Wife wants to know if leftover prednisone can be used for general pain like taking an OTC pain pill, aspiring ibuprofen etc..

[sdowney717]

Simply short term like a couple of days. IT does seem to be a powerful drug though, but what about very short term use?

[piglette]

Not a good idea I would say.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

No -it’s on prescription for a specific individual and illness - it’s not a multi purpose OTC drug.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

No - pred isn't a painkiller, it combats inflammation and that relieves pain caused by the inflammation and resultant swelling. Not all pain is due to inflammation as such - one of the red flags that a patient may not have PMR is that their pain isn't relieved effectively by pred and that may be the case in several disorders.

Pred is a powerful prescription drug that should only be used by the person for whom it is prescribed and for the purpose for which it was prescribed.

[SheffieldJane]

I wouldn’t. It has so many potential side effects. Not to be shared and taken without prescription, I would say. What symptoms were you thinking it might relieve?

[Gimme]

All medicines should be used either as directed in the patient information leaflet or as directed by a doctor, for the patient's safety. Anything else is considered to be misuse of the medicine. Prednisolone was never intended to be used in the way that you describe. It is a Prescription Only Medicine because it needs to be used under the supervision of a doctor to be used safely and using it intermittently does not allow a doctor to supervise its safe use. You do not say what you want to use it for, but if OTC medicines are not working, then the next step is to see a doctor and request the correct treatment for the relevant condition.

[OldPenny]

Thanks for the post. Good to get this question out of the way!