Adult
PO
Allergic conditions: 30 mg on the 1st day, then taper by 5 mg/day until 21 tab have been administered.
Adjunct in Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci pneumonia: 40 mg bid for 5 days followed by 40 mg once daily for 5 days, then 20 mg once daily for 11 days or until completion of the anti-infective regimen. Should be initiated w/in 24-72 hr of initial antipneumocystis therapy.
Acute asthma: 40-60 mg/day as a single or in 2 divided doses for 3-10 days or longer.
Advanced pulmonary or extrapulmonary TB: 40-60 mg/day, then taper over 4-8 wk.
Rheumatoid arthritis: ≤10 mg/day.
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: 1-2 mg/kg/day.
Acute exacerbations in multiple sclerosis: 200 mg/day for a wk followed by 80 mg every other day for 1 mth.

Adverse drug reactions: moderate leucocytosis, eosinopoenia, polycythaemia, lymphopoenia, insomnia, headache, increased susceptibility and severity of infections, Na retention w/ oedema, increased K excretion, wt gain, increased appetite, reduced glucose tolerance, DM, hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, osteoporosis (dose-related), muscular atrophy and weakness, adrenal suppression, immunosuppression, acute myopathy.

Adapted from CIMS Drug Information System. Internet. Accessed on January 10, 2016.