Deltasone (Prednisone)

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Prednisone 20mg

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Manufactured by: Apotex Inc
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Prednisone 1mg

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Prednisone 5mg

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Manufactured by: Teva Pharmaceuticals
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Prednisone 50mg

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Prednisone 1mg

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Manufactured by: Aspen Pharmacare
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Prednisone 20mg

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Manufactured by: Macleods Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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Deltasone (Prednisone) Dosage and Side Effects

DELTASONE acts as a replacement for people with low levels of cortisol, one of the natural steroid hormones. The drug also can also effectively reduce swelling and redness. Patient's are also prescribed this medication for Bell's Palsy.

Warnings and Precautions

DELTASONE can make it harder for your immune system to fight infection.

Children who take prednisone may grow and develop more slowly, so their pediatrician must monitor them closely while they're taking this medication. Be sure to talk to your child's doctor about this risk.

Prednisone may increase your risk for oesteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones so much that they become fragile and break easily.

Research also has shown that some people taking DELTASONE or similar medications have developed a type of cancer called Kaposi's sarcoma.  People with this form of cancer develop patches of abnormal tissue under the skin, in the lining of the mouth, nose, and throat, or in other organs.

Be sure to let you doctor know if you have an eye infection or have recurring eye infections.  Also tell your doctor if you've ever had threadworms, a type of worm that can live inside the body.

Your doctor also needs to know if you have any of the following:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Emotional problems
  • Mental illness
  • Muscle weakness from myasthenia gravis
  • Seizures
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Ulcers
  • Liver, kidney or heart disease
  • An intestinal disorder
  • A thyroid condition

If you plan to take DELTASONE , don't get any vaccinations without talking to your doctor first.

Pregnancy and DELTASONE 

DELTASONE is considered risky for expectant mothers to use, since it may cause harm to a developing fetus. Let your doctor know if you're pregnant, or may become pregnant, before taking DELTASONE. It may also be passed to a breastfeeding baby through breast milk, so ask your doctor about breastfeeding before taking DELTASONE . Researchers have found that high-dose steroids such as DELTASONE , when used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), increased the risk of organ damage.

Side Effects

Common side effects of DELTASONE include:

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Inappropriate happiness
  • Severe mood swings
  • Personality change
  • Bulging eyes
  • Acne
  • Thin, fragile skin
  • Red or purple blotches or lines under the skin
  • Slowed healing of cuts and bruises
  • Increased body hair growth
  • Changes in the way fat is distributed in the body
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Weak muscles
  • Irregular or absent menstrual periods
  • Low sex drive
  • Heartburn
  • Unusual sweating

Serious side effects can also occur. If you have any of these side effects, stop taking DELTASONE and call your doctor right away:

  • Vision problems
  • Eye pain, redness, or tearing
  • Signs of infection, such as sore throat, fever, chills, and cough
  • Seizures
  • Depression
  • Loss of contact with reality
  • Confusion
  • Muscle twitching or tightening
  • Involuntary hand shaking
  • Numbness, burning, or tingling in the face, arms, legs, feet, or hands
  • Upset stomach or vomiting
  • Lightheadedness
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Sudden weight gain
  • Shortness of breath, particularly at night
  • Dry, hacking cough
  • Swelling or pain in the stomach
  • Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
  • Trouble breathing or swallowing
  • Rash
  • Hives
  • Itching

Interactions with this medication

Types of drugs that are known to interact with DELTASONE include:

  • Blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin)
  • Certain antifungal drugs, such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
  • The nausea medication aprepitant (Emend)
  • Aspirin
  • Anti-seizure medication, such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
  • Heartburn drugs, such as cimetidine (Tagamet)
  • Certain antibiotics, such as clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpak), troleandomycin (TAO), and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifamate)
  • Immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
  • Other corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexpak)
  • Diuretics ("water pills")
  • HIV drugs, such as atazanavir (Reyataz), indinavir (Crixivan), and lopinavir (Kaletra)
  • Hormonal contraceptives, including birth control pills, patches, rings, implants, and injections
  • Depression and anxiety medications, including sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), and Phenobarbital
  • Heart medications, including verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), and amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
  • The asthma medication zafirlukast (Accolate)
  • St. John's wort

Do not drink alcohol while taking DELTASONE.  There's some evidence that combining DELTASONE with alcohol may increase the risk of liver problems, gastrointestinal problems, kidney disorders, and other health conditions.

Other DELTASONE Interactions

Your doctor may tell you to stick to a low-salt diet that is high in potassium or calcium. Your doctor may also recommend that you take a calcium or potassium supplement.  You should also talk to your doctor about whether it's okay to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you're taking DELTASONE.

Proper Use of this medication

You usually take DELTASONE with food one to four times daily or once every other day. It's likely your doctor will instruct you to take your medicine at specific times each day. Stick to this schedule carefully.  If you take the concentrated liquid form of DELTASONE, you can mix the solution with juice or another drink or with a soft food like applesauce.

If a corticosteroid overdose is severe enough, it can be dangerous and cause heart rhythm problems.

Symptoms of a corticosteroid overdose may include:

  • Burning or itching skin
  • Convulsions
  • Deafness
  • Depression
  • Dry skin
  • High blood pressure
  • Muscle weakness
  • Nervousness
  • Psychosis
  • Sleepiness
  • Missed menstrual cycle
  • Swelling in lower legs, ankles, or feet
  • Weakness
  • Worsening of health conditions such as ulcers or diabetes

Missed Dose of DELTASONE

Don't stop taking DELTASONE without talking to your doctor, even if you feel well. If you abruptly stop taking the drug, your body may not have enough natural steroids to function properly. This can lead to troubling symptoms, like fatigue, weakness, an upset stomach, weight loss, and mouth sores. When you start taking DELTASONE, ask your doctor what you should do if you miss a dose. However, don't take twice as much prednisone to make up for a missed dose.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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