Prednisolone vs prednisone

There seems to be some confusion among medical professionals about the difference between these drugs.

While both corticosteroids used for treatment of autoimmune diseases, there is a critical difference between them: prednisone has to be metabolised by enzymes in the liver to become the directly usable form prednisolone. That means that if a person has any issues with their liver, they should only be prescribed prednisolone, which is why it is the only version dispensed by the Canberra Hospital's pharmacy for internal use.

Unfortunately, many medical professionals seem to think they are similar and thus do not seem to be concerned about this critical difference, but if that difference is ignored, being given prednisone if a liver cannot process it enough or at all may result in many typical steroid side effects, like rapid weight (possibly just accumulated water), moon face and mood swings, and all without actually treating the condition they are supposed to.

It is important that patients know the actual reason why they are given particular medications, rather than vague descriptions that they are similar are given to placate their curiosity. They will then be able to make sure they are never given the inappropriate form inadvertently. Patients must be in control of their decisions about their bodies and treatment, and that means having accurate information about the medications they have been given and why a particular form is being prescribed for them.

Being unclear about differences can lead to assumptions, which can result in substandard treatment and unnecessary long-term suffering. In many professions, practitioners often assume people cannot grasp the supposed subtleties of what from their perspective may appear minor, but may be critical from the point of view of those they are helping. People do not need to understand the full mechanisms of how things work, but they need to know the critical differences that will affect whether they get their required outcomes, just so they can double-check at the time they are given them.