Prednisone is a corticosteroid used to treat inflammation or immune-mediated reactions and to treat endocrine or neoplastic diseases. A synthetic anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid derived from cortisone.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 6 references
Prednisone is first metabolized in the liver to its active form, prednisolone, a glucocorticoid agonist corticosteroid.
The short term effects of corticosteroids are decreased vasodilation and permeability of capillaries, as well as decreased leukocyte migration to sites of inflammation. Corticosteroids binding to the glucocorticoid receptor mediates changes in gene expression that lead to multiple downstream effects over hours to days.
Glucocorticoids inhibit neutrophil apoptosis and demargination; they inhibit phospholipase A2, which decreases the formation of arachidonic acid derivatives; they inhibit NF-Kappa B and other inflammatory transcription factors; they promote anti-inflammatory genes like interleukin-10.
Lower doses of corticosteroids provide an anti-inflammatory effect, while higher doses are immunosuppressive. High doses of glucocorticoids for an extended period bind to the mineralocorticoid receptor, raising sodium levels and decreasing potassium levels.
- Primary indication
- Prednisone is indicated as an anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive drug for allergic, dermatologic, gastrointestinal, hematologic, ophthalmologic, nervous system, renal, respiratory, rheumatologic, infectious, endocrine, or neoplastic conditions as well as in organ transplant.Curator reviewed · 102 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C21H26O5 · 358.4281 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 1998 · United States, 1972
- Also known as
- 1, 2-Dehydrocortisone · 1,2-Dehydrocortisone · Dehydrocortisone · Deltacortisone · Metacortandracin
- Code names
- NSC-10023
- Brand names
Resolves to
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Which drugs share a target with Prednisone, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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