Can You Crush Prednisone Tablets?
In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses whether or not prednisone tablets can be crushed.
I was wondering if it was safe to crush prednisone tablets. Thanks for your help!
Aug 01, 2022- Most prednisone tablets can be safely crushed and taken with food or a beverage without affecting how the drug works. Do not crush delayed-release prednisone tablets, which are only available under the brand name Rayos. Prednisone is also available as an oral solution if you prefer an alternative to crushing tablets.
Answer
Hello and thanks for reaching out to us! Most prednisone tablets can safely be crushed and administered with food or a beverage. Crushing the tablets will not negatively affect the drug. It is perfectly safe to do so.
However, I do want to point out that while most prednisone products are immediate-release ( and even scored to make splitting them easier), there is a 'delayed-release' version that should not be crushed or cut. The delayed-release version of prednisone is currently only available as the brand name drug, Rayos. This, again, should not be crushed as doing so will ruin the delayed-release properties of the drug.
Alternatives To Crushing Prednisone
Even though most prednisone tablets are safe to crush, there are alternatives to doing so.
Prednisone is available as an oral solution, as both a 1mg/mL solution and a 5mg/mL solution. Using the oral solution may be a less cumbersome option than crushing tablets every time you need a dose. The solution will likely be better tasting and more palatable as well.
What Is Prednisone?
Prednisone is used alone or with other medications to treat the symptoms of low corticosteroid levels (lack of certain substances that are usually produced by the body and are needed for normal body functioning). It is also used to treat other conditions in patients with normal corticosteroid levels. These conditions include certain types of arthritis; severe allergic reactions; multiple sclerosis (a disease in which the nerves do not function properly); lupus (a disease in which the body attacks many of its own organs); and certain conditions that affect the lungs, skin, eyes, kidneys, blood, thyroid, stomach, and intestines.
Prednisone is also sometimes used to treat the symptoms of certain types of cancer. It is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works to treat patients with low levels of corticosteroids by replacing steroids that are normally produced naturally by the body. It works to treat other conditions by reducing swelling and redness and by changing the way the immune system works.
Final Words
Thanks again for your question and please feel free to reach back out if anything else comes up!
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Immediate-release
- A medication formulation designed to release its active drug quickly into the bloodstream after taking it.
- Delayed-release
- A medication formulation designed to release its active drug slowly over time or at a specific location in the body, rather than immediately.
- Oral solution
- A liquid form of medication taken by mouth that contains the drug dissolved or suspended in a liquid.
- Corticosteroid
- A type of steroid medication that reduces inflammation and suppresses the immune system.
- Corticosteroid levels
- The amount of natural steroid hormones in the body that are produced by the adrenal glands and needed for normal body functions.
- Immune system
- The body's natural defense system that fights infections and diseases.
- Lupus
- An autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and damages its own tissues and organs.
- Multiple sclerosis
- A disease in which the immune system damages the protective covering of nerve fibers, causing problems with communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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