, drug reactions
- Asthma or COPD exacerbations
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Severe dermatological conditions
- Oncology: supportive care in leukemias/lymphomas
- Adrenal insufficiency (in stress dosing)
- Multiple sclerosis relapses
- Inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis
- Dosage (General Guidance):
- Adults:
- Start with 20–60 mg/day, depending on severity
- Taper to the lowest effective maintenance dose
- Children: Dosing based on body weight or body surface area
- Should always be prescribed and monitored by a doctor
- Adults:
🔬 Nature:
- Drug class: Glucocorticoid (corticosteroid)
- Form: Oral tablet
- Strength: 20 mg
- Route: Oral
- Duration: Intermediate-acting (12–36 hours)
- Mechanism: Reduces inflammation and modulates immune activity
🌟 Advantages:
- High potency allows control of severe disease flares
- Rapid onset in acute inflammatory conditions
- Suitable for a wide range of chronic illnesses
- Reduces the need for hospitalization when used properly
- Can be tapered as symptoms improve
📦 Common Packaging:
- Available in blister strips (usually 10, 15, or 30 tablets per pack)
- Clearly marked with strength, batch number, expiry date, and manufacturer
- Some tablets may be scored for flexible dosing
🧊 Storage:
- Store at 15–25°C (room temperature)
- Protect from moisture, heat, and direct light
- Keep in original packaging
- Keep out of reach of children
⚠️ Precautions:
- Use cautiously in patients with:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension and heart failure
- Peptic ulcers
- Infections (especially tuberculosis, fungal infections)
- Osteoporosis
- Kidney or liver dysfunction
- Glaucoma or cataracts
- Common Side Effects:
- Weight gain, fluid retention
- Mood changes, insomnia
- Elevated blood sugar, hypertension
- Osteoporosis (with long-term use)
- Gastric upset or ulcers
- Facial puffiness (moon face)
- Increased infection risk
- Muscle weakness, delayed healing
👩⚕️ Patient Advice:
- Take with food to avoid stomach upset
- Follow prescribed dosage—do not skip or abruptly stop
- Long-term use requires gradual tapering
- Monitor blood pressure, blood sugar, and bone health
- Carry a Steroid Alert Card for emergencies
- Avoid close contact with people who are ill
- Inform all healthcare providers (including dentists) of steroid use
- Report any unusual swelling, vision changes, mood swings, or persistent infections