Prednisone (prednisone)
Effectiveness:

(2.67)

Based on 17 studies

Side Effects:
Medium

Image for illustration purposes only. Actual medication may appear different.

Oral
Daily
Available by Prescription
As Low as $

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Highlights

  • Fast itch relief within 1-2 days
  • Reduces flare risk by 87% when used twice weekly
  • As effective as tacrolimus for overall improvement
  • Better than tacrolimus for reducing itch and improving sleep
  • Needs to be tapered after chronic use
  • Increased risk of infections

What are others saying?

Got prescribed antibiotics and Prednisone for a 5-day course. I was reluctant to take it as heard it can come back worse, but it was a great decision as it calmed down my whole flare, and my skin was almost back to normal in 3-4 days.

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for those few days, i felt a lot better... i am experiencing a bit of redness not on my eyelids specifically but closer to my temple, but still close to my eye area... it's itchy and red on and off... the dr said no to steroids but was understanding of why i had been prescribed prednisone and she said that the rebound redness was from going cold turkey off of the 40mg with no initial taper.

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About nine months ago, my dermatologist reluctantly put me on a strong course of Prednisone. He hadn't wanted to do it, since he (rightly) said that it was a treatment, not a cure, and that I couldn't be on a heavy dose for too long.

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We collect reviews of treatments from various sources including social media and are not always able to verify whether these have been written by actual patients.


How well does Prednisone work?
Prednisone is below average for atopic dermatitis "Steroids" treatments.
What is the evidence behind Prednisone?
Oral prednisolone is not recommended as a first-line treatment for severe adult eczema. In a direct comparison study, ciclosporin was found to be significantly more effective than prednisolone for treating severe eczema in adults.
What does the research say?
Study Summary

Ciclosporin was found to be more effective than prednisolone for treating severe eczema in adults. Only 1 out of 21 patients on prednisolone achieved stable improvement compared to 6 out of 17 patients on ciclosporin. The study was stopped early due to many patients on prednisolone experiencing significant worsening of their eczema.

Prednisolone vs. ciclosporin for severe adult eczema. An investigator-initiated double-blind placebo-controlled multicentre trial
Study Type
Randomized Controlled Trial
Studied Population
Total Patients: 38
Results
Ciclosporin was significantly more effective than prednisolone

What are others saying?
Topical forms of prednisolone (like methylprednisolone aceponate) can be effective for treating eczema flares and preventing relapses. When used twice weekly along with moisturizers, it reduced the risk of flares by 87% over 16 weeks.
What does the research say?
Study Summary

Using methylprednisolone aceponate cream twice weekly along with moisturizer was more effective at preventing eczema flares than using moisturizer alone. After 16 weeks, 87.1% of patients using the steroid cream remained free from flares compared to 65.8% using just moisturizer.

Reduction of relapses of atopic dermatitis with methylprednisolone aceponate cream twice weekly in addition to maintenance treatment with emollient: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, controlled study
Study Type
Randomized Controlled Trial
Studied Population
Total Patients: 249
Results
Patients using the steroid cream were 3.5 times less likely to experience a relapse

What are others saying?
Topical methylprednisolone aceponate provides fast itch relief, with patients experiencing significant reduction in itching within 1-2 days of starting treatment.
What does the research say?
Study Summary

In a study of experimental eczema caused by nickel allergy, methylprednisolone aceponate (a topical corticosteroid) provided fast itch relief. On average, significant itch relief was achieved within 1 day of treatment.

Fast itch relief in an experimental model for methylprednisolone aceponate topical corticosteroid activity, based on allergic contact eczema to nickel sulphate
Study Type
Clinical Trial
Studied Population
Total Patients: 16
Severity: not available
Age: not available
Results
Treatment provided fast and effective itch relief

What are others saying?
In children and adolescents with severe eczema, topical methylprednisolone aceponate 0.1% was found to be as effective as tacrolimus 0.03% for overall improvement, and better for reducing itch and improving sleep. It also had fewer side effects and lower cost.
What does the research say?
Study Summary

Both methylprednisolone aceponate 0.1% ointment and tacrolimus 0.03% ointment were effective in treating severe atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents. Methylprednisolone showed better results for reducing itch and improving sleep, and was more cost-effective.

Efficacy and safety of methylprednisolone aceponate ointment 0.1% compared to tacrolimus 0.03% in children and adolescents with an acute flare of severe atopic dermatitis
Study Type
Randomized Controlled Trial
Studied Population
Total Patients: 265
Severity: severe to very severe
Age: children and adolescents
Results
Both treatments were equally effective in achieving clear or almost clear skin

What are others saying?

Is Prednisone Right For Me?

Prednisone is a corticosteroid medication that helps reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. It's a synthetic version of cortisol, a natural hormone produced by your body.
Prednisone might be right for you if:
  • You have moderate to severe atopic dermatitis that needs quick control

  • You're experiencing a severe allergic reaction

  • You need short-term relief from severe inflammation

  • Your other treatments aren't providing enough control of your symptoms

Prednisone works by reducing inflammation and suppressing your immune system's response. It mimics the effects of cortisol, a hormone naturally produced by your adrenal glands that helps control many important functions in your body, including inflammation response.
Prednisone can be used in children, but long-term use should be carefully monitored as it may affect growth and development. The lowest effective dose should be used for the shortest possible time.
Older adults can use prednisone, but they may be more sensitive to its effects and more likely to develop side effects. Long-term use should be carefully monitored, particularly because of increased risks of osteoporosis and diabetes.
Prednisone can be used during pregnancy when necessary, but should only be used when the benefits outweigh the potential risks. It should be prescribed at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Always consult with your healthcare provider.
Prednisone does pass into breast milk, but it's generally considered compatible with breastfeeding. The amount that passes to the baby is very small. However, when high doses are needed, breastfeeding should be discussed with your healthcare provider.

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