 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Deltasone, Liquid Pred, Meticorten, Orasone, Prednicen-M, Sterapred, Sterapred DS
MedlinePlus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601102.html
Prednisone, a corticosteroid, is similar to a natural hormone produced by your adrenal glands. It often is used to replace this chemical when your body does not make enough of it. It relieves inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, and pain) and is used to treat certain forms of arthritis; skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid, and intestinal disorders (e.g., colitis); severe allergies; and asthma. Prednisone also is used with other drugs to prevent rejection of transplanted organs and to treat certain types of cancer.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Prednisone comes as a tablet, solution, concentrate, and syrup to be taken by mouth. Your doctor will prescribe a dosing schedule that is best for you. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use the specially marked dropper that comes with the concentrate to measure the dose. You may mix it with fruit juice or semisolid food (e.g., applesauce).
If you are to take prednisone every other day, take it at breakfast on the first day and do not take it at all on the second day. Then take it at breakfast on the third day, do not take it at all on the fourth day, and so on.
If you are to take prednisone once a day, take it in the morning with breakfast.
If you are to take prednisone more than once a day, take it at evenly spaced intervals between the time you wake up in the morning and the time you go to bed at night. For example, if your doctor tells you to take it three times a day, take it at 7 a.m., 3 p.m., and 11 p.m.
Do not stop taking prednisone without talking to your doctor. Stopping the drug abruptly can cause loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, headache, fever, joint and muscle pain, peeling skin, and weight loss. If you take large doses for a long time, your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually to allow your body to adjust before stopping the drug completely. Watch for these side effects if you are gradually decreasing your dose and after you stop taking the tablets or oral liquid. If these problems occur, call your doctor immediately. You may need to increase your dose of tablets or liquid temporarily or start taking them again.
Take prednisone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Drugs.com
http://www.drugs.com/prednisone.html
What is the most important information I should know about prednisone?
• Do not stop taking prednisone suddenly if you have been taking it for a few weeks. You may need a gradual reduction in dosage before you stop taking this medication.
• Take prednisone with food or milk to lessen stomach upset.
• Carry some type of medical identification that will let others know you are taking prednisone in the case of an emergency.
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.
http://www.myasthenia.org/information/Prednisone.htm
"How does prednisone work?"
In part, prednisone acts as an immunosuppressant. The immune system protects you against foreign bacteria and viruses. In some illnesses, the immune system produces antibodies that become overactive and cause undesirable effects. These illnesses are referred to as “autoimmune diseases.” Prednisone suppresses the production of antibodies. This suppression can make it slightly harder for you to fight off infection, but also stabilizes the immune system if it is overactive.
Prednisone also works against inflammation to reduce heat, redness, swelling, and pain.
When beginning prednisone, there is a small chance that it may cause serious increased weakness for a short period of time. Therefore, it may be necessary for you to be hospitalized for the first few days for observation."
CYTOXAN aka Cyclophosphamide
MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/cyclophosphamide/article.htm
"PRESCRIBED FOR: Cyclophosphamide is used for the treatment of several types of cancers and often in combination with other drugs to treat breast cancer, leukemia and ovarian cancer. It also is approved for treating nephrotic syndrome (a disease of the kidneys) in children. Unapproved uses include the treatment of Wegener's granulomatosis, severe rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, advanced mycosis fungoides, and a number of forms of vasculitis."
