Prednisone

Rectodelt · ATC code H02AB07

Also known as: Prednison, Prednizon · Brand names: Rectodelt, Corten, Lodotra, Prednison Acis, Prednison Galen, Prednison Mibe, Prednison Scalepharm, Romezon DR

Key facts
Active substance
Prednisone
Drug class
Glucocorticoid
ATC code
H02AB07
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-10-27

Key facts

Prednisone is a synthetic glucocorticoid. Per the US label it is used for many endocrine, rheumatic, collagen, dermatologic, allergic and other inflammatory conditions.

What it is used for

  • Endocrine disorders, e.g. adrenocortical insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hypercalcaemia associated with cancer
  • Rheumatic disorders as short-term adjunctive therapy (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, acute gouty arthritis)
  • Collagen diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis
  • Dermatologic diseases such as pemphigus, severe psoriasis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome
  • Severe allergic states; acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis; further indications in the full text

Dosing

  • Initial dosage 5 mg to 60 mg per day depending on the disease; individualise
  • After response, reduce gradually to the lowest effective maintenance dose
  • Single doses in the morning before 9 am; take with food or milk to reduce gastric irritation
  • Acute MS exacerbations: 200 mg prednisolone daily for a week, then 80 mg every other day for 1 month (same range for prednisone)
  • Avoid abrupt withdrawal; alternate-day therapy is described in the full text

Contraindications

  • Systemic fungal infections
  • Known hypersensitivity to components

Important warnings

  • Rare anaphylactoid reactions
  • Increase rapidly acting corticosteroid dosage during unusual stress
  • Elevated blood pressure, salt and water retention, potassium loss, increased calcium excretion
  • Use with great caution after recent myocardial infarction (left ventricular free wall rupture)
  • Adrenocortical suppression; infection risk

Side effects

  • Cardiovascular: hypertension, oedema, congestive heart failure, thromboembolism
  • Skin: acne, skin atrophy, striae, bruising, impaired wound healing
  • Endocrine and metabolic: Cushingoid state, hyperglycaemia, growth suppression in children
  • Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis

Summary of the official product information, written with AI (Claude, Anthropic) on 2026-10-28. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

Full official text →

Common questions – ask Medelix

For patients

Patient information (US)

This product has no separate US patient information.

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

Austria

  • RectodeltDermapharm Gmbh · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28

Germany

  • CortenStada Arzneimittel Ag · 1 register entry
  • LodotraSkyepharma Production Sas · 1 register entry
  • Prednison AcisMibe Gmbh Arzneimittel · 1 register entry
  • Prednison GalenGalenpharma Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • Prednison MibeMibe Gmbh Arzneimittel · 1 register entry
  • Prednison ScalepharmScalepharm Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • RectodeltTrommsdorff Gmbh & Co. Kg · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28

Turkey

  • Romezon DRİLKO İLAÇ SAN.VE TİC. A.Ş. · 3 register entries

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16

Brand names in 14 more European countries
Bulgaria
Дехидрокортизон
Croatia
Decortin
Cyprus
Dehydrocortison
Czechia
Prednison Av Medical, Prednison Léčiva, Prednisone Olikla, Rectodelt
Denmark
Prednison Dak
Finland
Prednison Orion
France
Cortancyl, Prednisone Arrow, Prednisone Biogaran, Prednisone Cristers, Prednisone Eg, Prednisone Sandoz, Prednisone Viatris, Prednisone Zentiva
Hungary
Prednidelt
Italy
Brucorten, Cison, Cortirex, Deltacortene, Disox, Lodotra, Prednisone Doc Generici, Prednisone Eg, Prednisone Mylan Pharma, Prednisone Pensa, Prednisone Teva, Prednisone Zentiva, Prexilev, Rectodelt, Soflon
Netherlands
Prednison Mibe, Prednisone Aurobindo
Poland
Encorton, Esotkaleno, Medoxa, Rectodelt
Romania
Prednison, Prednisonă Richter
Slovakia
Prednison Léčiva, Prednisone Olikla
Spain
Dacortín, Prednisona Cinfa, Prednisona Kern Pharma, Prednisona Pensa, Prednisona Tarbis, Rectodelt

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

Other substances in the same group

Related calculators

Another question about this substance?

Medelix answers clinical questions from guidelines, studies and product information – every claim with its source.

Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Prednisone (Par Health USA, LLC) – Prescribing Information, 2026-07-31. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-27. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=10fe5a3b-84dc-4600-87c2-b80c97ce18cf
  2. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  3. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  4. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85
  5. Wikidata (CC0): ATC H02AB.

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-27 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.