Orapred ODT

Generic name: Prednisolone
Drug class: Glucocorticoids

Usage of Orapred ODT

Orapred ODT (prednisolone) is a corticosteroid medicine that prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.

Orapred ODT orally disintegrating tablets are used to treat many different inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, allergic disorders, gland (endocrine) disorders, and conditions that affect the skin, eyes, lungs, stomach, nervous system, or blood cells.

Orapred ODT may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Orapred ODT side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Orapred ODT: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;

bruising, thinning skin, or any wound that will not heal;

severe depression, changes in personality, unusual thoughts or behavior;

new or unusual pain in an arm or leg or in your back;

bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting;

a seizure (convulsions); or

low potassium - leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling.

Steroids can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.

Common Orapred ODT side effects may include:

fluid retention (swelling in your hands or ankles);

dizziness, spinning sensation;

changes in your menstrual periods;

headache;

muscle pain or weakness; or

stomach discomfort, bloating.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Orapred ODT

You should not use Orapred ODT if you are allergic to prednisolone, or if you have:

a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

Orapred ODT can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Steroids can also worsen an infection you already have, or reactivate an infection you recently had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.

To make sure Orapred ODT is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

active tuberculosis;

a thyroid disorder;

herpes infection of the eyes;

stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis;

depression, mental illness, or psychosis;

liver disease (especially cirrhosis);

high blood pressure;

osteoporosis;

a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis; or

multiple sclerosis.

Also tell your doctor if you have diabetes. Steroid medicines may increase the glucose (sugar) levels in your blood or urine. You may also need to adjust the dose of your diabetes medications.

It is not known whether Orapred ODT will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether prednisolone passes into breast milk or if it could affect the nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

Relate drugs

How to use Orapred ODT

Take Orapred ODT exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Orapred ODT is sometimes taken every other day. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

Keep the Orapred ODT orally disintegrating tablet in its blister pack until you are ready to take the medicine. Open the package using dry hands, and peel back the foil from the tablet blister (do not push the tablet through the foil). Remove the tablet and place it in your mouth.

Allow the orally disintegrating tablet to dissolve in your mouth without chewing. Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. If desired, you may drink liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet. The tablet may also be swallowed whole as a conventional tablet.

Your dose needs may change if you have unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you.

This medicine can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using prednisolone.

You should not stop using Orapred ODT suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take prednisolone. Any medical care provider who treats you should know that you take steroid medication.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using prednisolone. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Warnings

You should not use Orapred ODT if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

Before taking Orapred ODT, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, and about all other medicines you are using. There are many other diseases that can be affected by steroid use, and many other medicines that can interact with steroids.

Your Orapred ODT dose may change if you have any unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you during treatment.

Steroid medication such as Orapred ODT can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have or have recently had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medication.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using Orapred ODT. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease.

Do not stop using Orapred ODT suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Orapred ODT.

What other drugs will affect Orapred ODT

Other drugs may interact with prednisolone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.