Is there a difference between prednisone and prednisolone?

[hm_uk]

Hi, I am currently on 30mg of Prednisolone a day (going down by 5 every week though)

What is the difference between Prednisolone and Prednisone? Wikipedia has two seperate articles for them but seems to indicate they are the same thing...

-Henry

 

[Rebecca85]

Prednisone is converted into prednisolone in the body (I think it's that way round, anyway, might have it back to front). From speaking to people on here, the side effects of prednisolone tend to be less severe than prednisone. Also it seems that prednisolone is used at a slightly lower dose, but that could just be the doctors (since prednisolone is used more in the UK, and prednisone in the US).

 

[CDDad]

Looks like Rebecca has the answer (I thought they were the same)

This link has some more info:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080202155355AAsgFGY

 

[Astra]

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=14953&highlight=prednisone+prednisolone

Hiya
I posted this a while back, I didn't know there was a difference neither at the time! But I do now
xxx

 

[mommytocrohn'steen]

I know when they give it to very small children for lung issues (asthma, rsv, pneumonia ) it is always prednisolone. I think I remember something from nursing school... the difference may be in the size of the particles of the drug. I know that the steroids that come out of an inhaler are much smaller than those from a nebulizer machine
Could be the same idea.

 

[Walshe84]

Hi hm_uk, I asked the exact same q last night. I started on 30mg yesterday lasting for 2 weeks then drop by 5 every week

 

[Walshe84]

I know what the answers going to be but can u drink alcohol whilst taking prednisolone? Any known side effects