Prednisolone Acetate

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jul 25, 2022

Warnings

Prednisolone Acetate Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Prednisolone acetate can cause serious health problems, especially in certain high-risk patients. Some of the risks of prednisolone acetate use include:

CONTACT LENSES: Use of ophthalmic corticosteroids while wearing soft contact lenses or hard contact lenses can increase the chances of infection. You should not use this medicine while you are wearing contact lenses. Check with your eye doctor how long you should wait after using prednisolone ophthalmic before inserting your lenses. Your doctor may ask you not to use lenses for the duration of your treatment and a few days afterward.
EYE CONDITIONS: You should use only the number of drops of prednisolone ophthalmic as directed by your physician and for the indication prescribed. Excessive or prolonged use of steroid eye drops can lead to serious vision problems, glaucoma (increased pressure inside the eye), cataracts, fungal infections, secondary infections, and thinning of the cornea. You should not use prednisolone acetate if you have herpes simplex or any other type of viral or bacterial eye infection. Call your doctor if you experience blurred vision or eye pain while using this medicine. If you are using it for a long time, your doctor may ask you to get frequent vision tests and eye exams to check your eye pressure.
SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTIONS: Prednisolone acetate contains sodium bisulfite, which can cause allergic reactions. These reactions can range from mild to severe. Contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you experience signs and symptoms such as hives, rash, swelling of the face, tongue, lips, eyes, or difficult breathing. The risk of this occurring is higher in people who have asthma.

If you are at a high risk of complications from prednisolone acetate use, your doctor or pharmacist can help you find other medicines for your condition.

Precautions Before Starting Prednisolone Acetate

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to prednisolone acetate, any ingredients in prednisolone acetate products, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your healthcare provider a complete medical history. Prednisolone acetate may not be suitable for people with certain medical conditions such as glaucoma or diabetes.

Give your doctor a complete list of all your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid serious interactions between prednisolone acetate and your other drugs.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Precautions During Use of Prednisolone Acetate

Keep all your medical and lab appointments while on prednisolone acetate. Your doctor may want to order frequent vision tests and eye pressure checks while you are on this medication.

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while on prednisolone acetate.

Tell your doctor if your symptoms continue after finishing prednisolone acetate or if you develop the same symptoms again. Do not continue using the medicine without talking to your doctor first.

Seek emergency medical help if you develop signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Prednisolone Acetate Drug Interactions

Taking prednisolone acetate with many drugs can affect how each medication works. Interactions between medications can also increase the risk of serious side effects. Your physician may choose a different drug combination, change the dose or frequency of one or both medicines, and/or closely monitor you for side effects if there are known interactions between prednisolone acetate and your other drugs.

Give your healthcare professionals a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. Also, tell your health care provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription drugs.

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