White circular flat-faced tablets with a break line on face and 'CP' on the reverse. The obverse also carries the letters 'PL1' or 'PL5' as appropriate.

Uses:

Suppression of inflammatory and allergic disorders. As a chemotherapeutic agent for lymphoreticular neoplasms, mast cell tumours and CNS tumours.

Dosage and administration:

Single dose treatment may be indicated (for anaphylaxis, etc) but generally treatment may be given for one to three weeks at a dose of 0.1 to 2.0mg/KgBW/day. The severity of the condition may occasionally warrant higher doses, but such regimens should only be instituted after due consideration of the benefits in relation to the disease process being treated as compared with the risk to the patient.

In all situations the lowest effective dose should be used. Treatment should not be withdrawn suddenly, and in many situations a dosage schedule with a falling dose will be found of use. Some cases may require continuing therapy, the minimum effective maintenance dose should be established.

It is generally considered that problems associated with the induction of adrenal insufficiency are minimised by dosing once every alternative mornings for dogs, and every alternate evening for cats.

High doses have been found to be particularly useful, often as an adjunct to other agents, in the treatment of tumours. These have been in the range of 20mg/m² on alternate days upto 60mg/m²/day. The body surface are (in m²) can be estimated from the formula:

Surface area (m²) = (BW )/10, that is if the bodyweight is 'squared', the result cube-rooted, and that result divided by ten then an estimate of surface area suitable for dosing will be achieved. (As a check these are 0.1m² for 1Kg, 0.4m² for 8Kg and 0.9m² for 27Kg).

Contra-indications, warnings, etc.:

Prednisolone, as other corticosteroids, has a wide range of effects.

Polydipsia, polyuria and polyphagia are common observations. These side effects often diminish as therapy proceeds.

Cushingoid symptoms may be provoked and should be monitored for.

 Prednisolone is not recommended for use in pregnant animals. Administration of corticosteroids in early pregnancy is known to have caused foetal abnormalities in laboratory animals. Administration in late pregnancy may cause early parturition or abortion. Administration is contra-indicated where corneal ulceration is present. Administration is generally contra-indicated if renal disease or diabetes mellitus is present. Gastrointestinal ulceration has been reported in animals treated with corticosteroids. Gastrointestinal ulceration may be exacerbated by corticosteroids in patients given non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Administration may render concurrent vaccination inoperative.
Consideration should be given to the potential effects of corticosteroids on wound-healing and/or the body's ability to deal with infection. Symptoms of infection may be masked or atypical. Careful consideration should be given as to the desirability of administration to patients with systemic infections, if specific anti-infective therapy is neither possible nor instigated. In the presence of a viral infection, corticosteroids may worsen or hasten the progress of the disease.