DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION SECTION.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION. The initial dosage of Millipred Tablets may vary from mg to 60 mg per day depending on the specific disease entity being treated. In situations of less severity, lower doses will generally suffice, while in selected patients higher initial doses may be required. The initial dosage should be maintained or adjusted until satisfactory response is noted. If after reasonable period of time there is lack of satisfactory clinical response, prednisolone should be discontinued and the patient transferred to other appropriate therapy.IT SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED THAT DOSAGE REQUIREMENTS ARE VARIABLE AND MUST BE INDIVIDUALIZED ON THE BASIS OF THE DISEASE UNDER TREATMENT AND THE RESPONSE OF THE PATIENT.After favorable response is noted, the proper maintenance dosage should be determined by decreasing the initial drug dosage in small increments at appropriate time intervals until the lowest dosage which will maintain an adequate clinical response is reached. It should be kept in mind that constant monitoring is needed in regard to drug dosage. Included in the situations which may make dosage adjustments necessary are changes in clinical status secondary to remissions or exacerbations in the disease process, the patients individual drug responsiveness, and the effect of patient exposure to stressful situations not directly related to the disease entity under treatment; in this latter situation it may be necessary to increase the dosage of prednisolone for period of time consistent with the patients condition. If after long-term therapy the drug is to be stopped, it is recommended that it be withdrawn gradually rather than abruptly.. Alternate-Day Therapy. Alternate-Day Therapy is corticosteroid dosing regimen in which twice the usual daily dose of corticoid is administered every other morning. The purpose of this mode of therapy is to provide the patient requiring long-term pharmacologic dose treatment with the beneficial effects of corticoids while minimizing certain undesirable effects, including pituitary-adrenal suppression, the Cushingoid state, corticoid withdrawal symptoms, and growth suppression in children.The rationale for this treatment schedule is based on two major premises: (a) the anti-inflammatory or therapeutic effect of corticoids persists longer than their physical presence and metabolic effects and (b) administration of the corticosteroid every other morning allows for re-establishment of more nearly normal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity on the off-steroid day.A brief review of the HPA physiology may be helpful in understanding this rationale. Acting primarily through the hypothalamus fall in free cortisol stimulates the pituitary gland to produce increasing amounts of corticotropin (ACTH) while rise in free cortisol inhibits ACTH secretion. Normally the HPA system is characterized by diurnal (circadian) rhythm. Serum levels of ACTH rise from low point about 10 p.m. to peak level about a.m. Increasing levels of ACTH stimulate adrenocortical activity resulting in rise in plasma cortisol with maximal levels occurring between a.m. and a.m. This rise in cortisol dampens ACTH production and in turn adrenocortical activity. There is gradual fall in plasma corticoids during the day, the lowest levels occurring about midnight.The diurnal rhythm of the HPA axis is lost in Cushings disease, syndrome of adrenocortical hyperfunction characterized by obesity with centripetal fat distribution, thinning of the skin with easy bruisability, muscle wasting with weakness, hypertension, latent diabetes, osteoporosis, electrolyte imbalance, etc. The same clinical findings of hyperadrenocorticism may be noted during the longterm pharmacologic dose corticoid therapy administered in conventional daily divided doses. It would appear, then, that disturbance in the diurnal cycle with maintenance of elevated corticoid values during the night may play significant role in the development of undesirable corticoid effects. Escape from these constantly elevated plasma levels for even short periods of time may be instrumental in protecting against undesirable pharmacologic effects.During conventional pharmacologic dose corticosteroid therapy, ACTH production is inhibited with subsequent suppression of cortisol production by the adrenal cortex. Recovery time for normal HPA activity is variable depending upon the dose and duration of treatment. During this time the patient is vulnerable to any stressful situation. Although it has been shown that there is considerably less adrenal suppression following single morning dose of prednisolone (10 mg) as opposed to quarter of that dose administered every hours, there is evidence that some suppressive effect on adrenal activity may be carried over into the following day when pharmacologic doses are used. Further, it has been shown that single dose of certain corticosteroids will produce adrenocortical suppression for two or more days. Other corticoids, including methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone, prednisone, and prednisolone, are considered to be short acting (producing adrenocortical suppression for 1/4 days to 1/2 days following single dose) and thus are recommended for alternate-day therapy.The following should be kept in mind when considering alternate-day therapy:Basic principles and indications for corticosteroid therapy should apply. The benefits of alternate-day therapy should not encourage the indiscriminate use of steroids.Alternate-day therapy is therapeutic technique primarily designed for patients in whom long-term pharmacologic corticoid therapy is anticipated.In less severe disease processes in which corticoid therapy is indicated, it may be possible to initiate treatment with alternate-day therapy. More severe disease states usually will require daily divided high dose therapy for initial control of the disease process. The initial suppressive dose level should be continued until satisfactory clinical response is obtained, usually four to ten days in the case of many allergic and collagen diseases. It is important to keep the period of initial suppressive dose as brief as possible particularly when subsequent use of alternate-day therapy is intended.Once control has been established, two courses are available: (a) change to alternate-day therapy and then gradually reduce the amount of corticoid given every other day, or (b) following control of the disease process, reduce the daily dose of corticoid to the lowest effective level as rapidly as possible and then change over to an alternate-day schedule. Theoretically, course (a) may be preferable.Because of the advantages of alternate-day therapy, it may be desirable to try patients on this form of therapy who have been on daily corticoids for long periods of time (e.g., patients with rheumatoid arthritis). Since these patients may already have suppressed HPA axis, establishing them on alternate-day therapy may be difficult and not always successful. However, it is recommended that regular attempts be made to change them over. It may be helpful to triple or even quadruple the daily maintenance dose and administer this every other day rather than just doubling the daily dose if difficulty is encountered. Once the patient is again controlled, an attempt should be made to reduce this dose to minimum.As indicated above, certain corticosteroids, because of their prolonged suppressive effect on adrenal activity, are not recommended for alternate-day therapy (e.g., dexamethasone and betamethasone).The maximal activity of the adrenal cortex is between a.m. and a.m., and it is minimal between p.m. and midnight. Exogenous corticosteroids suppress adrenocortical activity the least, when given at the time of maximal activity (a.m.).In using alternate-day therapy it is important, as in all therapeutic situations, to individualize and tailor the therapy to each patient. Complete control of symptoms will not be possible in all patients. An explanation of the benefits of alternate-day therapy will help the patient to understand and tolerate the possible flare-up in symptoms which may occur in the latter part of the off-steroid day. Other symptomatic therapy may be added or increased at this time if needed.In the event of an acute flare-up of the disease process, it may be necessary to return to full suppressive daily divided corticoid dose for control. Once control is again established, alternate-day therapy may be reinstituted.Although many of the undesirable features of corticosteroid therapy can be minimized by alternate-day therapy, as in any therapeutic situation, the physician must carefully weigh the benefit-risk ratio for each patient with whom corticoid therapy is being considered.. Basic principles and indications for corticosteroid therapy should apply. The benefits of alternate-day therapy should not encourage the indiscriminate use of steroids.. Alternate-day therapy is therapeutic technique primarily designed for patients in whom long-term pharmacologic corticoid therapy is anticipated.. In less severe disease processes in which corticoid therapy is indicated, it may be possible to initiate treatment with alternate-day therapy. More severe disease states usually will require daily divided high dose therapy for initial control of the disease process. The initial suppressive dose level should be continued until satisfactory clinical response is obtained, usually four to ten days in the case of many allergic and collagen diseases. It is important to keep the period of initial suppressive dose as brief as possible particularly when subsequent use of alternate-day therapy is intended.Once control has been established, two courses are available: (a) change to alternate-day therapy and then gradually reduce the amount of corticoid given every other day, or (b) following control of the disease process, reduce the daily dose of corticoid to the lowest effective level as rapidly as possible and then change over to an alternate-day schedule. Theoretically, course (a) may be preferable.. Because of the advantages of alternate-day therapy, it may be desirable to try patients on this form of therapy who have been on daily corticoids for long periods of time (e.g., patients with rheumatoid arthritis). Since these patients may already have suppressed HPA axis, establishing them on alternate-day therapy may be difficult and not always successful. However, it is recommended that regular attempts be made to change them over. It may be helpful to triple or even quadruple the daily maintenance dose and administer this every other day rather than just doubling the daily dose if difficulty is encountered. Once the patient is again controlled, an attempt should be made to reduce this dose to minimum.. As indicated above, certain corticosteroids, because of their prolonged suppressive effect on adrenal activity, are not recommended for alternate-day therapy (e.g., dexamethasone and betamethasone).. The maximal activity of the adrenal cortex is between a.m. and a.m., and it is minimal between p.m. and midnight. Exogenous corticosteroids suppress adrenocortical activity the least, when given at the time of maximal activity (a.m.).. In using alternate-day therapy it is important, as in all therapeutic situations, to individualize and tailor the therapy to each patient. Complete control of symptoms will not be possible in all patients. An explanation of the benefits of alternate-day therapy will help the patient to understand and tolerate the possible flare-up in symptoms which may occur in the latter part of the off-steroid day. Other symptomatic therapy may be added or increased at this time if needed.. In the event of an acute flare-up of the disease process, it may be necessary to return to full suppressive daily divided corticoid dose for control. Once control is again established, alternate-day therapy may be reinstituted.. Although many of the undesirable features of corticosteroid therapy can be minimized by alternate-day therapy, as in any therapeutic situation, the physician must carefully weigh the benefit-risk ratio for each patient with whom corticoid therapy is being considered.

INDICATIONS & USAGE SECTION.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE. 1. Endocrine disorders. Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the first choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance).Congenital adrenal hyperplasiaNonsuppurative thyroiditisHypercalcemia associated with cancer2. Rheumatic disorders. As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in:Psoriatic arthritisRheumatoid arthritis; including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy)Ankylosing spondylitisAcute and subacute bursitisAcute nonspecific tenosynovitisAcute gouty arthritisPost-traumatic osteoarthritisSynovitis of osteoarthritisEpicondylitis3. Collagen diseases. During an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of:Systemic lupus erythematosusAcute rheumatic carditisSystemic dermatomyositis (polymyositis)4. Dermatologic diseases PemphigusBullous dermatitis herpetiformisSevere erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)Exfoliative dermatitisMycosis fungoidesSevere psoriasisSevere seborrheic dermatitis5. Allergic states. Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment:Seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitisSerum sicknessBronchial asthmaContact dermatitisAtopic dermatitisDrug hypersensitivity reactions6. Ophthalmic diseases. Severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye and its adnexa such as:Allergic conjunctivitisKeratitisAllergic corneal marginal ulcersHerpes zoster ophthalmicusIritis and iridocyclitisChorioretinitisAnterior segment inflammationDiffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditisOptic neuritisSympathetic ophthalmia7. Respiratory diseases Symptomatic sarcoidosisLoefflers syndrome not manageable by other meansBerylliosisFulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapyAspiration pneumonitis8. Hematologic disorders Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adultsSecondary thrombocytopenia in adultsAcquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemiaErythroblastopenia (RBC anemia)Congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia9. Neoplastic diseases. For palliative management of:Leukemias and lymphomas in adultsAcute leukemia of childhood10. Edematous states. To induce diuresis or remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome, without uremia, of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus.11. Gastrointestinal diseases. To tide the patient over critical period of the disease in:Ulcerative colitisRegional enteritis12. Nervous system. Acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis13. Miscellaneous Tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapyTrichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement.

INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS SECTION.

Information for Patients. Persons who are on immunosuppressant doses of corticosteroids should be warned to avoid exposure to chickenpox or measles. Patients should also be advised that if they are exposed, medical advice should be sought without delay. Drug-induced secondary adrenocortical insufficiency may be minimized by gradual reduction of dosage. This type of relative insufficiency may persist for months after discontinuation of therapy; therefore, in any situation of stress occurring during that period, hormone therapy should be reinstituted. Since mineralocorticoid secretion may be impaired, salt and/or mineralocorticoid should be administered concurrently.There is an enhanced effect of corticosteroids on patients with hypothyroidism and in those with cirrhosis.Corticosteroids should be used cautiously in patients with ocular herpes simplex because of possible corneal perforation.The lowest possible dose of corticosteroid should be used to control the condition under treatment, and when reduction in dosage is possible, the reduction should be gradual.Psychic derangements may appear when corticosteroids are used, ranging from euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, and severe depression, to frank psychotic manifestations. Also, existing emotional instability or psychotic tendencies may be aggravated by corticosteroids.Aspirin should be used cautiously in conjunction with corticosteroids in hypoprothrombinemia.Steroids should be used with caution in nonspecific ulcerative colitis, if there is probability of impending perforation, abscess or other pyogenic infection; diverticulitis; fresh intestinal anastomoses; active or latent peptic ulcer; renal insufficiency; hypertension; osteoporosis and myasthenia gravis.Growth and development of infants and children on prolonged corticosteroid therapy should be carefully observed.Although controlled clinical trials have shown corticosteroids to be effective in speeding the resolution of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis they do not show that they affect the ultimate outcome or natural history of the disease. The studies do show that relatively high doses of corticosteroids are necessary to demonstrate significant effect. (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section.)Since complications of treatment with glucocorticoids are dependent on the size of the dose and the duration of treatment, risk/benefit decision must be made in each individual case as to dose and duration of treatment and as to whether daily or intermittent therapy should be used.

PRECAUTIONS SECTION.

PRECAUTIONS. Information for Patients. Persons who are on immunosuppressant doses of corticosteroids should be warned to avoid exposure to chickenpox or measles. Patients should also be advised that if they are exposed, medical advice should be sought without delay. Drug-induced secondary adrenocortical insufficiency may be minimized by gradual reduction of dosage. This type of relative insufficiency may persist for months after discontinuation of therapy; therefore, in any situation of stress occurring during that period, hormone therapy should be reinstituted. Since mineralocorticoid secretion may be impaired, salt and/or mineralocorticoid should be administered concurrently.There is an enhanced effect of corticosteroids on patients with hypothyroidism and in those with cirrhosis.Corticosteroids should be used cautiously in patients with ocular herpes simplex because of possible corneal perforation.The lowest possible dose of corticosteroid should be used to control the condition under treatment, and when reduction in dosage is possible, the reduction should be gradual.Psychic derangements may appear when corticosteroids are used, ranging from euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, and severe depression, to frank psychotic manifestations. Also, existing emotional instability or psychotic tendencies may be aggravated by corticosteroids.Aspirin should be used cautiously in conjunction with corticosteroids in hypoprothrombinemia.Steroids should be used with caution in nonspecific ulcerative colitis, if there is probability of impending perforation, abscess or other pyogenic infection; diverticulitis; fresh intestinal anastomoses; active or latent peptic ulcer; renal insufficiency; hypertension; osteoporosis and myasthenia gravis.Growth and development of infants and children on prolonged corticosteroid therapy should be carefully observed.Although controlled clinical trials have shown corticosteroids to be effective in speeding the resolution of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis they do not show that they affect the ultimate outcome or natural history of the disease. The studies do show that relatively high doses of corticosteroids are necessary to demonstrate significant effect. (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section.)Since complications of treatment with glucocorticoids are dependent on the size of the dose and the duration of treatment, risk/benefit decision must be made in each individual case as to dose and duration of treatment and as to whether daily or intermittent therapy should be used.

SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION.

Alternate-Day Therapy. Alternate-Day Therapy is corticosteroid dosing regimen in which twice the usual daily dose of corticoid is administered every other morning. The purpose of this mode of therapy is to provide the patient requiring long-term pharmacologic dose treatment with the beneficial effects of corticoids while minimizing certain undesirable effects, including pituitary-adrenal suppression, the Cushingoid state, corticoid withdrawal symptoms, and growth suppression in children.The rationale for this treatment schedule is based on two major premises: (a) the anti-inflammatory or therapeutic effect of corticoids persists longer than their physical presence and metabolic effects and (b) administration of the corticosteroid every other morning allows for re-establishment of more nearly normal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity on the off-steroid day.A brief review of the HPA physiology may be helpful in understanding this rationale. Acting primarily through the hypothalamus fall in free cortisol stimulates the pituitary gland to produce increasing amounts of corticotropin (ACTH) while rise in free cortisol inhibits ACTH secretion. Normally the HPA system is characterized by diurnal (circadian) rhythm. Serum levels of ACTH rise from low point about 10 p.m. to peak level about a.m. Increasing levels of ACTH stimulate adrenocortical activity resulting in rise in plasma cortisol with maximal levels occurring between a.m. and a.m. This rise in cortisol dampens ACTH production and in turn adrenocortical activity. There is gradual fall in plasma corticoids during the day, the lowest levels occurring about midnight.The diurnal rhythm of the HPA axis is lost in Cushings disease, syndrome of adrenocortical hyperfunction characterized by obesity with centripetal fat distribution, thinning of the skin with easy bruisability, muscle wasting with weakness, hypertension, latent diabetes, osteoporosis, electrolyte imbalance, etc. The same clinical findings of hyperadrenocorticism may be noted during the longterm pharmacologic dose corticoid therapy administered in conventional daily divided doses. It would appear, then, that disturbance in the diurnal cycle with maintenance of elevated corticoid values during the night may play significant role in the development of undesirable corticoid effects. Escape from these constantly elevated plasma levels for even short periods of time may be instrumental in protecting against undesirable pharmacologic effects.During conventional pharmacologic dose corticosteroid therapy, ACTH production is inhibited with subsequent suppression of cortisol production by the adrenal cortex. Recovery time for normal HPA activity is variable depending upon the dose and duration of treatment. During this time the patient is vulnerable to any stressful situation. Although it has been shown that there is considerably less adrenal suppression following single morning dose of prednisolone (10 mg) as opposed to quarter of that dose administered every hours, there is evidence that some suppressive effect on adrenal activity may be carried over into the following day when pharmacologic doses are used. Further, it has been shown that single dose of certain corticosteroids will produce adrenocortical suppression for two or more days. Other corticoids, including methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone, prednisone, and prednisolone, are considered to be short acting (producing adrenocortical suppression for 1/4 days to 1/2 days following single dose) and thus are recommended for alternate-day therapy.The following should be kept in mind when considering alternate-day therapy:Basic principles and indications for corticosteroid therapy should apply. The benefits of alternate-day therapy should not encourage the indiscriminate use of steroids.Alternate-day therapy is therapeutic technique primarily designed for patients in whom long-term pharmacologic corticoid therapy is anticipated.In less severe disease processes in which corticoid therapy is indicated, it may be possible to initiate treatment with alternate-day therapy. More severe disease states usually will require daily divided high dose therapy for initial control of the disease process. The initial suppressive dose level should be continued until satisfactory clinical response is obtained, usually four to ten days in the case of many allergic and collagen diseases. It is important to keep the period of initial suppressive dose as brief as possible particularly when subsequent use of alternate-day therapy is intended.Once control has been established, two courses are available: (a) change to alternate-day therapy and then gradually reduce the amount of corticoid given every other day, or (b) following control of the disease process, reduce the daily dose of corticoid to the lowest effective level as rapidly as possible and then change over to an alternate-day schedule. Theoretically, course (a) may be preferable.Because of the advantages of alternate-day therapy, it may be desirable to try patients on this form of therapy who have been on daily corticoids for long periods of time (e.g., patients with rheumatoid arthritis). Since these patients may already have suppressed HPA axis, establishing them on alternate-day therapy may be difficult and not always successful. However, it is recommended that regular attempts be made to change them over. It may be helpful to triple or even quadruple the daily maintenance dose and administer this every other day rather than just doubling the daily dose if difficulty is encountered. Once the patient is again controlled, an attempt should be made to reduce this dose to minimum.As indicated above, certain corticosteroids, because of their prolonged suppressive effect on adrenal activity, are not recommended for alternate-day therapy (e.g., dexamethasone and betamethasone).The maximal activity of the adrenal cortex is between a.m. and a.m., and it is minimal between p.m. and midnight. Exogenous corticosteroids suppress adrenocortical activity the least, when given at the time of maximal activity (a.m.).In using alternate-day therapy it is important, as in all therapeutic situations, to individualize and tailor the therapy to each patient. Complete control of symptoms will not be possible in all patients. An explanation of the benefits of alternate-day therapy will help the patient to understand and tolerate the possible flare-up in symptoms which may occur in the latter part of the off-steroid day. Other symptomatic therapy may be added or increased at this time if needed.In the event of an acute flare-up of the disease process, it may be necessary to return to full suppressive daily divided corticoid dose for control. Once control is again established, alternate-day therapy may be reinstituted.Although many of the undesirable features of corticosteroid therapy can be minimized by alternate-day therapy, as in any therapeutic situation, the physician must carefully weigh the benefit-risk ratio for each patient with whom corticoid therapy is being considered.. Basic principles and indications for corticosteroid therapy should apply. The benefits of alternate-day therapy should not encourage the indiscriminate use of steroids.. Alternate-day therapy is therapeutic technique primarily designed for patients in whom long-term pharmacologic corticoid therapy is anticipated.. In less severe disease processes in which corticoid therapy is indicated, it may be possible to initiate treatment with alternate-day therapy. More severe disease states usually will require daily divided high dose therapy for initial control of the disease process. The initial suppressive dose level should be continued until satisfactory clinical response is obtained, usually four to ten days in the case of many allergic and collagen diseases. It is important to keep the period of initial suppressive dose as brief as possible particularly when subsequent use of alternate-day therapy is intended.Once control has been established, two courses are available: (a) change to alternate-day therapy and then gradually reduce the amount of corticoid given every other day, or (b) following control of the disease process, reduce the daily dose of corticoid to the lowest effective level as rapidly as possible and then change over to an alternate-day schedule. Theoretically, course (a) may be preferable.. Because of the advantages of alternate-day therapy, it may be desirable to try patients on this form of therapy who have been on daily corticoids for long periods of time (e.g., patients with rheumatoid arthritis). Since these patients may already have suppressed HPA axis, establishing them on alternate-day therapy may be difficult and not always successful. However, it is recommended that regular attempts be made to change them over. It may be helpful to triple or even quadruple the daily maintenance dose and administer this every other day rather than just doubling the daily dose if difficulty is encountered. Once the patient is again controlled, an attempt should be made to reduce this dose to minimum.. As indicated above, certain corticosteroids, because of their prolonged suppressive effect on adrenal activity, are not recommended for alternate-day therapy (e.g., dexamethasone and betamethasone).. The maximal activity of the adrenal cortex is between a.m. and a.m., and it is minimal between p.m. and midnight. Exogenous corticosteroids suppress adrenocortical activity the least, when given at the time of maximal activity (a.m.).. In using alternate-day therapy it is important, as in all therapeutic situations, to individualize and tailor the therapy to each patient. Complete control of symptoms will not be possible in all patients. An explanation of the benefits of alternate-day therapy will help the patient to understand and tolerate the possible flare-up in symptoms which may occur in the latter part of the off-steroid day. Other symptomatic therapy may be added or increased at this time if needed.. In the event of an acute flare-up of the disease process, it may be necessary to return to full suppressive daily divided corticoid dose for control. Once control is again established, alternate-day therapy may be reinstituted.. Although many of the undesirable features of corticosteroid therapy can be minimized by alternate-day therapy, as in any therapeutic situation, the physician must carefully weigh the benefit-risk ratio for each patient with whom corticoid therapy is being considered.