Prednisone

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Prednisone, brand name: Deltasone, is a steroid or corticosteroid medicine. It can be taken as a tablet or liquid, or in a hospital, injected. It is processed in the liver to prednisolone.

Use in pregnancy or while breastfeeding is allowed in Australia,^[1] the US, and the UK. It has been known to slightly increase the risk of birth defects if use is started during early pregnancy (13 weeks). It is still used if the benefits outweigh the risks.^[2] It is still important for the doctor to know about a pregnancy when talking about this medicine, to fully understand all of the risks and complications.

Uses for the medicine include treating sarcoidosis, autoimmune disease, allergies, inflammation, and infections. It can be used to treat skin or blood diseases, and many other conditions. It is also used in organ transplants to prevent the body rejecting the organ. It is also used in the treatment of cancer.^[3]

Some people get an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the drug. If this happens, call an ambulance.

1. ↑ Paizis, Kathy (2019-06-03). "Immunomodulatory drugs in pregnancy and lactation". Australian Prescriber. 42 (3). doi:10.18773/austprescr.2019.026.^{[permanent dead link]}
2. ↑ "Prednisone and other corticosteroids: Balance the risks and benefits". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
3. ↑ "Prednisolone tablets and liquid: steroid medicine". nhs.uk. 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2024-05-22.