Orapred
Orapred ODT (prednisolone) is a corticosteroid. It's taken by mouth to treat health conditions related to an overactive immune system or inflammation in children and adults. Some examples include ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis. Orapred ODT (prednisolone) comes as an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) that can be dissolved on the tongue or swallowed whole. Some side effects include mood changes, upset stomach, and trouble sleeping. If you need to stop taking this medication after a while, work with your healthcare team to taper down your dosage slowly to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
What is Orapred ODT (prednisolone)?
What is Orapred ODT (prednisolone) used for?
This medication is used for many different conditions. Generally, it's used for autoimmune disorders, conditions related to swelling, or cancer. Some examples include:
- Allergies or allergic reactions
- Joint conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
- Skin conditions (e.g., contact dermatitis)
- Conditions affecting certain hormones (e.g., low adrenal hormones)
- Gut conditions (e.g., Crohn's disease)
- Conditions related to red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
- Certain cancers (e.g., leukemia)
- Nervous system conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis)
- Certain types of infections
- Eye conditions
- Lung conditions
- Kidney conditions
- Conditions related to organ transplantation
- Lupus erythematosus
How Orapred ODT (prednisolone) works
Orapred ODT (prednisolone) is a corticosteroid. These are man-made steroids that are like cortisol, a natural hormone your body makes. These medications work by lowering certain chemicals in your body that normally cause itching, redness, swelling, or pain.
Drug facts
More on Orapred ODT (prednisolone) essentials
Side effects of Orapred ODT (prednisolone)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Swelling (e.g., puffiness in the face, hands, or feet)
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- Muscle weakness
- Stomach pain
- Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
- Changes in your mood
- Headache
- Acne
- Weight gain and greater appetite
Orapred ODT (prednisolone) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe allergic reaction: trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling (on your face, lips, mouth, or throat), peeling skin, rash, hives
More on Orapred ODT (prednisolone) side effects
The following Orapred ODT (prednisolone) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Cushing syndrome—increased fat around the midsection, upper back, neck, or face, pink or purple stretch marks on the skin, thinning, fragile skin that easily bruises, unexpected hair growth
- High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)—increased thirst or amount of urine, unusual weakness or fatigue, blurry vision
- Increase in blood pressure
- Infection—fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don't heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
- Low adrenal gland function—nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness
- Mood and behavior changes—anxiety, nervousness, confusion, hallucinations, irritability, hostility, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression
- Stomach bleeding—bloody or black, tar-like stools, vomiting blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds
- Swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Acne
- General discomfort and fatigue
- Headache
- Increase in appetite
- Nausea
- Trouble sleeping
- Weight gain
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Pros and cons of Orapred ODT (prednisolone)
Pros
- Can dissolve on your tongue without water
- Dose can be adjusted based on your response
- Works well to treat many different conditions involving the immune system
Cons
- Long-term use can cause problems with skin, bone, and eye health.
- Can raise your risk for infections
- Can't suddenly stop; need to taper your dose to avoid withdrawal symptoms
Pharmacist tips for Orapred ODT (prednisolone)
- It's best to take Orapred ODT (prednisolone) with food. This helps to avoid stomach irritation.
- Only remove Orapred ODT (prednisolone) from the blister package when you're ready to take your dose. Otherwise, taking your tablet out too early might cause it to melt in between your fingers.
- When you're removing Orapred ODT (prednisolone) from the blister, carefully peel the packaging back; don't push the tablet through the foil because doing so can cause it to crumble.
- To take Orapred ODT (prednisolone), place the tablet on your tongue where it will dissolve in your mouth. You don't need to take it with water. Or, you can swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
- Don't cut or crush Orapred ODT (prednisolone) tablets because the tablets crumble easily and this could cause you to take less medication than your prescribed dose.
- Orapred ODT (prednisolone) can raise your blood sugar and blood pressure. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, it's important that you check your blood sugar and blood pressure often while taking this medication.
- Always tell your healthcare professional that you're taking Orapred ODT (prednisolone) before getting any vaccines. Since this medication can weaken your immune system, some vaccines might not work as well or be safe for you while you're taking this medication.
- Call your healthcare team right away if you have a fever, chills, flu-like symptoms, cough, pain with passing urine, or a wound that won't heal. These could be signs of an infection. Because taking Orapred ODT (prednisolone) can weaken your immune system, your body might have a harder time fighting off these infections.
- Don't stop taking Orapred ODT (prednisolone) without speaking with your prescriber. They might need to lower (taper) your dose slowly before completely stopping it to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Common questions about Orapred
No. Orapred tablets shouldn't be cut, split, broken, or crushed. If your healthcare team lowers your dose to below 10 mg, they'll prescribe you a different formulation. Prednisolone also comes as tablet and oral solution that are more easily adjusted for lower dosages.
Yes. Orapred belongs to the drug class known as corticosteroids, sometimes called "steroids" for short.
It's not recommended to drink alcohol while taking Orapred or other oral steroids. This is because drinking alcohol can raise your risk for side effects, like stomach problems and poor sleep. Talk to your prescriber if you're having trouble cutting down on drinking alcohol while you're taking this medication.
Prednisolone is absorbed into your body a few hours after you take your dose. But depending on your condition and how severe your symptoms are, it can take days or weeks before you experience more noticeable benefits from Orapred. Ask your healthcare team what you can expect with your treatment.
Orapred isn't known to cause tiredness as a side effect. But it is known to cause insomnia (trouble sleeping). If you experience insomnia, you might feel more tired the next day. If you're having trouble getting enough sleep, talk to your healthcare team.
If you're only taking Orapred once daily, it's best to take your dose in the morning or earlier in the day. This is because Orapred can make it difficult for you to fall asleep if you take it too close to bedtime. If you need to take multiple doses during the day, try to take your last dose a few hours before you go to bed to lower the risk of insomnia.
Check with your healthcare team before you start any new medications. While Orapred doesn't have any known interactions with acetaminophen (Tylenol), this combination might not be a good option for everyone. For example, people with liver problems might not be able to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) because this medication can worsen liver conditions. Also, you shouldn't take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) together with Orapred. This combination can raise your risk of serious stomach problems, like ulcers or bleeding.
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Risks and warnings for Orapred ODT (prednisolone)
Orapred ODT (prednisolone) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Greater risk of infections
- Risk factors: Taking other medications that weaken the immune system | Using Orapred ODT (prednisolone) for a long time | High doses of Orapred ODT (prednisolone) | Not vaccinated against viral illnesses | Coming into contact with people who have viral illnesses | History of long-term infections | Receiving live vaccines
Taking Orapred ODT (prednisolone) for a long time or at high doses can raise your risk of getting an infection. This medication can also hide some signs of infection so it might be hard to recognize if you're sick. Avoid contact with anyone who has chickenpox or measles. If you had tuberculosis (TB) in the past, your healthcare professional (HCP) will need to follow up with you while you're taking Orapred ODT (prednisolone) to check if the infection has come back. You might need to take antibiotics to prevent or treat TB. Also, talk to your HCP first before getting vaccines while you're taking Orapred ODT (prednisolone). Depending on the vaccine and your treatment plan, they might not work as well or be safe for you during treatment. Let your HCP know if you feel sick while you're taking Orapred ODT (prednisolone).
Changes in heart and kidney function
- Risk factors: High blood pressure | History of heart failure | Kidney problems
Orapred ODT (prednisolone) can cause high blood pressure, water buildup in the body, and other changes in the way your kidneys work. These changes can worsen certain medical conditions, like high blood pressure, heart failure, and kidney problems. If you currently have or have had any of these medical conditions, talk to your HCP first before using Orapred ODT (prednisolone) to make sure it's safe for you to take.
Bone problems with long-term use
- Risk factors: Taking Orapred ODT (prednisolone) at high doses or for a long period of time | Risks for osteoporosis (e.g., female sex, history of falls, smoking) | Infants and young children
Long-term use of Orapred ODT (prednisolone) can raise your risk of having weakened bones (osteoporosis) and bone fractures. This medication can also slow the growth in infants and children. This is more likely to happen if the medication is used for a long period of time. If your child needs to take Orapred ODT (prednisolone) for a long time, their pediatrician will closely keep track of their growth during treatment. Discuss with a healthcare professional about any concerns you have about Orapred ODT (prednisolone) and possible bone problems.
Reduced adrenal gland function
- Risk factors: Taking high doses of corticosteroids | Using Orapred ODT (prednisolone) for a long period of time | Young children | Stress such as trauma, injury, or infection
Your adrenal gland makes certain hormones for your body. Taking Orapred ODT (prednisolone) for a long time can cause adrenal suppression. This is when your adrenal glands stop making your own natural hormones as your body gets used to Orapred ODT (prednisolone). This is more likely to happen if you're taking the medication over a long period of time. Lowering the dose or stopping it suddenly can lead to steroid withdrawal because your adrenal glands need some time to start working again. These withdrawal symptoms include tiredness, joint or muscle pain, and low energy. Talk to your HCP or pharmacist before making any sudden changes to how you take Orapred ODT (prednisolone).
Eye Problems
- Risk factors: Cataracts and/or glaucoma | History of herpes simplex in the eye
Long-term use of Orapred ODT (prednisolone) leads to a higher risk of cataracts, glaucoma, and certain eye infections. Don't take Orapred ODT (prednisolone) if you have herpes simplex of the eye. Let your provider know if you have blurry vision, eye pain, or any vision changes. If you're taking the medication for a long time, you might need to get regular eye exams.
Mood and behavior changes
- Risk factors: History of mental health conditions
Orapred ODT (prednisolone) can cause changes in your mood or behavior. Tell your HCP right away if you feel depressed, have mood swings, trouble sleeping, anxiety, or hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren't there) while taking this medication.
Stomach problems
- Risk factors: History of stomach bleeding or ulcers | History of ulcerative colitis | Taking other medications that can also cause stomach problems | Alcohol use
Taking Orapred ODT (prednisolone) raises the risk of stomach damage, leading to certain problems, like stomach irritation, and more seriously, ulcers and bleeding. Your risk is higher if you have a history of stomach problems or if you're taking other medications that can damage your stomach, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication because it can worsen stomach irritation. Get medical attention right away if you have stomach pain that doesn't go away or you get bloody or dark stools. These can be signs of a serious stomach problem.
Harm to babies
- Risk factors: Currently pregnant
In some studies of pregnant females who took Orapred ODT (prednisolone) during the first trimester, babies were at a higher risk of getting birth defects like cleft lip. If you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant while taking Orapred ODT (prednisolone), talk to your prescriber about the risks and benefits.
Reports of cancer
- Risk factors: Long-term use
Some people who took steroids like Orapred ODT (prednisolone) reported developing a type of cancer called Kaposi sarcoma. In most cases, people took this medication for a long period of time. It isn't clear if Orapred ODT (prednisolone) raises your risk for this type of cancer. Let your prescriber know if you notice any changes on your skin, such as purple, red, or brown spots or bumps.
Orapred ODT (prednisolone) dosage
Orally disintegrating tab| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mg | 10 orally disintegrating tabs | $56.08 | $5.61 |
| 15mg | 5 orally disintegrating tabs | $47.28 | $9.46 |
| 30mg | 5 orally disintegrating tabs | $57.68 | $11.54 |
Typical dosage for Orapred ODT (prednisolone)
The typical starting dose of Orapred ODT (prednisolone) can range from 10 mg to 60 mg by mouth per day. Your healthcare team will determine your dose and how many times a day you take it based on different factors, like what medical condition you have and how serious it is. They'll also make adjustments to your dose based on how well this medication is working for you and if you experience any side effects.
How much does Orapred ODT (prednisolone) cost?
What are alternatives to Orapred ODT (prednisolone)?
This medication is used for many different conditions. Generally, it's used for autoimmune disorders, conditions related to swelling, or cancer. Some examples include:
This medication is used for many different conditions. Generally, it's used for autoimmune problems, conditions related to swelling, or cancer. Some examples include:
Methylprednisolone (Medrol) is used for many different medical conditions, including:
Orapred ODT (prednisolone) images
