Terminology and Abbreviations
Posted , 6 users are following.
I've managed to work out most of the ones used on this forum; however is there much difference between PREDNISOLONE and PREDNISONE or is it geographical?
0 likes, 2 replies
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Notes on Terminology and Abbreviations
nick67069 jones10939
Posted
Short version- similar but not the same. Prednisone needs to be processed by liver to turn into cortisol, and Prednisolone bypasses liver. Also the "half-life of prednisolone is shorter, so one may need split dose. As far as distribution, it is geographical... in US I believe prednisone is commonly offered, and UK prednisolone.
EileenH jones10939
Posted
Prednisolone is the active form of the substance. Prednisone must be processed by the liver to make prednisolone before it can work. That slows down the onset of action and if someone has liver problems that may have an effect. Otherwise the doses are almost exactly equivalent.
Which is used where is mainly a case of tradition: the USA used prednisone and methyl prednisolone (Medrol) while the UK tends to use prednisolone. In the UK it may have a lot to do with the deals the NHS were able to negotiate with the companies making it, prednisolone lucked out originally and it hasn't really changed. In mainland Europe it also varies a bit from country to country and even region to region within a country.