Prednisolone and prednisone

Hi just been doing some reading in to pmr and just noticed prednisolone and prednisone are these the same or different medication? Or is it just brand name? Only just noticed there is a there is slight spelling difference, or have I been reading up on the wrong one?

[SnazzyD]

Hello there, Prednisone has to be changed in the liver to get Prednisolone whereas Prednisolone is already that and doesn’t need to the liver step first.

[jimcarlow75 in reply to SnazzyD]

Some people do mispronounce the drug but I'm sure it's the same.

[SnazzyD in reply to jimcarlow75]

They end up the same but don’t start the same. Prednisone has to be metabolised first to become Prednisolone. drugs.com/medical-answers/d...

[Koalajane in reply to jimcarlow75]

No there is prednisone and prednisolone and they are as Snazzy D says

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jimcarlow75]

No, two different medium acting corticosteroids - a third is methyl prednisolone. They are used because they generally can be taken once daily. Which you get tends to be a regional thing - the US uses prednisone and methyl prednisolone (Medrol), the UK usually uses prednisolone - partly because of the negotiated supply costs. Where I live the default steroid at the hospital is methyl pred but in the same region another hospital uses prednisone! I get Lodotra, a very specific form of prednisone developed for rheumatological use and relief of morning stiffness.

Prednisolone is thought to be better for anyone with liver problems as it is taken as the active form and doesn't need to be metabolised. Methyl pred is said to have a greater antiinflammatory effect - but for some people that also means greater adverse effects. People react differently to different corticosteroids - even if doctors don't believe it.

[Rugger]

In the UK we are mainly prescribed prednisolone, but in the US the usual drug is prednisone. That could be why you're noticing both on this forum.

[MrsNails]

And that is why we generally refer to it as ‘Pred’

[SlowboatToTheIslands]

Same stuff.

[alansouthworth42]

I am only conversant with Prednisolone, but I am sure that it is only a name difference.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to alansouthworth42]

No it isn’t -PMRpro has explained further up this thread.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to alansouthworth42]

In the sense that they are both medium acting corticosteroids with the same dose equivalents, yes. They are different structures though and so the biodynamics are different.

[Hidden]

Thank you all, when I started taking these I just thought they were going to reduce the inflammation in muscles but there is so much more, I've got a lot to learn

[Ssratha]

Yes its good to research the side effects of these medications so you recognise whats going on with your body andmental health. They can have huge impacts, for some.