Prednisolone

Indications

• • asthma

• uveitis

  • pyoderma gangrenosum

• rheumatoid arthritis

• ulcerative colitis

  • temporal arteritis and Crohn's disease

• Bell's palsy

• multiple sclerosis

• cluster headaches

• vasculitis

  • acute lymphoblastic leukemia and autoimmune hepatitis

  • systemic lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis

Administration/Absorption

• • Often as Prednisone

    • oral; but can be delivered by intramuscular injection or intravenous injection

    • prodrug converted by the liver into prednisolone

Distribution

Mechanism

• • corticosteroid drug

    • predominantly glucocorticoid and low mineralocorticoid activity

  • irreversibly binds with glucocorticoid receptors (GR) alpha and beta

    • AlphaGR and BetaGR are found in virtually all tissues with variable numbers between 3000 - 10000 per cell depending on the tissue involved

  • systemic suppression of inflammation and immune response

Excretion

• • half life 2-3 hours

  • renal excretion

Side effects

• • fluid retention of the face (moon face, Cushing's syndrome), acne, constipation, and mood swings.