Prednisolone Oral Solution contains prednisolone which is a glucocorticoid. Glucocorticoids are adrenocortical steroids, both naturally occurring and synthetic, which are readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Prednisolone is a white to practically white, odorless, crystalline powder. It is very slightly soluble in water, soluble in methanol and in dioxane; sparingly soluble in acetone and in alcohol, slightly soluble in chloroform.

The chemical name for Prednisolone is Pregna-1,4 -diene -3, 20 - dione, 11, 17, 21- trihydroxy-,(11β). Its molecular weight is 360.45. The molecular formula is C21H28O5 and the structural formula is:

Prednisolone Oral Solution contains 15 mg of prednisolone in each 5 mL. Benzoic acid, 0.1% is added as a preservative. It also contains alcohol 5%, citric acid, edetate disodium, glycerin, propylene glycol, purified water, sodium saccharin, sucrose, artificial wild cherry flavor, FD&C blue #1 and red #40.

Naturally occurring glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone and cortisone), which also have salt-retaining properties, are used as replacement therapy in adrenocortical deficiency states. Their synthetic analogs such as prednisolone are primarily used for their potent anti-inflammatory effects in disorders of many organ systems.

Glucocorticoids such as prednisolone cause profound and varied metabolic effects. In addition, they modify the body’s immune responses to diverse stimuli.

PREDNISOLONE Oral Solution is indicated in the following conditions:

1. Endocrine Disorders

Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the first choice: synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance).

 

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

 

Nonsuppurative thyroiditis

 

Hypercalcemia associated with cancer

2. Rheumatic Disorders

As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in:

 

Psoriatic arthritis

 

Rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy)

 

Ankylosing spondylitis

 

Acute and subacute bursitis

 

Acute nonspecific tenosynovitis

 

Acute gouty arthritis

 

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis

 

Synovitis of osteoarthritis

 

Epicondylitis

3. Collagen Diseases

During an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of:

 

Systemic lupus erythematosus

 

Acute rheumatic carditis

4. Dermatologic Diseases

 

Pemphigus

 

Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis

 

Severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)

 

Exfoliative dermatitis

 

Mycosis fungoides

 

Severe psoriasis

 

Severe seborrheic dermatitis

5. Allergic States

Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment:

 

Seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis

 

Bronchial asthma

 

Contact dermatitis

 

Atopic dermatitis

 

Serum sickness

 

Drug hypersensitivity reactions

6. Ophthalmic Diseases

Severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye and its adnexa such as:

 

Allergic corneal marginal ulcers

 

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus

 

Anterior segment inflammation

 

Diffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditis

 

Sympathetic ophthalmia

 

Allergic conjunctivitis

 

Keratitis

 

Chorioretinitis

 

Optic neuritis

 

Iritis and iridocyclitis

7. Respiratory Diseases

Symptomatic sarcoidosis Loeffler’s syndrome not manageable by other means

 

Berylliosis

 

Fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis when used concurrently with appropriate chemotherapy

 

Aspiration pneumonitis

8. Hematologic Disorders

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults

Secondary thrombocytopenia in adults

Acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia

Erythroblastopenia (RBC anemia)

Congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia

9. Neoplastic Diseases

For palliative management of:

 

Acute leukemia of childhood

 

Leukemias and lymphomas in adults

10. Edematous States

To induce a diuresis or remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome, without uremia, of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus.

11. Gastrointestinal Diseases

To tide the patient over a critical period of the disease in:

 

Ulcerative colitis

 

Regional enteritis

12. Miscellaneous

Tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy. Trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement.

In addition to the above indications Prednisolone Oral Solution is indicated for systemic dermatomyositis (polymyositis).

Systemic fungal infections.

In patients on corticosteroid therapy subjected to unusual stress, increased dosage of rapidly acting corticosteroids before, during, and after the stressful situation is indicated.

Corticosteroids may mask some signs of infection, and new infections may appear during their use. There may be decreased resistance and inability to localize infection when corticosteroids are used.

Prolonged use of corticosteroids may produce posterior subcapsular cataracts, glaucoma with possible damage to the optic nerves, and may enhance the establishment of secondary ocular infections due to fungi or viruses.

Average and large doses of hydrocortisone or cortisone can cause elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and increased excretion of potassium. These effects are less likely to occur with the synthetic derivatives except when used in large doses. Dietary salt restriction and potassium supplementation may be necessary. All corticosteroids increase calcium excretion.

While on corticosteroid therapy, patients should not be vaccinated against smallpox. Other immunization procedures should not be undertaken in patients who are on corticosteroids, especially on high dose, because of possible hazards of neurological complications and a lack of antibody response.

Persons who are on drugs which suppress the immune system are more susceptible to infections than healthy individuals. Chickenpox and measles, for example, can have a more serious or even fatal course in non-immune children or adults on corticosteroids. In such children or adults who have not had these diseases, particular care should be taken to avoid exposure. How the dose, route and duration of corticosteroid administration affects the risk of developing a disseminated infection is not known. The contribution of the underlying disease and/or prior corticosteroid treatment to the risk is also not known. If exposed to chickenpox, prophylaxis with varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG) may be indicated. If exposed to measles, prophylaxis with pooled intramuscular immunoglobulin (IG) may be indicated. (See the respective package inserts for complete VZIG and IG prescribing information.) If chickenpox develops, treatment with antiviral agents may be considered.

The use of Prednisolone Oral Solution in active tuberculosis should be restricted to those cases of fulminating or disseminated tuberculosis in which the corticosteroid is used for the management of the disease in conjunction with an appropriate antituberculous regimen.

If corticosteroids are indicated in patients with latent tuberculosis or tuberculin reactivity, close observation is necessary as reactivation of the disease may occur. During prolonged corticosteroid therapy, these patients should receive chemoprophylaxis.

Use in pregnancy: Since adequate human reproduction studies have not been done with corticosteroids, the use of these drugs in pregnancy, nursing mothers or women of childbearing potential requires that the possible benefits of the drug be weighed against the potential hazards to the mother and embryo or fetus. Infants born of mothers who have received substantial doses of corticosteroids during pregnancy should be carefully observed for signs of hypoadrenalism.

Fluid and Electrolyte Disturbances

 

Sodium retention

 

Fluid retention

 

Congestive heart failure in susceptible patients

 

Potassium loss

 

Hypokalemic alkalosis

 

Hypertension

Musculoskeletal

 

Muscle weakness

 

Steroid myopathy

 

Loss of muscle mass

 

Osteoporosis

 

Vertebral compression fractures

 

Aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads

 

Pathologic fracture of long bones

Gastrointestinal

 

Peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage

 

Pancreatitis

 

Abdominal distention

 

Ulcerative esophagitis

Dermatologic

 

Impaired wound healing

 

Thin fragile skin

 

Petechiae and ecchymoses

 

Facial erythema

 

Increased sweating

 

May suppress reactions to skin tests

Neurological

 

Convulsions

 

Increased intracranial pressure with papilledema (pseudo-tumor cerebri) usually after treatment

 

Vertigo

 

Headache

Endocrine

 

Menstrual irregularities

 

Development of Cushingoid state

 

Suppression of growth in children

 

Secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness, particularly in times of stress, as in trauma, surgery or illness

 

Decreased carbohydrate tolerance

 

Manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus

 

Increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetics

Ophthalmic

 

Posterior subcapsular cataracts

 

Increased intraocular pressure

 

Glaucoma

 

Exophthalmos

Metabolic

 

Negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Akorn Operating Company LLC at 1-800-932-5676 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Dosage of Prednisolone Oral Solution should be individualized according to the severity of the disease and the response of the patient. For infants and children, the recommended dosage should be governed by the same considerations rather than strict adherence to the ratio indicated by age or body weight.

Hormone therapy is an adjunct to and not a replacement for conventional therapy.

Dosage should be decreased or discontinued gradually when the drug has been administered for more than a few days.

The severity, prognosis, expected duration of the disease, and the reaction of the patient to medication are primary factors in determining dosage.

If a period of spontaneous remission occurs in a chronic condition, treatment should be discontinued.

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 Gl X-rays are desirable in patients with known or suspected peptic ulcer disease.

The initial dosage of Prednisolone Oral Solution 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, Prednisolone Oral Solution should be discontinued and the patient transferred to other appropriate therapy. 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.

After a favorable response is noted, the proper maintenance dosage should be determined by decreasing the initial drug dosage in small decrements 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 patient’s 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 Prednisolone Oral Solution for a period of time consistent with the patient’s condition. If after long-term therapy the drug is to be stopped, it is recommended that it be withdrawn gradually rather than abruptly.

Product: 50090-0655

NDC: 50090-0655-0 120 mL in a BOTTLE / 2 in a CARTON

NDC: 50090-0655-1 60 mL in a BOTTLE / 4 in a CARTON

NDC: 50090-0655-2 240 mL in a BOTTLE / 1 in a CARTON