How to Take Prednisolone in Relation to Food
Prednisolone should be taken with food or after meals to minimize gastrointestinal side effects and improve tolerability. 1
Dosing Recommendations
- Prednisolone is typically administered as a single daily dose in the morning rather than divided doses for better compliance and potentially reduced adrenal suppression 1, 2
- For patients experiencing morning nausea or lack of appetite (common with corticosteroids), waking up earlier to take the first dose and then going back to sleep may help relieve these symptoms 1
- When taking multiple daily doses, the standard regimen is typically higher in the morning with smaller doses later in the day (e.g., 3 mg on awakening and 1-2 mg at 14:00h for a twice-daily regimen) 1
Benefits of Taking with Food
- Taking prednisolone with or after meals helps reduce gastrointestinal irritation, which is a common side effect of corticosteroid therapy 1, 3
- For patients experiencing nausea with prednisolone, administration with food can improve medication tolerance 1
- In cases where nintedanib is co-administered with prednisolone for conditions like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the combination may help prevent diarrhea as a side effect 4
Special Considerations
- For patients with malabsorption issues, serum or salivary cortisol monitoring may be necessary to guide proper dosing 1
- In cases of diminished oral intake or vomiting, prednisolone doses may need to be adjusted or temporarily held to prevent complications 1
- Patients with inflammatory bowel disease should follow a varied diet that meets energy and nutrient requirements while taking prednisolone 1
Monitoring and Side Effects
- While taking prednisolone, patients should be monitored for:
Tapering Considerations
- Patients receiving prolonged courses of corticosteroids are at risk of adrenal suppression and should have a tapering course when stopping 1
- Patients should be warned about possible steroid withdrawal syndrome, which can include non-specific symptoms such as weakness, nausea, and arthralgia 1
Important Precautions
- Avoid abrupt discontinuation of prednisolone, especially after prolonged use 1
- Be aware that certain medications and foods (like grapefruit juice) can interact with prednisolone metabolism and may require dose adjustments 1
- Patients on long-term prednisolone therapy should receive appropriate vaccinations as recommended for those on immunomodulatory therapy 1