delta-cortef

How long does Prednisolone stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of prednisolone is 2 to 4 hours — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. 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.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: PediaPred (prednisolone sodium phosphate) oral solution — FDA label via DailyMed.

Frequently asked questions

What does Delta-Cortef treat?

Delta-Cortef (Prednisolone) may be used to treat adrenal insufficiency, hemolytic anemia, asthma, berylliosis, brain neoplasms, ulcerative colitis, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How does Delta-Cortef work?

Delta-Cortef is 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.

How much does Delta-Cortef cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.60 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.

Is there a coupon or discount for Delta-Cortef?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Delta-Cortef. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Delta-Cortef?

Delta-Cortef is marketed by Pharmacia and Upjohn. You can see Pharmacia and Upjohn's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Delta-Cortef a brand-name or generic drug?

Delta-Cortef is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Prednisolone. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Prednisolone are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Delta-Cortef available over the counter?

No. Delta-Cortef is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Delta-Cortef come in?

Delta-Cortef is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Delta-Cortef?

Delta-Cortef is classified as corticosteroid, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Delta-Cortef FDA-registered?

Delta-Cortef is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA009987. You can verify this on its official FDA label.