prednisolone
Brand names: Orapred, Pediapred
Prednisolone eye drops reduce inflammation in your eye. It is a type of steroid medicine.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$1.96/unit
Generic Available
Yes (16 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats swelling and redness in your eye.
Common side effects
Eye pain, Feeling like something is in your eye, Headache
Key warnings
Using steroid eye drops for a long time may cause glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye) or cataracts.
How It Works
Prednisolone is a corticosteroid. It works by reducing inflammation in the eye. This helps to relieve redness, swelling, and pain.
How to Take It
Shake the bottle well before using. Put 1 or 2 drops into your eye. Do this 2 to 4 times each day. You may need to use it more often during the first 1 or 2 days. Do not stop using the drops too soon.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if prednisolone eye drops will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store at room temperature up to 77°F (25°C). Do not freeze. Store the bottle upright.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 75,940 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 173,227 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1999–2025.
Total Reports
173,227
Death-Related Reports
27,831
Hospitalization Reports
79,445
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OFF LABEL USE | 14,440 |
| 2 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 12,312 |
| 3 | PYREXIA | 8,197 |
| 4 | DYSPNOEA | 6,807 |
| 5 | PNEUMONIA | 6,760 |
| 6 | DIARRHOEA | 6,510 |
| 7 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 5,688 |
| 8 | NAUSEA | 5,363 |
| 9 | VOMITING | 4,963 |
| 10 | FATIGUE | 4,894 |
| 11 | PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION | 4,894 |
| 12 | SEPSIS | 4,479 |
| 13 | HEADACHE | 4,466 |
| 14 | RASH | 4,216 |
| 15 | ARTHRALGIA | 4,123 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Using steroid eye drops for a long time may cause glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye) or cataracts. It can also make it harder for your eye to heal if you have an injury. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 2 days.
Known Drug Interactions
albuterol, systemic and inhaled mebendazole amoxicillin medroxyprogesterone ampicillin, with or without sulbactam methylprednisolone atenolol metronidazole azithromycin metoprolol caffeine, dietary ingestion nadolol cefaclor nifedipine co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) nizatidine diltiazem norfloxacin dirithromycin ofloxacin enflurane omeprazole famotidine prednisone, prednisolone felodipine ranitidine finasteride rifabutin hydrocortisone roxithromycin isoflurane Sorbitol (purgative doses do not inhibit theophylline absorption) isoniazid sucralfate isradipine terbutaline, s...
Mechanism: Taking these two drugs together can change how quickly your body gets rid of theophylline. This may cause the amount of medicine in your blood to go up or down.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your theophylline dose when you start or stop this steroid. Report any new or worsening side effects to your healthcare provider.
betamethasone budesonide ciclesonide fluticasone methylprednisolone mometasone triamcinolone ↑ corticosteroids Co-administration with corticosteroids (all routes of administration) of which exposures are significantly increased by strong CYP3A inhibitors can increase the risk for Cushing's syndrome and adrenal suppression. Alternative corticosteroids including beclomethasone, prednisone and prednisolone (for which PK and/or PD are less affected by strong CYP3A inhibitors relative to other steroids) should be considered, particularly for long term use.
Mechanism: Darunavir has a smaller effect on prednisolone than on other steroids, so the levels do not rise as much. This makes it a safer choice when a steroid is needed.
What to do: This combination is often preferred over other steroids, but your doctor should still check for any side effects during treatment.
Corticosteroids primarily metabolized by CYP3A betamethasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone, methylprednisolone, mometasone, triamcinolone ↑ corticosteroid Co-administration with corticosteroids (all routes of administration) of which exposures are significantly increased by strong CYP3A inhibitors can increase the risk for Cushing’s syndrome and adrenal suppression. Alternative corticosteroids including beclomethasone, prednisone, and prednisolone should be considered.
Mechanism: This specific steroid is considered a safer alternative because it is less affected by the antiviral than other steroids. It is less likely to build up to dangerous levels in your system.
What to do: This is a preferred steroid to use if you are taking this antiviral. Your doctor will determine if this is the right choice for your treatment.
In addition, carbamazepine causes, or would be expected to cause, decreased levels of the following drugs, for which monitoring of concentrations or dosage adjustment may be necessary: acetaminophen, albendazole, alprazolam, aprepitant, buprenorphone, bupropion, citalopram, clonazepam, clozapine, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisolone, dexamethasone), cyclosporine, dicumarol, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (e.g., felodipine), doxycycline, ethosuximide, everolimus, haloperidol, imatinib, itraconazole, lamotrigine, levothyroxine, methadone, methsuximide, mianserin, midazolam, olanzapin...
Mechanism: Carbamazepine makes your body break down prednisolone faster, which lowers the amount of medicine in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor may need to increase your dose of prednisolone or monitor your condition more closely.
Concomitant use with ethinyl estradiol-containing COCs may increase systemic exposure of other drugs (e.g., cyclosporine, prednisolone, theophylline, tizanidine, and voriconazole).
Mechanism: Estradiol can slow down how your body processes prednisolone, which causes the steroid to build up in your system.
What to do: Your doctor may need to lower your prednisolone dose or monitor you more closely for steroid side effects.
Common Questions
Can I use this medicine if I have an eye infection?
What should I do if my vision gets worse while using these drops?
Can I wear contact lenses while using these drops?
How long should I use these eye drops?
Can these drops cause any other side effects?
What if I accidentally swallow some of the eye drops?
Can I use these drops with other eye medicines?
What does 'shake well before using' mean?
How do I put the drops in my eye?
Can I drive after using these eye drops?
What are the common side effects of prednisolone?
Does prednisolone interact with other medications?
What drug class is prednisolone?
Is prednisolone safe during pregnancy?
Has prednisolone been recalled?
Active Recalls
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
Imprimis NJOF, LLC
Subpotent Drug
Imprimis NJOF, LLC
CGMP Deviations: Firm went out of business and could no longer continue stability studies.
Akorn, Inc.
Defective Container: Product has incomplete induction seals.
Akorn, Inc
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Medication Guides
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Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for prednisolone
The FDA label for prednisolone (sold under brand names such as Orapred, Pediapred) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Corticosteroid class. This medicine treats swelling and redness in your eye. Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Eye pain, Feeling like something is in your eye, Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 75,940 voluntary reports. The database also lists 14 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.96.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 4 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: February 2, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages