Abstract

Prednisone becomes active only after it has been converted to prednisolone in the liver. In a recent study in 10 healthy volunteers plasma prednisolone concentrations were compared after single oral doses of prednisolone or prednisone.¹ The peak plasma prednisolone concentration was significantly lower after prednisone, and although the estimated total amount of prednisolone in the plasma was similar for both drugs, after prednisone it was significantly more variable.