Prednisone

Production• Prednisone is a man-made steroid and is used to treat many

illnesses.• Prednisone is synthesized from cortisone by adding a double bond

between C1 and C2.• Cortisone is synthesized from cholesterol in the outer layer, or

cortex, of the adrenal gland under the stimulation of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

• Prednisone can be synthesized by microbiological dehydrogenation of cortisone

• http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0813671.html• http://books.google.com/books?

id=Jjc7KYWZdOYC&pg=PA355&lpg=PA355&dq=synthesis+of+prednisone+from+cortisone&source=bl&ots=qQ3jHZ7C8x&sig=pVWEfvsoh6vNC1-k5RUjKsnhsXU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zdqzT6udIIGF6QHByOHOCQ&ved=0CF8Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=synthesis%20of%20prednisone%20from%20cortisone&f=false

Cortisone to Prednisone

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Composition

• Prednisone is made of C21H26O5• Chemically, it is 17,21-dihydroxypregna-1, 4-diene-

3,11, 20-trione• Prednisone is a white to practically white, odorless,

crystalline powder and has a molecular weight of 358.43. It melts at about 230°C with some decomposition. Prednisone is very slightly soluble in water, slightly soluble in alcohol, chloroform, dioxane, and methanol.

http://www.drugs.com/pro/prednisone.html

Composition Cont.

The Inactive Ingredients of Prednisone• 5 mg of prednisone is made of: anhydrous

lactose, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, and talc.

• http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=19543

Composition

• Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen are the main elements in prednisone.

• Carbon is found in the non-metal section of the periodic table, hydrogen in the noble gases, and oxygen in the non-metals.

How it works• Prednisone is part of a group of medications called

glucocorticoids.• glucocorticoids have numerous affects in the body,

they are used mostly for their anti-inflammatory or immune-suppressing properties.

• This drug works for most conditions by decreasing inflammation or suppressing an overactive immune system.

• It works in myasthenia gravis(MG) by changing the normal action of the body’s immune system.

http://drugs.emedtv.com/prednisone/prednisone.html

How it works cont.• Prednisone is a man-made replica of cortisone• Cortisone is a steroid that is produced by the outer

portion of adrenal glands• Cortisone normally helps regulate the body's salt and

water balance and reduces inflammation. • The adrenal glands normally produces an amount of

steroids equivalent to about 5 mg. of prednisone a day.

• When prescribed in doses that exceed natural levels, prednisone suppresses inflammation and can help treat a variety of diseases.

http://www.gihealth.com/html/education/drugs/prednisone.html

Side Effects of Prednisone• Bulging eyes• Thin, fragile skin• Increased hair growth• Extreme tiredness•Weak muscles•Heartburn• Trouble sleeping • Increased sweating•Acne•Moon face

Common side effects:•Nausea• Vomiting• loss of appetite•Headache•Dizziness• Extreme changes

in mood• Changes in

personality•Weight Gain

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a601102.html