Prednisone instructions for administration
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Instructions for administration
instructions for administration#Determining dosage| Determining dosage]
instructions for administration#Spontaneous remission|Spontaneous remission]
instructions for administration#Prolonged therapy|Prolonged therapy]
instructions for administration#Initial dosage|Initial dosage]
instructions for administration#Maintenance dosage| Maintenance dosage]
Determining dosage
The severity, prognosis, expected duration of the disease, and the reaction of the patient to medication are primary factors in determining dosage. 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. instructions for administration#Instructions for administration|Return to top]
Spontaneous remission
If a period of spontaneous remission occurs in a chronic condition, treatment should be discontinued. instructions for administration#Instructions for administration|Return to top]
Prolonged therapy
Blood pressure, body weight, routine laboratory studies, including two-hour postprandial blood glucose and serum potassium, and a chest X-ray should be obtained at regular intervals during prolonged therapy. Upper GI X-rays are desirable in patients with known or suspected peptic ulcer disease. instructions for administration#Instructions for administration|Return to top]
Initial dosage
The initial dosage of Prednisone may vary from 5 mg to 60 mg 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, Prednisone should be discontinued and the patient transferred to other appropriate therapy. instructions for administration#Instructions for administration|Return to top]
Maintenance dosage
After a favorable response is noted, the proper maintenance dosage should be determined by decreasing the initial drug dosage in small increments 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 patientâs individual drug responsiveness, and the effect of patient exposure to stressful situations not directly related to the disease entity under treatment; in this latter situation, it may be necessary to increase the dosage of Prednisone for a period of time consistent with the patientâs condition. If after long-term therapy the drug is to be stopped, it recommended that it be withdrawn gradually rather than abruptly. instructions for administration#Instructions for administration|Return to top]
Adapted from the FDA Package Insert.