Source: Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB) Revision Year: 2018 Publisher: Actavis UK Limited (Trading style: Actavis), Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, N. Devon, EX32 8NS
Prednisolone is contraindicated in:
Patients and/or carers should be warned that potentially severe psychiatric adverse reactions may occur with systemic steroids (see Section 4.8). Symptoms typically emerge within a few days or weeks of starting the treatment. Risks may be higher with high doses/systemic exposure (see also section 4.5 pharmacokinetic interactions that can increase the risk of side effects), although dose levels do not allow prediction of the onset, type, severity or duration of reactions. Most reactions recover after either dose reduction or withdrawal, although specific treatment may be necessary.
Patients/carers should be encouraged to seek medical advice if worrying psychological symptoms develop, especially if depressed mood or suicidal ideation is suspected. Patients/carers should also be alert to possible psychiatric disturbances that may occur either during or immediately after dose tapering/withdrawal of systematic steroids, although such reactions have been reported infrequently.
Particular care is required when considering the use of systemic corticosteroids in patients with existing or previous history of severe affective disorders in themselves or in their first degree relatives. These would include depressive or manic-depressive illness and previous steroid psychosis.
Tumorigenicity: direct tumour-inducing effects of the glucocorticoids are not known, but the particular risk that malignancies in patients undergoing immunosuppression with these or other drugs will spread more rapidly is a well-recognised problem (see Section 4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction).
Calciphylaxis may occur very rarely during treatment with corticosteroids (see section 4.8 Undesirable effects). Although calciphylaxis is most commonly observed in patients who have end stage kidney failure, it has also been reported in patients taking corticosteroids who have minimal or no renal impairment and normal calcium, phosphate and parathyroid hormone levels. Patients/carers should be advised to seek medical advice if symptoms develop.
Scleroderma renal crisis: Caution is required in patients with systemic sclerosis because of an increased incidence of (possibly fatal) scleroderma renal crisis with hypertension and decreased urinary output observed with a daily dose of 15 mg or more prednisolone. Blood pressure and renal function (s-creatine) should therefore be routinely checked. When renal crises is suspected, blood pressure should be carefully controlled.
Co-treatment with CYP3A inhibitors, including cobicistat-containing products, is expected to increase the risk of systemic side-effects. The combination should be avoided unless the benefit outweighs the increased risk of systemic corticosteroid side-effects, in which case patients should be monitored for systemic corticosteroid side-effects.
Caution is necessary when oral corticosteroids, including Prednisolone Tablets, are prescribed in patients with the following conditions, and frequent patient monitoring is necessary.
Undesirable effects may be minimised by using the lowest effective dose for the minimum period and by administering the daily requirement as a single morning dose on alternate days. Frequent patient review is required to titrate the dose appropriately against disease activity (see Section 4.2 ‘Posology and method of administration’).
Pharmacologic doses of corticosteroids administered for prolonged periods may result in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) suppression (secondary adrenocortical insufficiency). The degree and duration of adrenocortical insufficiency produced is variable among patients and depends on the dose, frequency, time of administration, and duration of glucocorticoid therapy.
In addition, acute adrenal insufficiency leading to a fatal outcome may occur if glucocorticoids are withdrawn abruptly. Drug-induced secondary adrenocortical insufficiency may therefore be minimized by gradual reduction of dosage. This type of relative insufficiency may persist for months after discontinuation of therapy; therefore, in any situation of stress occurring during that period, hormone therapy should be reinstituted. Since mineralocorticoid secretion may be impaired, salt and/or a mineralocorticoid should be administered concurrently. During prolonged therapy any intercurrent illness, trauma, or surgical procedure will require a temporary increase in dosage; if corticosteroids have been stopped following prolonged therapy they may need to be temporarily re-introduced.
Patients should carry “Steroid treatment” cards which give clear guidance on the precautions to be taken to minimise risk and which provide details of prescriber, drug, dosage and the duration of treatment.
Suppression of the inflammatory response and immune function increases the susceptibility to infections and their severity. The clinical presentation may often be atypical and serious infection such as septicaemia and tuberculosis may be masked and may reach an advanced stage before being recognised when corticosteroids including prednisolone are used. The immunosuppressive effects of glucocorticoids may result in activation of latent infection or exacerbation of intercurrent infections.
Chickenpox is of particular concern since this normally minor illness may be fatal in immunosuppressed patients. Patients (or parents of children) without a definite history of chickenpox should be advised to avoid close personal contact with chickenpox or herpes zoster and if exposed they should seek urgent medical attention. Passive immunisation with varicella-zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) is needed by exposed non-immune patients who are receiving systemic corticosteroids or who have used them within the previous 3 months; this should be given within 10 days of exposure to chickenpox. If a diagnosis of chickenpox is confirmed, the illness warrants specialist care and urgent treatment. Corticosteroids should not be stopped and the dose may need to be increased.
Patients should be advised to take particular care to avoid exposure to measles, and to seek immediate medical advice if exposure occurs. Prophylaxis with intramuscular normal immunoglobulin may be needed.
Live vaccines should not be given to individuals on high doses of corticosteroids, due to impaired immune response. Live vaccines should be postponed until at least 3 months after stopping corticosteroid therapy. (See also Section 4.5 ‘Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms on interaction’).
Prolonged use of corticosteroids may produce posterior subcapsular cataracts and nuclear cataracts (particularly in children), exophthalmos, or increased intraocular pressure, which may result in glaucoma with possible damage to the optic nerves. Establishment of secondary fungal and viral infections of the eye may also be enhanced in patients receiving glucocorticoids.
Corticosteroids should be used cautiously in patients with ocular herpes simplex because of possible perforation.
Systemic glucocorticoid treatment can cause severe exacerbation of bullous exudative retinal detachment and lasting visual loss in some patients with idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (See Section 4.8 ‘Undesirable effects’).
Because glucocorticoids can produce or aggravate Cushing’s syndrome, glucocorticoids should be avoided in patients with Cushing’s disease.
There is an enhanced effect of corticosteroids in patients with hypothyroidism.
Psychic derangements may appear when corticosteroids, including prednisolone, are used, ranging from euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, and severe depression, to frank psychotic manifestations (see Section 4.8 ‘Undesirable effects’).
Raised intracranial pressure with papilloedema (pseudotumour cerebri) associated with corticosteroid treatment has been reported in both children and adults. The onset usually occurs after treatment withdrawal (See section 4.8 ‘Undesirable effects’).
Visual disturbance may be reported with systemic and topical corticosteroid use. If a patient presents with symptoms such as blurred vision or other visual disturbances, the patient should be considered for referral to an ophthalmologist for evaluation of possible causes which may include cataract, glaucoma or rare diseases such as central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) which have been reported after use of systemic and topical corticosteroids.
Treatment of elderly patients, particularly if long term, should be undertaken with caution bearing in mind the more serious consequences of the common side-effects of corticosteroids in old age, especially osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, hypokalaemia, susceptibility to infection and thinning of the skin. Close clinical supervision is required to avoid life threatening reactions.
Corticosteroids cause growth retardation in infancy, childhood and adolescence, which may be irreversible, and therefore long-term administration of pharmacological doses should be avoided. If prolonged therapy is necessary, treatment should be limited to the minimum suppression of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis and growth retardation. The growth and development of infants and children should be closely monitored. Treatment should be administered where possible as a single dose on alternate days.
Vaccines: Live vaccines should not be given to individuals with impaired immune responsiveness. The antibody response to other vaccines may be diminished.
Antacids: The absorption of prednisolone may be reduced by large doses of some antacids such as magnesium trisilicate or aluminium hydroxide.
Antibacterials: Rifamycins accelerate metabolism of corticosteroids and thus may reduce their effect. Erythromycin inhibits metabolism of methylprednisolone and possibly other corticosteroids.
Prednisolone can lower plasma levels of isoniazid. Where a reduced response during concurrent use is noted, dosage adjustment of isoniazid may be necessary.
Anticoagulants: Response to anticoagulants may be reduced or, less often, enhanced by corticosteroids. Close monitoring of the INR or prothrombin time is required to avoid spontaneous bleeding.
Antidiabetic agents: Glucocorticoids may increase blood glucose levels. Patients with diabetes mellitus receiving concurrent insulin and/or oral hypoglycaemic agents (e.g. metformin, sulphonamides) may require dosage adjustments of such therapy.
Antiepileptics: Carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and primidone accelerate metabolism of corticosteroids and may reduce their effect.
Antifungals: Risk of hypokalaemia may be increased with amphotericin, therefore concomitant use with corticosteroids should be avoided unless corticosteroids are required to control reactions; ketoconazole inhibits metabolism of methylprednisolone and possibly other corticosteroids.
Antimuscarinics (Anticholinergics): Prednisolone has been shown to have antimuscarinic activity. If used in combination with another antimuscarinic drug could cause impairment to memory and attention in the elderly.
Antithyroids: Prednisolone clearance increased by the use of carbimazole and thiamazole.
Ciclosporin: Concomitant administration of prednisolone and ciclosporin may result in decreased plasma clearance of prednisolone (i.e. increased plasma concentration of prednisolone). The need for appropriate dosage adjustment should be considered when these drugs are administered concomitantly.
Cytotoxics: Increased risk of haematological toxicity with methotrexate.
Hepatic microsomal enzyme inducers: Drugs that induce hepatic enzyme cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzyme 3A4 such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampicin, rifabutin, carbamazepine, primidone and aminoglutethimide may reduce the therapeutic efficacy of corticosteroids by increasing the rate of metabolism. Lack of expected response may be observed and dosage of prednisolone tablets may need to be increased.
Hepatic microsomal enzyme inhibitors: Drugs that inhibit hepatic enzyme cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzyme 3A4 (e.g. ketoconazole, troleandomycin) may decrease glucocorticoid clearance. Dosages of glucocorticoids given in combination with such drugs may need to be decreased to avoid potential adverse effects.
Hormonal contraceptives: Oral contraceptives increased prednisolone concentrations by 131%.
May increase AUC and reduce clearance in oral contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol, mestranol, desogestrel, levonorgestrel, norgestrel or norethisterone.
Immunosupressants: Tumorigenicity: direct tumour-inducing effects of the glucocorticoids are not known, but the particular risk that malignancies in patients undergoing immunosupression with these or other drugs will spread more rapidly is a well-recognised problem.
Liquorice: Glycyrrhizin can delay the clearance of prednisolone.
Mifepristone: Effect of corticosteroids may be reduced for 3-4 days after mifepristone.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Concomitant administration of ulcerogenic drugs such as indomethacin during corticosteroid therapy may increase the risk of GI ulceration. Aspirin should be used cautiously in conjunction with glucocorticoids in patients with hypoprothrombinaemia. Although concomitant therapy with salicylate and corticosteroids does not appear to increase the incidence or severity of GI ulceration, the possibility of this effect should be considered.
Serum salicylate concentrations may decrease when corticosteroids are administered concomitantly. The renal clearance of salicylates is increased by corticosteroids and steroid withdrawal may result in salicylate intoxication. Salicylates and corticosteroids should be used concurrently with caution. Patients receiving both drugs should be observed closely for adverse effects of either drug.
Oestrogens: Oestrogens may potentiate the effects of glucocorticoids and dosage adjustments may be required if oestrogens are added to or withdrawn from a stable dosage regimen.
Protease Inhibitors: Ritonavir possibly increases plasma concentrations of prednisolone and other corticosteroids by reduction in clearance of prednisolone through the inhibition of P450 isoenzyme CYP3A4.
Other: The desired effects of hypoglycaemic agents (including insulin), antihypertensives and diuretics are antagonised by corticosteroids; and the hypokalaemic effect of acetazolamide, amphotericin B (by IV administration), loop diuretics, thiazide diuretics, carbenoxolone and theophylline are enhanced.
Somatropin: Growth promoting effect may be inhibited.
Sympathomimetics: Increased risk of hypokalaemia if high doses of corticosteroids given with high doses of bambuterol, fenoteral, formoterol, ritodrine, salbutamol, salmeterol and terbutaline.
The ability of corticosteroids to cross the placenta varies between individual drugs, however 88% of prednisolone is inactivated as it crosses the placenta. Administration of corticosteroids to pregnant animals can cause abnormalities of foetal development including cleft palate, intra-uterine growth retardation and effects on brain growth and development. There is no evidence that corticosteroids result in an increased incidence of congenital abnormalities, such as cleft palate/lip in man. However, when administered for prolonged periods or repeatedly during pregnancy, corticosteroids may increase the risk of intrauterine growth retardation. Hypoadrenalism may occur in the neonate following prenatal exposure to corticosteroids but usually resolves spontaneously following birth and is rarely clinically important. Cataracts have also been rarely reported. As with all drugs, corticosteroids should only be prescribed when the benefits to the mother and child outweigh the risks. When corticosteroids are essential, however, patients with abnormal pregnancies may be treated as though they were in the non-gravid state.
Patients with pre-eclampsia or fluid retention require close monitoring.
Corticosteroids are excreted in small amounts in breast milk where they may suppress growth and interfere with endogenous glucocorticoid production in nursing infants. Since adequate reproductive studies have not been performed in humans with glucocorticoids, these drugs should be administered to nursing mothers only if the benefits of therapy are judged to outweigh the potential risks to the infant.
The concentration of the steroid in the milk can be between 5 and 25% of those in the serum.
There are no reports found regarding neonatal toxicity following exposure to corticosteroids during lactation, however if maternal doses >40mg/day of prednisolone is prescribed, the infant should be monitored for adrenal suppression.
Corticosteroids may alter the motility and number of spermatozoa in certain patients.
The effect of Prednisolone on the ability to drive or use machinery has not been evaluated. There is no evidence to suggest that prednisolone may affect these abilities.
A wide range of psychiatric reactions including affective disorders (such as irritable, euphoric, depressed and labile mood, and suicidal thoughts), psychotic reactions (including mania, delusions, hallucinations, and aggravation of schizophrenia), behavioural disturbances, irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and cognitive dysfunction including confusion and amnesia have been reported. Reactions are common and may occur in both adults and children. In adults, the frequency of severe reactions has been estimated to be 5-6%. Psychological effects have been reported on withdrawal of corticosteroids; the frequency is unknown.
The incidence of predictable undesirable effects, including hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal suppression correlates with the relative potency of the drug, dosage, timing of administration and the duration of treatment (see Section 4.4 ‘Special warnings and special precautions for use’).
Undesirable effects are listed by MedDRA System Organ Classes.
Assessment of undesirable effects is based on the following frequency groupings:
Very common: ≥1/10
Common: ≥1/100 to <1/10
Uncommon: ≥1/1,000 to <1/100
Rare: ≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000
Very rare: <1/10,000
Not known: cannot be estimated from the available data
Not known: Increases susceptibility to, and severity of infections1, opportunistic infections, recurrence of dormant tuberculosis2, oesophageal candidiasis.
Not known: Leucocytosis.
Not known: Hypersensitivity including anaphylaxis.
Not known: Suppression of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis3, cushingoid facies, impaired carbohydrate tolerance with increased requirement for antidiabetic therapy, manifestation of latent diabetes mellitus.
Not known: Sodium and water retention, hypokalaemic alkalosis, potassium loss, negative nitrogen and calcium balance, glucose intolerance and protein catabolism. Increase both high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration in the blood. Increased appetite4. Weight gain, obesity, hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia.
Very rare: Calciphylaxis5
Common: Irritability, depressed and labile mood, suicidal thoughts, psychotic reactions, mania, delusions, hallucinations, and aggravation of schizophrenia. behavioural disturbances, irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and cognitive dysfunction including confusion and amnesia.
Not known: Euphoria, psychological dependence, depression.
Not known: Depression, insomnia, dizziness, headache, vertigo. Raised intracranial pressure with papilloedema (pseudotumor cerebri)6. Aggravation of epilepsy, epidural lipomatosis. vertebrobasilar stroke7
Not known: Vision blurred (see also section 4.4), glaucoma, papilloedema, posterior subcapsular cataracts, nuclear cataracts (particularly in children), exophthalmos, corneal or scleral thinning, exacerbation of ophthalmic viral or fungal disease.
Severe exacerbation of bullous exudative retinal detachment; central serous chorioretinopathy or lasting visual loss in some patients with idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy8.
Not known: Vertigo.
Not known: Congestive heart failure in susceptible patients, hypertension, increased risk of heart failure. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction9.
Not known: Thromboembolism.
Not known: Dyspepsia, nausea, peptic ulceration with perforation and haemorrhage, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, oesophageal ulceration, acute pancreatitis.
Not known: Hirsutism, skin atrophy, bruising, striae, telangiectasia, acne, increased sweating, pruritis, rash, urticaria.
Not known: Proximal myopathy, osteoporosis, vertebral and long bone fractures, avascular osteonecrosis, tendon rupture, tendinopathies (particularly of the Achilles and patellar tendons), myalgia, growth suppression in infancy, childhood and adolescence.
Not known: Scleroderma renal crisis10
Not known: Menstrual irregularity, amenorrhoea.
Not known: Fatigue, malaise, impaired healing
Not known: Increased intra-ocular pressure, may suppress reactions to skin tests.
1 with suppression of clinical symptoms and signs.
2 see Section 4.4 ‘Special warnings and precautions for use’.
3 particularly in times of stress, as in trauma, surgery or illness.
4 which may result in weight gain
5 see Section 4.4 ‘Special warnings and precautions for use’.
6 usually after treatment withdrawal
7 exacerbation of giant cell arteritis, with clinical signs of evolving stroke has been attributed to prednisolone.
8 see Section 4.4 'Special warnings and precautions for use'
9 with high dose therapy
10 amongst the different subpopulations the occurrence of scleroderma renal crises varies. The highest risk has been reported in patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis. The lowest risk has been reported in patients with limited systemic sclerosis (2%) and juvenile onset systemic sclerosis (1%)
Too rapid a reduction of corticosteroid dosage following prolonged treatment can lead to acute adrenal insufficiency, hypotension and death (see Section 4.4 ‘Special warnings and special precautions for use’ and Section 4.2 ‘Posology and method of administration’). A steroid “withdrawal syndrome” seemingly unrelated to adrenocortical insufficiency may also occur following abrupt discontinuance of glucocorticoids. This syndrome includes symptoms such as: anorexia, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, headache, fever, joint pain, desquamation, myalgia, arthralgia, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, painful itchy skin nodules weight loss, and/or hypotension. These effects are thought to be due to the sudden change in glucocorticoid concentration rather than to low corticosteroid levels. Psychological effects have been reported on withdrawal of corticosteroids.
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
None known.
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