Cortan 15 mg/5 ml Solution

Cortan 15 mg/5 ml solution from Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. contains Prednisolone, a corticosteroid (steroid) medicine. It is used to control inflammation and overactive immune responses in a wide range of conditions — severe asthma and allergies, skin and joint diseases, certain kidney, blood and eye disorders, and more. It is a powerful and often life-changing medicine, but it must be used strictly as the doctor directs.

Prednisolone works like cortisol, a hormone the body's adrenal glands make naturally. At treatment doses it switches off many steps of inflammation — reducing swelling, redness, pain and allergic activity — and calms an immune system that is attacking the body itself. Because the body adjusts its own hormone production during treatment, Cortan must never be stopped suddenly after prolonged use; the dose is lowered gradually (tapered).

Doctors prescribe Cortan for many inflammatory and immune conditions, including:

• Severe asthma attacks and severe allergic reactions
• Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases
• Severe skin diseases such as eczema flare-ups and pemphigus
• Nephrotic syndrome and certain kidney diseases
• Some blood disorders (e.g., ITP, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia) and as part of cancer treatment protocols
• Inflammatory bowel disease, certain eye inflammations and other conditions the doctor identifies

The dose of Cortan varies greatly with the disease, its severity and your response — commonly from 5 mg up to 60 mg per day in adults, sometimes higher initially, then reduced step by step. Only your doctor can set your dose and schedule.

• Take it in the morning, with or just after food, to mimic the body's natural hormone rhythm and protect the stomach.
• If treatment has lasted more than about 2–3 weeks, the dose must be tapered gradually — never stopped abruptly.
• Children's doses are calculated by weight and decided strictly by the doctor.
• Do not change the dose or stop on your own, even if you feel better.

Short courses are usually well tolerated. With higher doses or longer use, Cortan may cause:

• Increased appetite, weight gain, facial rounding (moon face)
• Stomach irritation, acidity or ulcers
• High blood sugar — diabetes may worsen or appear
• High blood pressure, fluid retention and swelling
• Mood changes — irritability, sleeplessness, rarely severe mood problems
• Increased risk of infections, and slower wound healing
• Long-term: bone thinning (osteoporosis), muscle weakness, cataracts, glaucoma, skin thinning and easy bruising; growth slowing in children

Report black stools, severe abdominal pain, vision changes, signs of infection or marked mood change to your doctor promptly.

• Never stop Cortan suddenly after more than a couple of weeks of use — abrupt stopping can cause adrenal crisis with weakness, vomiting, low blood pressure and collapse. Always taper as the doctor instructs.
• Take it with food in the morning to reduce stomach upset.
• Infection risk: avoid close contact with people who have chickenpox, measles, TB or flu-like illness; report fever or any infection early. Hidden infections (like TB) can flare.
• Blood sugar: diabetics should monitor sugar more often — steroids raise it.
• Bones: for long-term use, the doctor may advise calcium, vitamin D and bone check-ups.
• Tell doctors and dentists you are on steroids, especially before surgery or vaccination; live vaccines are generally avoided during high-dose treatment.
• Monitor blood pressure and eyes during prolonged therapy. Carry a steroid card or note if on long-term treatment.

Prednisolone interacts with several common medicines:

• NSAID painkillers (aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac) — much higher risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding together.
• Diabetes medicines and insulin — steroids raise blood sugar; doses may need adjustment.
• Antihypertensives and diuretics — blood pressure and potassium effects; thiazide/loop diuretics increase potassium loss.
• Rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine — reduce steroid effect; ketoconazole, some HIV drugs — increase it.
• Warfarin — bleeding risk may change; closer INR checks needed.
• Live vaccines — generally avoided during significant steroid doses.

• Known hypersensitivity to Prednisolone or any component
• Widespread (systemic) fungal infection without treatment
• Live vaccines during high-dose (immunosuppressive) therapy
• Use only with specialist supervision in active untreated infections (including TB), uncontrolled diabetes, severe peptic ulcer, severe psychiatric illness or recent heart attack

Prednisolone may be used in pregnancy when the mother's disease requires it — many conditions are more dangerous untreated — but only at the lowest effective dose under a doctor's care. The placenta inactivates most prednisolone, so the baby's exposure is relatively low. Small amounts pass into breast milk; breastfeeding is usually possible at ordinary doses, and with high doses feeding can be timed a few hours after the dose. Always follow your doctor's individual advice.

Store Cortan below 30°C in a cool, dry place, protected from light and moisture. Keep in the original pack, tightly closed, and well out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date on the pack.