Prednisolone is given as in injection for the local treatment, by intra-articular or peri-articular injection, of the following conditions: rheumatoid arthritis; osteoarthritis; synovitis not associated with infection; tennis elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) ; golfer's elbow, and housemaids knee - bursitis.
The Injection is also suitable for administration by the intramuscular route in conditions requiring systemic corticosteroids, e.g. suppression of inflammatory and allergic disorders such as bronchial asthma, anaphylaxis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. It belongs to a group of medicines known as corticosteroids.
How does it work?
Prednisolone suppresses the immune system and so can be used to treat autoimmune diseases. Prednisolone can help to prevent and to treat the rejection of transplanted organs. It can also be used in the treatment of certain types of cancers.
People who take corticosteroids for a long period of time are prone to infections as their immune system can become weak. These infections may be much more severe than they usually would be and the symptoms that would usually be used to identify such infections can be hidden. For this reason people who take Prednisolone must be careful to avoid exposure to infections such as chickenpox and measles whenever possible. If you have been exposed to chickenpox or measles, you must get immediate medical advice. You should continue to take your medicine unless your prescriber advises you to stop taking it.
How is it used?
For articular use: 5-25 mg depending upon the size of the joint. The injections may be repeated when relapse occurs. No more than three joints should be treated in one day.
For intramuscular use: Dosage will depend upon the clinical circumstances and the judgement of the physician. The suggested dose is 25-100 mg once or twice weekly.
Elderly. Steroids should be used cautiously in the elderly since adverse effects are enhanced by old age
Undesirable effects may be minimised by using the lowest effective dose for the minimum period, and by administering the daily requirement as a single morning dose or whenever possible, as a single morning dose on alternate days. Frequent patient review is required to titrate the dose against disease activity.
What are the side effects?
Side-effects can be minimised by using lowest effective dose for minimum period possible; gastro-intestinal effects include dyspepsia, peptic ulceration (with perforation), abdominal distension, acute pancreatitis, oesophageal ulceration and candidiasis; musculoskeletal effects include proximal myopathy, osteoporosis, vertebral and long bone fractures, avascular osteonecrosis, tendon rupture; endocrine effects include adrenal suppression, menstrual irregularities and amenorrhoea, Cushing's syndrome (with high doses, usually reversible on withdrawal), hirsutism, weight gain, negative nitrogen and calcium balance, increased appetite; increased susceptibility to and severity of infection; neuropsychiatric effects include euphoria, psychological dependence, depression, insomnia, increased intracranial pressure with papilloedema in children (usually after withdrawal), psychosis and aggravation of schizophrenia, aggravation of epilepsy; ophthalmic effects include glaucoma, papilloedema, posterior subcapsular cataracts, corneal or scleral thinning and exacerbation of ophthalmic viral or fungal disease; other side-effects include impaired healing, skin atrophy, bruising, striae, telangiectasia, acne, myocardial rupture following recent myocardial infarction, fluid and electrolyte disturbance, leucocytosis, hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis), thromboembolism, nausea, malaise, hiccups
Read reviews or write your own
If you would like to read other people’s experience of this treatment, or have any comments to share, good or bad, you might like to go to iWantGreatCare for Prednisolone and iWantGreatCare for Deltastab.
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Prednisolone is available on prescription. It is known commercially as Deltastab and is marketed in the UK by Amdipharm Plc
