Generic Name: prednisone (PRED ni sone)
Brand Names: Sterapred, Sterapred DS
What is Meticorten (prednisone)?
Prednisone is a steroid. Prednisone prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.
Prednisone is used to treat many different conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or breathing disorders.
Prednisone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Meticorten (prednisone)?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to prednisone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.
Before taking prednisone, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, and about all other medicines you are using. There are many other diseases that can be affected by steroid use, and many other medicines that can interact with steroids.
Your dosage needs may change if you have any unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you during treatment.
Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have or have recently had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using a steroid.
Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using prednisone. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease.
Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take prednisone. Any medical care provider who treats you should know that you are using a steroid.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Meticorten (prednisone)?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to prednisone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.
Steroid medicine can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Steroids can also worsen an infection you already have, or reactivate an infection you recently had. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.
To make sure you can safely take prednisone, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
liver disease (such as cirrhosis);
kidney disease;
a thyroid disorder;
diabetes;
a history of malaria;
tuberculosis;
osteoporosis;
a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis;
glaucoma or cataracts;
herpes infection of the eyes;
stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis;
depression or mental illness;
congestive heart failure; or
high blood pressure
It is not known whether prednisone will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. Prednisone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Steroids can affect growth in children. Talk with your doctor if you think your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medication.
How should I take Meticorten (prednisone)?
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.
Take with food if prednisone upsets your stomach.
Your dosage needs may change if you have unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you.
Measure liquid medicine with a special dose measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
This medication can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using prednisone.
Do not stop using prednisone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication. Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take prednisone. Any medical care provider who treats you should know that you are using a steroid. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Long-term use of high steroid doses can lead to symptoms such as thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.
What should I avoid while taking Meticorten (prednisone)?
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using a steroid.
Do not receive a "live" vaccine while taking prednisone. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral polio, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), H1N1 influenza, and nasal flu vaccine.
Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking prednisone.
Meticorten (prednisone) side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
blurred vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath;
severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions);
bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood;
pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate);
low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or
dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).
Less serious side effects may include:
sleep problems (insomnia), mood changes;
acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration;
slow wound healing;
increased sweating;
headache, dizziness, spinning sensation;
nausea, stomach pain, bloating; or
changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect Meticorten (prednisone)?
Many drugs can interact with prednisone. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:
aspirin (taken on a daily basis or at high doses);
a diuretic (water pill);
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);
insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth;
ketoconazole (Nizoral);
rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane); or
seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with prednisone. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More Meticorten resources
- Meticorten Side Effects (in more detail)
- Meticorten Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Meticorten Drug Interactions
- Meticorten Support Group
- 1 Review for Meticorten - Add your own review/rating
- Deltasone Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Deltasone Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Prednisone Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Prednisone Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Prednisone Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Prednisone MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Sterapred MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
Compare Meticorten with other medications
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Adrenocortical Insufficiency
- Adrenogenital Syndrome
- Allergic Reactions
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Aspiration Pneumonia
- Asthma
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
- Berylliosis
- Bullous Pemphigoid
- Bursitis
- Chorioretinitis
- Cluster Headaches
- Cogan's Syndrome
- Conjunctivitis, Allergic
- Corneal Ulcer
- Dermatitis Herpetiformis
- Dermatomyositis
- Eczema
- Epicondylitis, Tennis Elbow
- Erythroblastopenia
- Fibromyalgia
- Gouty Arthritis
- Graft-versus-host disease
- Hay Fever
- Herpes Zoster
- Herpes Zoster Iridocyclitis
- Hypercalcemia of Malignancy
- Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- Immunosuppression
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Inflammatory Conditions
- Iridocyclitis
- Iritis
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Keratitis
- Leukemia
- Lichen Planus
- Lichen Sclerosus
- Loeffler's Syndrome
- Lymphoma
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Mycosis Fungoides
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Neurosarcoidosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Pemphigoid
- Pemphigus
- Pharyngitis
- Polymyositis/Dermatomyositis
- Psoriasis
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sarcoidosis
- Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Sinusitis
- Skin Rash
- Synovitis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Systemic Sclerosis
- Thrombocytopenia
- Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
- Tuberculosis, Extrapulmonary
- Tuberculous Meningitis
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Uveitis, Posterior
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about prednisone.
See also: Meticorten side effects (in more detail)
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