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'''Prednisone''' is a synthetic [[corticosteroid]] drug that is particularly effective as an [[immunosuppressive drug|immunosuppressant]] drug. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases and (at higher doses) some types of cancer, but has significant adverse effects. Because it suppresses the immune system, it leaves patients more susceptible to infections.
'''Prednisone''' is a synthetic [[corticosteroid]] drug that is particularly effective as an [[immunosuppressive drug|immunosuppressant]] drug. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases and (at higher doses) some types of cancer, but has significant adverse effects. Because it suppresses the immune system, it leaves patients more susceptible to infections.


It is usually taken orally but can be delivered by [[intramuscular injection]] or [[Intravenous therapy|intravenous injection]]. It has a mainly [[glucocorticoid]] effect. Prednisone is a [[prodrug]] that is converted by the [[liver]] into [[prednisolone]], which is the active drug and also a [[steroid]].
It is usually taken orally but can be delivered by [[intramuscular injection]] or [[intravenous injection]]. It has a mainly [[glucocorticoid]] effect. Prednisone is a [[prodrug]] that is converted by the [[liver]] into [[prednisolone]], which is the active drug and also a [[steroid]].


== Medical uses ==
== Medical uses ==
Line 121: Line 121:


==In industry==
==In industry==
⚫
[[File:006035339lg Prednisone 20 MG Oral Tablet.jpg|thumb|Prednisone 20 mg oral tablet]]
The pharmaceutical industry uses prednisone tablets for the [[calibration]] of [[dissolution testing]] equipment according to the [[United States Pharmacopeia]] (USP).
The pharmaceutical industry uses prednisone tablets for the [[calibration]] of [[dissolution testing]] equipment according to the [[United States Pharmacopeia]] (USP).


== History ==
== History ==
⚫
[[File:006035339lg Prednisone 20 MG Oral Tablet.jpg|thumb|Prednisone 20 mg oral tablet]]
The first isolation and structure identifications of prednisone and prednisolone were done in 1950 by Arthur Nobile.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wainwright|first=M|title=The secret of success: Arthur Nobile's discovery of the steroids prednisone and prednisolone in the 1950s revolutionised the treatment of arthritis|url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/the-secret-of-success-arthur-nobiles-discovery-of-the-steroids-prednisone-and-prednisolone-in-the-1950s-revolutionised-the-treatment-of-arthritis/oclc/106716069&referer=brief_results|publisher=Chemistry in Britain|accessdate=15 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=National Inventors Hall of Fame|url=http://www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/355.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame|url=http://www.stevens.edu/njinvent/2000/inductees_2000/nobile.html}}</ref> The first commercially feasible synthesis of prednisone was carried out in 1955 in the laboratories of Schering Corporation, which later became [[Schering-Plough|Schering-Plough Corporation]], by Arthur Nobile and coworkers.<ref>Merck Index, 14th Edition, p.1327. Published by Merck & Co. Inc.</ref> They discovered that [[cortisone]] could be microbiologically oxidized to prednisone by the bacterium ''Corynebacterium simplex.'' The same process was used to prepare [[prednisolone]] from [[hydrocortisone]].<ref>H.L. Herzog ''et al.'' Science, Vol. 121, p 176 (1955).</ref>
The first isolation and structure identifications of prednisone and prednisolone were done in 1950 by Arthur Nobile.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wainwright|first=M|title=The secret of success: Arthur Nobile's discovery of the steroids prednisone and prednisolone in the 1950s revolutionised the treatment of arthritis|url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/the-secret-of-success-arthur-nobiles-discovery-of-the-steroids-prednisone-and-prednisolone-in-the-1950s-revolutionised-the-treatment-of-arthritis/oclc/106716069&referer=brief_results|publisher=Chemistry in Britain|accessdate=15 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=National Inventors Hall of Fame|url=http://www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/355.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame|url=http://www.stevens.edu/njinvent/2000/inductees_2000/nobile.html}}</ref> The first commercially feasible synthesis of prednisone was carried out in 1955 in the laboratories of Schering Corporation, which later became [[Schering-Plough|Schering-Plough Corporation]], by Arthur Nobile and coworkers.<ref>Merck Index, 14th Edition, p.1327. Published by Merck & Co. Inc.</ref> They discovered that [[cortisone]] could be microbiologically oxidized to prednisone by the bacterium ''Corynebacterium simplex.'' The same process was used to prepare [[prednisolone]] from [[hydrocortisone]].<ref>H.L. Herzog ''et al.'' Science, Vol. 121, p 176 (1955).</ref>


Revision as of 05:36, 30 August 2011

For the active metabolite of prednisone which is also used as a drug including as eye drops, see prednisolone.
Prednisone
Clinical data
Other namesDeltasone, Liquid Pred, Orasone, Adasone, Deltacortisone, Prednisonum
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa601102
Pregnancy
category
  • C
Routes of
administration		Oral, Nasal, Rectal, Injection, IV
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • Rx Only (US)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability70%
Metabolismprednisolone (liver)
Elimination half-life1 hour
ExcretionRenal
Identifiers
  • (8S,9S,10R,13S,14S,17R)-
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.000.147 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC21H26O5
Molar mass358.428 g/mol g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • O=C(CO)[C@@]3(O)CC[C@H]2[C@@H]4CC\C1=C\C(=O)\C=C/[C@]1(C)[C@H]4C(=O)C[C@@]23C
  • InChI=1S/C21H26O5/c1-19-7-5-13(23)9-12(19)3-4-14-15-6-8-21(26,17(25)11-22)20(15,2)10-16(24)18(14)19/h5,7,9,14-15,18,22,26H,3-4,6,8,10-11H2,1-2H3/t14-,15-,18+,19-,20-,21-/m0/s1 checkY
  • Key:XOFYZVNMUHMLCC-ZPOLXVRWSA-N checkY
 ☒NcheckY (what is this?)  (verify)

Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is particularly effective as an immunosuppressant drug. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases and (at higher doses) some types of cancer, but has significant adverse effects. Because it suppresses the immune system, it leaves patients more susceptible to infections.

It is usually taken orally but can be delivered by intramuscular injection or intravenous injection. It has a mainly glucocorticoid effect. Prednisone is a prodrug that is converted by the liver into prednisolone, which is the active drug and also a steroid.

Medical uses

Prednisone is used for many different indications including: asthma, COPD, rheumatic disorders, allergic disorders, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, adrenocortical insufficiency, hypercalcemia due to cancer, thyroiditis, severe tuberculosis, lipid pneumonitis, multiple sclerosis, nephrotic syndrome, myasthenia gravis, and as part of a drug regime to prevent rejection post organ transplant.[1]

Prednisone has also been used in the treatment of migraine headaches and cluster headaches and for severe aphthous ulcer. Prednisone is used as an antitumor drug.[2] Prednisone is important in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma and other hormone-sensitive tumors, in combination with other anticancer drugs.

Prednisone is also used for the treatment of the Herxheimer reaction, which is common during the treatment of syphilis, and to delay the onset of symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The mechanism for the delay of symptoms is unknown. Because it suppresses the adrenals, it is also sometimes used in the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Prednisone is also used to treat sarcoidosis and lupus.

Side-effects

Micrograph of fatty liver, as may be seen due to long-term prednisone use. Trichrome stain.

Short-term side-effects, as with all glucocorticoids, include high blood glucose levels, especially in patients with diabetes mellitus or on other medications that increase blood glucose (such as tacrolimus) and mineralocorticoid effects such as fluid retention (it is worth noting, however, that the mineralocorticoid effects of prednisone are very minor; this is why it is not used in the management of adrenal insufficiency, unless a more potent mineralocorticoid is administered concomitantly).

Additional short-term side-effects can include insomnia, euphoria and, rarely, mania (in particular, in those suffering from Bipolar disorders I and II).

Long-term side-effects include Cushing's syndrome, truncal weight gain, osteoporosis, glaucoma and cataracts, type II diabetes mellitus, and depression upon dose reduction or cessation.

Major

Minor

Dependency

Adrenal suppression will begin to occur if prednisone is taken for longer than seven days. Eventually, this may cause the body to temporarily lose the ability to manufacture natural corticosteroids (especially cortisol), which results in dependence on prednisone. For this reason, prednisone should not be abruptly stopped if taken for more than seven days, instead, the dosage should be gradually reduced. This weaning process may be over a few days, if the course of prednisone was short, but may take weeks or months if the patient had been on long-term treatment. Abrupt withdrawal may lead to an Addisonian crisis. For those on chronic therapy, alternate-day dosing may preserve adrenal function and thereby reduce side-effects.[3]

Glucocorticoids act to inhibit-feedback of both the hypothalamus (decreasing corticotropin-releasing hormone [CRH]) and corticotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland (decreasing the amount of adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH]). For this reason, glucocorticoid analogue drugs such as prednisone down-regulate the natural synthesis of glucocorticoids. This mechanism leads to dependence in a short time and can be very dangerous if medications are withdrawn too quickly. The body must have time to begin synthesis of CRH and ACTH and for the adrenal glands to begin functioning normally again.

In industry

The pharmaceutical industry uses prednisone tablets for the calibration of dissolution testing equipment according to the United States Pharmacopeia (USP).

History

Prednisone 20 mg oral tablet

The first isolation and structure identifications of prednisone and prednisolone were done in 1950 by Arthur Nobile.[4][5][6] The first commercially feasible synthesis of prednisone was carried out in 1955 in the laboratories of Schering Corporation, which later became Schering-Plough Corporation, by Arthur Nobile and coworkers.[7] They discovered that cortisone could be microbiologically oxidized to prednisone by the bacterium Corynebacterium simplex. The same process was used to prepare prednisolone from hydrocortisone.[8]

The enhanced adrenocorticoid activity of these compounds over cortisone and hydrocortisone was demonstrated in mice.[9]

Prednisone and prednisolone were introduced in 1955 by Schering and Upjohn, under the brand names Meticorten and Delta-Cortef, respectively.[10] These prescription medicines are now available from a number of manufacturers as generic drugs.

References

  1. ^ "Prednisone". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  2. ^ [U.S.] National Library of Medicine, Medical Subject Headings. Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal (2009). Retrieved 9-11-2010
  3. ^ "Therapeutic and Adverse Effects of Glucocorticoids". Bello CS, Garrett SD. U.S. Pharmacist Continuing Education Program no. 430-000-99-028-H01, August 1999.
  4. ^ Wainwright, M. "The secret of success: Arthur Nobile's discovery of the steroids prednisone and prednisolone in the 1950s revolutionised the treatment of arthritis". Chemistry in Britain. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  5. ^ "National Inventors Hall of Fame".
  6. ^ "New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame".
  7. ^ Merck Index, 14th Edition, p.1327. Published by Merck & Co. Inc.
  8. ^ H.L. Herzog et al. Science, Vol. 121, p 176 (1955).
  9. ^ H.L. Herzog et al. Science, Vol. 121, p 176 (1955).
  10. ^ http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm
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