Prednisolone can be taken by adults and children but isn’t suitable for all persons.

Tell your doctor before starting the medicine if you:

• have had an allergic reaction to prednisolone or any other medicine
• have an infection (including eye infections)
• are trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or you are breastfeeding
• have recently been in contact with someone with shingles, chickenpox or measles
• have recently had, or are about to have, any vaccinations

Make sure your doctor is aware if you have:

• had liver problems
• had mental health problems (either you or close family members)
• any unhealed wounds
• heart failure or have had a recent heart attack
• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• epilepsy
• glaucoma
• underactive thyroid
• osteoporosis (thinning bones)
• a stomach ulcer

How and when to take it

Unless your doctor or pharmacist gives you different instructions, it’s best to take prednisolone as a single dose once a day, straight after breakfast. For example, if your dose is 40mg daily, your doctor may tell you to take 8 tablets (8 x 5mg) all at the same time.

Take prednisolone with breakfast so it doesn’t upset your stomach. Taking prednisolone in the morning also means it’s less likely to affect your sleep.

If your prednisolone tablets are labelled as “enteric coated” or “gastro resistant”, you can take these with or without food but make sure to swallow them whole. Do not take indigestion medicines 2 hours before or after taking enteric coated or gastro resistant tablets.

Sometimes, you may be advised to take prednisolone on alternate days only.