Prednisolone

Prednisolone is a corticosteroid, a steroid hormone used to treat certain types of allergies, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorders, and cancers, electrolyte imbalances and skin conditions.^[5][6] Some of these conditions include adrenocortical insufficiency, high blood calcium, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis, eye inflammation, asthma, multiple sclerosis, and phimosis.^[6] It can be taken by mouth, injected into a vein, used topically as a skin cream, or as eye drops.^[7][8][6] It differs from the similarly named prednisone in having a hydroxyl at the 11th carbon instead of a ketone.

Common side effects with short-term use include nausea, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, increased appetite, and fatigue.^[5] More severe side effects include psychiatric problems, which may occur in about 5% of people.^[9] Common side effects with long-term use include bone loss, weakness, yeast infections, and easy bruising.^[6] While short-term use in the later part of pregnancy is safe, long-term use or use in early pregnancy is occasionally associated with harm to the baby.^[1] It is a glucocorticoid made from hydrocortisone (cortisol).^[10]

Prednisolone was discovered and approved for medical use in 1955.^[10] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.^[11] It is available as a generic drug.^[6] In 2022, it was the 136th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 4 million prescriptions.^[12][13]