Prednisolone: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Prednisolone is a corticosteroid sold in the U.S. under 15 brand and generic names, for adrenal insufficiency, hemolytic anemia and asthma. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Corticosteroid
- Treats (across its forms)
- Adrenal Insufficiency, Hemolytic Anemia and Asthma
- Available as
- Drops · Topical · Injectable · Solution · Tablet · Suspension · Tablet, orally disintegrating · Syrup
- Sold as
- 15 products — Pred Forte, Econopred and Hydeltrasol, and others
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- Half-life
- 2 to 4 hours
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $0.60 per ml — not your price
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How Pediapred is dosed
From the FDA label for Pediapred (application NDA019157). Other prednisolone products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
The initial dosage of Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate Oral Solution may vary from 5 mL to 60 mL (5 to 60 mg prednisolone base) per day depending on the specific disease entity being treated. In situations of less severity, lower doses will generally suffice while in selected patients higher initial doses may be required. The initial dosage should be maintained or adjusted until a satisfactory response is noted. If after a reasonable period of time, there is a lack of satisfactory clinical response, Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate Oral Solution should be discontinued and the patient placed on other appropriate therapy. IT SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED THAT DOSAGE REQUIREMENTS ARE VARIABLE AND MUST BE INDIVIDUALIZED ON THE BASIS OF THE DISEASE UNDER TREATMENT AND THE RESPONSE OF THE PATIENT. After a favorable response is noted, the proper maintenance dosage should be determined by decreasing the initial drug dosage in small decrements at appropriate time intervals until the lowest dosage which will maintain an adequate clinical response is reached. It should be kept in mind that constant monitoring is needed in regard to drug dosage. Included in the situations which may make dosage adjustments necessary are changes in clinical status secondary to remissions or exacerbations in the disease process, the patient's individual drug responsiveness, and the effect of patient exposure to stressful…
Everything below is the FDA label for Pediapred (solution). Prednisolone is also sold as drops, topical, injectable, tablet, suspension, tablet, orally disintegrating and syrup, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Pediapred side effects
(listed alphabetically under each subsection): Cardiovascular: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in premature infants. Dermatologic: Facial erythema; increased sweating; impaired wound healing; may suppress reactions to skin tests; petechiae and ecchymoses; thin fragile skin; urticaria; edema. Endocrine: Decreased carbohydrate tolerance; development of cushingoid state; hirsutism; increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetic patients; manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus; menstrual irregularities; secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness, particularly in times of stress, as in trauma, surgery or illness; suppression of growth in children. Fluid and Electrolyte Disturbances: Congestive heart failure in susceptible patients; fluid retention; hypertension; hypokalemic alkalosis; potassium loss; sodium retention. Gastrointestinal: Abdominal distention; elevation in serum liver enzyme levels (usually reversible upon discontinuation); pancreatitis; peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage; ulcerative esophagitis. Metabolic: Negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism. Musculoskeletal: Aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads; loss of muscle mass; muscle weakness; osteoporosis; pathologic fracture of long bones; steroid myopathy; tendon rupture; vertebral compression fractures. Neurological: Convulsions; headache;…
Who shouldn’t take Pediapred
Systemic fungal infections. Hypersensitivity to the drug or any of its components.
Pediapred drug interactions
Drugs such as barbiturates, phenytoin, ephedrine, and rifampin, which induce hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activity may enhance metabolism of prednisolone and require that the dosage of Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate Oral Solution be increased. Increased activity of both cyclosporin and corticosteroids may occur when the two are used concurrently. Convulsions have been reported with this concurrent use. Estrogens may decrease the hepatic metabolism of certain corticosteroids thereby increasing their effect. Ketoconazole has been reported to decrease the metabolism of certain corticosteroids by up to 60% leading to an increased risk of corticosteroid side effects. Coadministration of corticosteroids and warfarin usually results in inhibition of response to warfarin, although there have been some conflicting reports. Therefore, coagulation indices should be monitored frequently to maintain the desired anticoagulant effect. Concomitant use of aspirin (or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents) and corticosteroids increases the risk of gastrointestinal side effects. Aspirin should be used cautiously in conjunction with corticosteroids in hypoprothrombinemia. The clearance of salicylates may be increased with concurrent use of corticosteroids. When corticosteroids are administered concomitantly with potassium-depleting agents (i.e., diuretics, amphotericin-B), patients should be observed closely for development of hypokalemia. Patients on digitalis glycosides may be at increased risk of arrhythmias due to hypokalemia. Concomitant use of anticholinesterase agents and corticosteroids may produce severe weakness in patients with myasthenia gravis. If possible, anticholinesterase agents should be withdrawn at least 24 hours before initiating corticosteroid therapy. Due to inhibition of antibody response, patients on prolonged corticosteroid therapy may exhibit a diminished response to toxoids and live or inactivated vaccines. Corticosteroids may also potentiate the replication of some organisms contained in live attenuated vaccines. If possible, routine administration of vaccines or toxoids should be deferred until corticosteroid therapy is discontinued. Because corticosteroids may increase blood glucose concentrations, dosage adjustments of antidiabetic agents may be required. Corticosteroids may suppress reactions to skin tests.
Every prednisolone product we track (15)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Prescription | Drops | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 2 | 70/100 | Prescription | Drops | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 3 | 70/100 | Prescription | Topical | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 4 | 70/100 | Prescription | Solution | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 5 | 70/100 | Prescription | Drops | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 6 | 70/100 | Prescription | Solution | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 7 | 66/100 | Prescription | Drops | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 8 | 64/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 9 | 60/100 | Prescription | Drops | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 10 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $1 | View → |
Combination products containing prednisolone
A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.
Prednisolone recalls
From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.
prednisoLONE Acetate Ophthalmic Suspension
Presence of Foreign Substance
Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. · Jun 4, 2026
Prednisolone-Moxifloxacin-Bromfenac Sterile Ophthalmic Suspension
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
Imprimis NJOF, LLC · May 14, 2024
Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate-Moxifloxacin-Bromfenac Sterile Ophthalmic Solution…
Subpotent Drug
Imprimis NJOF, LLC · Apr 10, 2024
Can you crush or split prednisolone?
At least one prednisoloneproduct is labelled to be swallowed whole — crushing an extended-release tablet releases the whole day’s dose at once. Which applies depends on the form you were given.
What each prednisolone label says about crushing, splitting and chewingPrednisolone and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for prednisolone: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadAmounts of prednisolone in breastmilk are very low. No adverse effect have been reported in breastfed infants with maternal use of any corticosteroid during breastfeeding. Although it is often recommended to avoid breastfeeding for 4 hours after a dose this maneuver is not necessary because prednisolone milk levels are very low. Medium to large doses of corticosteroids given systemically or injected into joints or the breast have been reported to cause temporary reduction of lactation.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised July 15, 2024. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about prednisolone
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 193,620 reports naming prednisolone, and the FDA flagged 93% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- pyrexia8,967 reports
- dyspnoea7,452 reports
- pneumonia7,345 reports
- diarrhoea7,173 reports
- nausea5,959 reports
- fatigue5,560 reports
- vomiting5,500 reports
- headache5,108 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean prednisolone caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 26, 2026.
How long prednisolone stays in your system
The elimination half-life of prednisolone is 2 to 4 hours. This is the plasma (elimination) half-life; the label states prednisolone "is eliminated from the plasma with a half-life of 2 to 4 hours" and is 70-90% protein bound. Prednisolone is itself the active corticosteroid (prednisone is the prodrug that is converted to prednisolone in the liver), so no active metabolite outlasts it. Its biological/anti-inflammatory effect lasts much longer than the plasma half-life — prednisolone is an intermediate-acting glucocorticoid with a tissue effect of roughly 18-36 hours, which is why once-daily dosing works. It is metabolized mainly in the liver, so clearance can be slowed and the half-life prolonged in significant liver impairment. Note that the plasma half-life is not the same as a drug-test detection window.
PediaPred (prednisolone sodium phosphate) oral solution — FDA label via DailyMed ↗Half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. It is not the same as how long a drug test can detect it, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Stopping prednisolone: withdrawal & how to come off
The label states that if prednisolone is to be stopped after long-term therapy, it should be withdrawn gradually rather than abruptly, under prescriber management. Abrupt discontinuation can cause drug-induced secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (adrenal suppression), which the label says may be minimized by gradual dose reduction. This relative insufficiency may persist for months after therapy is discontinued, so if a stressful situation occurs during that period, corticosteroid therapy should be reinstituted. The label also lists 'corticoid withdrawal symptoms' and pituitary-adrenal suppression among the effects that dosing strategies (such as alternate-day therapy and tapering) are meant to reduce.
This describes what the label says about stopping — not a schedule to follow on your own. Any change to prednisoloneis your prescriber’s decision; stopping some medicines abruptly is dangerous.
Prednisolone (oral tablets) — FDA label, DailyMed ↗Related guides
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Pediapred?
Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate Oral Solution is a dye free, colorless to light straw-colored, raspberry flavored solution. Each 5 mL (teaspoonful) of Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate Oral Solution contains 6.7 mg prednisolone sodium phosphate (5 mg prednisolone base) in a palatable, aqueous vehicle. Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate Oral Solution also contains dibasic sodium phosphate, edetate disodium, methylparaben, purified water, sodium biphosphate, sorbitol, natural and artificial raspberry flavor. Prednisolone sodium phosphate occurs as white or slightly yellow, friable granules or powder. It is freely soluble in water; soluble in methanol; slightly soluble in alcohol and in chloroform; and very slightly soluble in acetone and in dioxane.
What kind of drug is prednisolone?
The FDA classifies prednisolone as a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids mimic the body's natural stress hormone cortisol: they enter cells and bind a glucocorticoid receptor that switches off genes for inflammatory chemicals, calming swelling, redness, and an overactive immune response. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
What happens if you stop taking prednisolone?
The label states that if prednisolone is to be stopped after long-term therapy, it should be withdrawn gradually rather than abruptly, under prescriber management. Abrupt discontinuation can cause drug-induced secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (adrenal suppression), which the label says may be minimized by gradual dose reduction. This relative insufficiency may persist for months after therapy is discontinued, so if a stressful situation occurs during that period, corticosteroid therapy should be reinstituted. The label also lists 'corticoid withdrawal symptoms' and pituitary-adrenal suppression among the effects that dosing strategies (such as alternate-day therapy and tapering) are meant to reduce. Do not stop prednisolone on your own — any change is a prescriber-managed decision.
How long does prednisolone stay in your system?
The elimination half-life of prednisolone is 2 to 4 hours — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. This is the plasma (elimination) half-life; the label states prednisolone "is eliminated from the plasma with a half-life of 2 to 4 hours" and is 70-90% protein bound. Prednisolone is itself the active corticosteroid (prednisone is the prodrug that is converted to prednisolone in the liver), so no active metabolite outlasts it. Its biological/anti-inflammatory effect lasts much longer than the plasma half-life — prednisolone is an intermediate-acting glucocorticoid with a tissue effect of roughly 18-36 hours, which is why once-daily dosing works. It is metabolized mainly in the liver, so clearance can be slowed and the half-life prolonged in significant liver impairment. Note that the plasma half-life is not the same as a drug-test detection window. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Can you take prednisolone with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run prednisolone against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is prednisolone sold under?
We track 15 prednisolone-containing products in the U.S.: Pred Forte, Econopred, Hydeltrasol, Pediapred, Pred Mild, Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate, Omnipred and Sterane, and 7 more. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does prednisolone come in?
Across the brands we track, prednisolone is currently marketed as drops, topical, injectable, solution, tablet, suspension, tablet, orally disintegrating and syrup, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic prednisolone?
Yes. Our catalog lists 3 generic prednisolone products alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Has prednisolone been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement database lists 3 recall records whose product description mentions prednisolone. The most recent: prednisoLONE Acetate Ophthalmic Suspension (Jun 4, 2026). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Prednisolone: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/prednisolone
- MLA
- “Prednisolone: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/prednisolone.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for prednisolone on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.