PREDNISOLONE

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Aurobindo Pharma Limited

High Safety Concerns with Prednisolone Use

280,053 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About PREDNISOLONE

PREDNISOLONE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Aurobindo Pharma Limited. Based on analysis of 280,053 FDA adverse event reports, PREDNISOLONE has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for PREDNISOLONE include OFF LABEL USE, DRUG INEFFECTIVE, PYREXIA, DYSPNOEA, PNEUMONIA. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for PREDNISOLONE.

AI Safety Analysis

Prednisolone has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 280,053 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Aurobindo Pharma Limited.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Off Label Use, Drug Ineffective, Pyrexia. Of classified reports, 95.6% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Prednisolone reports include a high number of serious adverse events, particularly infections and respiratory issues.

The drug is frequently reported to be ineffective for unapproved indications, leading to off-label use concerns. Multiple organ dysfunction and sepsis are among the most severe reported outcomes.

Patients taking Prednisolone should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Prednisolone can interact with other drugs, leading to potential toxicity and adverse reactions. Warnings include monitoring for drug interactions and managing concomitant medications. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Prednisolone received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 95.6% serious event ratio across 173,212 classified reports. The score accounts for 280,053 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

OFF LABEL USE14,441 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE12,313 reports
PYREXIA8,193 reports
DYSPNOEA6,803 reports
PNEUMONIA6,762 reports
DIARRHOEA6,511 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED5,688 reports
NAUSEA5,358 reports
VOMITING4,962 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION4,894 reports
FATIGUE4,893 reports
SEPSIS4,475 reports
HEADACHE4,465 reports
RASH4,216 reports
ARTHRALGIA4,124 reports
MALAISE4,072 reports
ANAEMIA3,880 reports
PAIN3,748 reports
DEATH3,645 reports
INFECTION3,314 reports
NEUTROPENIA3,307 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN3,259 reports
DIZZINESS3,251 reports
DRUG INTERACTION3,203 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION3,200 reports
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA3,024 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY2,985 reports
HYPERTENSION2,976 reports
COVID 192,955 reports
ASTHENIA2,920 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA2,905 reports
COUGH2,836 reports
DECREASED APPETITE2,782 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION2,760 reports
RESPIRATORY FAILURE2,753 reports
DISEASE PROGRESSION2,720 reports
RENAL IMPAIRMENT2,662 reports
PRURITUS2,541 reports
CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION2,509 reports
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS2,490 reports
PANCYTOPENIA2,389 reports
INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE2,324 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY2,276 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED2,251 reports
FALL2,245 reports
MATERNAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY2,198 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE2,164 reports
CHEST PAIN2,143 reports
LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION2,124 reports
SEPTIC SHOCK2,083 reports
PLATELET COUNT DECREASED2,042 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE2,019 reports
LEUKOPENIA1,981 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL1,938 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER1,928 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED1,923 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY1,898 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE1,894 reports
RENAL FAILURE1,892 reports
ERYTHEMA1,882 reports
JOINT SWELLING1,866 reports
ALOPECIA1,865 reports
C REACTIVE PROTEIN INCREASED1,801 reports
HYPOTENSION1,793 reports
INSOMNIA1,783 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING1,766 reports
BACK PAIN1,755 reports
ASTHMA1,750 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS1,736 reports
PNEUMOCYSTIS JIROVECII PNEUMONIA1,709 reports
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED1,708 reports
PRODUCT USE ISSUE1,706 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS1,685 reports
INFUSION RELATED REACTION1,684 reports
BLOOD CREATININE INCREASED1,669 reports
THERAPY NON RESPONDER1,619 reports
CARDIAC FAILURE1,606 reports
PLEURAL EFFUSION1,602 reports
URTICARIA1,600 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM1,597 reports
HERPES ZOSTER1,548 reports
MUSCULAR WEAKNESS1,544 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY1,534 reports
ANXIETY1,519 reports
DEPRESSION1,502 reports
LIVER DISORDER1,501 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA1,488 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE FOR UNAPPROVED INDICATION1,478 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED1,466 reports
MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME1,466 reports
WHEEZING1,459 reports
TACHYCARDIA1,457 reports
CONSTIPATION1,442 reports
FOETAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY1,442 reports
INFLAMMATION1,437 reports
HEPATIC FUNCTION ABNORMAL1,427 reports
INTENTIONAL PRODUCT USE ISSUE1,420 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT1,414 reports
OEDEMA1,410 reports
STOMATITIS1,410 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Severe infections (Pneumonia, Sepsis, Renal Impairment) are common and serious.
  • Respiratory issues (Dyspnoea, Pneumonia, Respiratory Failure) are frequently reported.
  • Drug ineffectiveness and off-label use are significant safety signals.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 82,135, Male: 71,838, Unknown: 768. The most frequently reported age groups are age 70 (2,822 reports), age 66 (2,790 reports), age 65 (2,787 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 173,212 classified reports for PREDNISOLONE:

  • Serious: 165,513 reports (95.6%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 7,699 reports (4.4%)
Serious 95.6%Non-Serious 4.4%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female82,135 (53.1%)
Male71,838 (46.4%)
Unknown768 (0.5%)

Reports by Age

Age 702,822 reports
Age 662,790 reports
Age 652,787 reports
Age 672,729 reports
Age 692,700 reports
Age 682,689 reports
Age 712,678 reports
Age 642,669 reports
Age 722,654 reports
Age 622,637 reports
Age 632,538 reports
Age 732,533 reports
Age 742,505 reports
Age 612,456 reports
Age 602,449 reports
Age 752,445 reports
Age 762,430 reports
Age 582,366 reports
Age 592,351 reports
Age 572,233 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Prednisolone can interact with other drugs, leading to potential toxicity and adverse reactions. Warnings include monitoring for drug interactions and managing concomitant medications.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Prednisolone, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include off label use, drug ineffective, pyrexia, dyspnoea, pneumonia. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Always follow prescribed dosages and indications for Prednisolone to minimize safety risks. Report any adverse reactions to healthcare providers promptly. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA continues to monitor Prednisolone safety, with ongoing reviews of adverse event reports to ensure patient safety.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Prednisolone?

The FDA has received approximately 280,053 adverse event reports associated with Prednisolone. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Prednisolone?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Prednisolone include Off Label Use, Drug Ineffective, Pyrexia, Dyspnoea, Pneumonia. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Off Label Use (14,441 reports), Drug Ineffective (12,313 reports), Pyrexia (8,193 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Prednisolone.

What percentage of Prednisolone adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 173,212 classified reports, 165,513 (95.6%) were classified as serious and 7,699 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Prednisolone (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Prednisolone break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 82,135, Male: 71,838, Unknown: 768. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Prednisolone?

The most frequently reported age groups for Prednisolone adverse events are: age 70: 2,822 reports, age 66: 2,790 reports, age 65: 2,787 reports, age 67: 2,729 reports, age 69: 2,700 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Prednisolone?

The primary manufacturer associated with Prednisolone adverse event reports is Aurobindo Pharma Limited. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Prednisolone?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Prednisolone include: Diarrhoea, Condition Aggravated, Nausea, Vomiting, Product Use In Unapproved Indication. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Prednisolone?

You can report adverse events from Prednisolone to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Prednisolone's safety score and what does it mean?

Prednisolone has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Prednisolone reports include a high number of serious adverse events, particularly infections and respiratory issues.

What are the key safety signals for Prednisolone?

Key safety signals identified in Prednisolone's adverse event data include: Severe infections (Pneumonia, Sepsis, Renal Impairment) are common and serious.. Respiratory issues (Dyspnoea, Pneumonia, Respiratory Failure) are frequently reported.. Drug ineffectiveness and off-label use are significant safety signals.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Prednisolone interact with other drugs?

Prednisolone can interact with other drugs, leading to potential toxicity and adverse reactions. Warnings include monitoring for drug interactions and managing concomitant medications. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Prednisolone.

What should patients know before taking Prednisolone?

Always follow prescribed dosages and indications for Prednisolone to minimize safety risks. Report any adverse reactions to healthcare providers promptly.

Are Prednisolone side effects well-documented?

Prednisolone has 280,053 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. The drug is frequently reported to be ineffective for unapproved indications, leading to off-label use concerns. The volume of reports for Prednisolone reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Prednisolone?

The FDA continues to monitor Prednisolone safety, with ongoing reviews of adverse event reports to ensure patient safety. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to PREDNISOLONE based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

AmoxicillinIbuprofenMetforminWarfarinInsulin
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.