As I understand it, these drugs are basically the same, though they act a little differently in the body. I have tried so hard to decrease the prednisone withou a lot of success. I have been on prednisone for 6 years. Currently on 15 mg. Daily. Have been on methotrexate for 6 months with this being my third try.
Does anyone see any merit in switching from prednisone to prednisolone?
I am probably grasping at straws.
Thank you for any thoughts
As far as I understand, prednisone is prescribed in the USA and prednisolone in the UK. Prednisone is converted into prednisolone by your liver - I believe!
my understanding is prednisone acts very quickly while the other is more than a time release throughout the day. Depending on what condition you are dealing with one may be better for you than the other.
I thought it was the other way round with prednisone being slower to work because it has to be processed by the liver?
The only merit in switching from prednisone to prednisolone is if you have liver problems. Prednisone is processed in the liver to form prednisolone which is the active form and if you have a dodgy liver that may not happen effectively. Prednisolone gets into the blood stream and is ready to go. That is the only difference - the doses are equivalent.
Has you doctor ruled out alternative diagnoses? Six years is a long time to be stuck at 15mg - though it ay also depend on how you went about reducing the dose. And I have been stack at 15mg for much longer than 6 years so I can't talk!
Sorry about the late reply - the notifications are obviously palying about again, I have just found this.
The differences between Prednisone, Prednisolone, and Medrol.
General info on Prednisone and Prednisolone
what to take besides prednisone
Timing for Prednisone 
Prednisone
