PREDNISOLONE & PREDNISONE

• You should also mention your treatmentwhen you see other health professionals,even if you have stopped takingcorticosteroids within the last 12 months.• Most vaccines can be given safely withprednisolone. Talk with yourrheumatologist before receiving anyvaccines.• Yearly flu vaccines and Pneumovax aresafe and recommended.Surgery• If you are going to have an operation it isimportant to tell the anaesthetist that youare taking or have been takingprednisolone or other corticosteroids in thelast year. Your doctor may tell you thatyou need some additional prednisolone atthe time of surgery.Never stop taking prednisolone suddenly• You should not stop taking prednisonesuddenly or increase or reduce the doseyou have been prescribed unless yourdoctor tells you to.• Your adrenal glands, which are just abovethe kidneys, normally make corticosteroidsin small amounts. These are important formany normal body functions.• If prescribed corticosteroids are taken, thebody begins to make less than usual oreven stops making corticosteroidscompletely.• If the medicine is then suddenly stoppedthere may be a problem as the adrenalglands won’t have had time to make thecorticosteroids needed. This problem iscalled adrenal insufficiency.• Signs of adrenal insufficiency includeweakness, fatigue, fever, weight loss,vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.If you experience any of these problems,seek medical help.How to store prednisolone• Store prednisolone tablets at roomtemperature, away from heat, moistureand light (e.g. not in the bathroom).• Keep all medicines out of reach ofchildren.Questions?If you have any questions or concerns writethem down and discuss them with yourdoctor.Your doctor’s contact detailsIf you are taking prednisolone or othercorticosteroids you should see yourrheumatologist regularly to make sure thetreatment is working and to minimise anypossible side effects.The information in this sheet has been obtained from various sources and has been reviewed by the Australian Rheumatology Association. It isintended as an educational aid and does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of the medicinesmentioned. This information is not intended as medical advice for individual problems nor for making an individual assessment of the risks andbenefits of taking a particular medicine. It can be reproduced in its entirety but cannot be altered without permission from the ARA.The NHMRC publication: How to present the evidence for consumers: preparation of consumer publications (2000) was used as a guide indeveloping this publication.Australian Rheumatology Associationprednisolone 4http://www.rheumatology.org.auRevised 23 August 2011 – next review July 2012