Prescription medicine
Prednisone First approved as Meticorten
Prednisone (Meticorten) is a prescription medicine with an FDA approval on record since 1955. FDA's NDC Directory lists it from 45 generic labelers, and pharmacies paid $0.0643 per prednisone 20 mg tablet in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey.
- Generic listed
Check it at the source: the prednisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 22, 2025, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.); the NDA 9766 record on Drugs@FDA; every prednisone label on DailyMed.
Highlights of the record
FDA label of April 22, 2025; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications and usagePrednisone tablets and solutions are indicated in the following conditions: 1.
Forms and strengths
- 1 mg
- 2 mg
- 2.5 mg
- 5 mg
- 10 mg
- 20 mg
- 50 mg
- 5 mg/5ml
- 5 mg/ml
Tablet; delayed-release tablet; solution; solution (concentrate).
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 21, 1955 Meticorten, Schering; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
- Generic approvals
- 73 first December 23, 1971; 26 with a marketed status in Drugs@FDA
- Labelers listed (NDC)
- 45 of which 45 under generic applications, 0 under brand applications, repackagers included
- Last listed patent
- January 7, 2028 Rayos tablets; not a generic launch date
Supply and safety
- Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
- $0.0643 per tablet Prednisone 20 mg tablet
- Shortage (FDA)
- No current entry
- Recalls by its makers (FDA)
- 10 since 2012 0 Class I among all firms' recalls; latest July 19, 2022; 1 more by firms not listed as its makers
- FAERS reports
- 499,950 through July 30, 2026
What is prednisone used for?
From the label: indications and usagePrednisone tablets and solutions are indicated in the following conditions: 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 hyperplasia Hypercalcemia associated with cancer Nonsuppurative thyroiditis 2. […]
Conditions named in the indications of prednisone's FDA labels, with every medicine labeled for each:
- Osteoarthritis
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Herpes and shingles
- Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma
- Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
- Anemia
- Organ transplant rejection
From other prednisone labelsOsteoarthritis: … subacute bursitis Acute nonspecific tenosynovitis Acute gouty arthritis Post-traumatic osteoarthritis Synovitis of osteoarthritis Epicondylitis 3.
Asthma and Allergies: Seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis Bronchial asthma Contact dermatitis Atopic dermatitis Serum sickness Drug hypersensitivity reactions 6.
Herpes and shingles: Allergic corneal marginal ulcers Herpes zoster ophthalmicus Anterior segment inflammation Diffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditis Sympathetic ophthalmia Allergic conjunctivitis Keratitis Chorioretinitis Optic neuritis Iritis and …
Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma: Leukemias and lymphomas in adults Acute leukemia of childhood 10.
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: Ulcerative colitis Regional enteritis 12.
Multiple sclerosis: Nervous System Acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis 13.
FDA pharmacologic class: Corticosteroid.
Source: FDA drug label (PredniSONE), Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., effective April 22, 2025 (SPL set 3115aef0-fd50-4ec8-a064-3effb695f3f2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
Is there a generic for prednisone (Meticorten)?
The FDA approved the first generic prednisone on December 23, 1971. 73 generic applications are approved; 26 of them carry a current (not discontinued) marketing status in Drugs@FDA; that status is not evidence that the generic is on sale.
FDA's NDC Directory lists prednisone from 45 labelers under a generic (ANDA) application. A listing means the company has registered the product for sale; it does not show that every pharmacy stocks it.
The Orange Book lists no patent for Meticorten tablets; a patent listed only for Rayos tablets runs to January 7, 2028. A patent or exclusivity date is not the date a generic goes on sale: court cases and settlements move it either way.
- 1955 earliest approval on file
- 1971 first generic approved
- 2028 last listed patent
- red ticks recalls
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for prednisone (Meticorten)?
In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $0.0643 per Prednisone 20 mg tablet, down 15% from $0.0759 on October 8, 2025. Prices per unit in the table differ many-fold by strength, form and brand, so compare like with like. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.
- Prednisone 20 mg tablet (generic)
| Strength and form | Brand or generic | Pharmacy cost | 30 tablets, or one pen or vial | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prednisone 1 mg tablet | Generic | $0.0386 per tablet | $1.16 | -7% |
| Prednisone 10 mg tablet dose pack | Generic | $0.585 per tablet | $17.54 | +9% |
| Prednisone 10 mg tablet | Generic | $0.0533 per tablet | $1.60 | -11% |
| Prednisone 2.5 mg tablet | Generic | $0.0661 per tablet | $1.98 | -15% |
| Prednisone 20 mg tablet | Generic | $0.0643 per tablet | $1.93 | -15% |
| Prednisone 5 mg tablet dose pack | Generic | $0.337 per tablet | $10.10 | -10% |
| Prednisone 5 mg tablet | Generic | $0.0367 per tablet | $1.10 | -15% |
| Prednisone 5 mg/5 mL solution | Generic | $0.519 per mL | n/a | -5% |
| Prednisone 50 mg tablet | Generic | $0.171 per tablet | $5.14 | -16% |
| Prednisone intensol 5 mg/mL | Generic | $3.21 per mL | n/a | +0.8% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
Has prednisone been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement Report lists 11 recalls naming prednisone since 2012: 0 Class I (the most serious), 8 Class II, 3 Class III; 0 still ongoing. 1 of them is by a firm that FDA's NDC Directory does not list as a maker of prednisone and that holds no application for it in Drugs@FDA, such as compounding pharmacies or bulk-ingredient suppliers; the recall notice names the product recalled. A recall names products and lots, not every product of the medicine.
| Started | Class | Company | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2022 | Class II | Strides Pharma Inc. | Presence of foreign tablet: 2.5 mg tablet in a 20 mg bottle of Prednisone Tablets |
| January 26, 2022 | Class II | CARDINAL HEALTHCARE | CGMP Deviations: Products were exposed to temperatures outside of the products labeled storage conditions. |
| August 10, 2020 | Class II | Lannett Company, Inc. | Labeling: Label Mix Up: bottle labeled to contain Prednisone Tablets, USP 2.5 mg actually contained Prednisone Tablets, USP 10 mg |
| March 4, 2020 | Class III | Par Pharmaceutical Inc. | Labeling: Incorrect or Missing Exp Date - An incorrect expiration date has been identified on Prednisone Tablets USP 5 mg |
| October 3, 2016 | Class II | West-Ward Pharmaceutical | Failed Tablet/Capsule Specifications: Discovery of an underweight tablet. |
| November 10, 2015 | Class III | Northwind Pharmaceuticals LLC | Labeling: Not elsewhere classified. NDC number is incorrect on the container. |
| July 2, 2013 | Class II | Aidapak Services, LLC not a listed maker | Labeling: Label Mixup:predniSONE, Tablet, 20 mg may have potentially been mislabeled as the following drug: methylPREDNISolone, Tablet, 4 mg, NDC 00781502201 … |
| June 14, 2013 | Class III | Boehringer Ingelheim Roxane Inc | Labeling: Missing Label; missing label on blister card |
Source: FDA Enforcement Report (drug recalls) via openFDA, through October 8, 2026
What does the prednisone label say about other medicines?
The prednisone label names 2 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The labels of 52 other medicines name prednisone. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Cortisone | warnings | Average and large doses of hydrocortisone or cortisone can cause elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and increased excretion of potassium. |
| Hydrocortisone | warnings | Average and large doses of hydrocortisone or cortisone can cause elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and increased excretion of potassium. |
Other labels that name prednisone
Source: FDA drug label (PredniSONE), Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., effective April 22, 2025 (SPL set 3115aef0-fd50-4ec8-a064-3effb695f3f2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What do FAERS reports show for prednisone?
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 499,950 reports that list prednisone among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 52,155 are coded as a death and 172,763 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.
Reports received each year
The most reported reactions
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026
What else is labeled for the same conditions as prednisone?
16 other medicines are given the same way (oral) and in the same FDA class as prednisone or labeled mainly for the same use (osteoarthritis), the same class first. Osteoarthritis lists all 27 medicines labeled for it, by any route. The first 8 are below. They are listed as records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine | Shared indication | Generic labelers (oral) | Pharmacy cost | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Herpes and shingles, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Anemia | 41 labelers | $0.193 per tablet 4 mg tablet | In shortage |
| Hydrocortisone | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma | 16 labelers | $0.180 per tablet 10 mg tablet | A presentation being discontinued |
| Methylprednisolone | Osteoarthritis, Allergies, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Herpes and shingles, Multiple sclerosis, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Anemia | 24 labelers | $0.121 per tablet 4 mg tablet | In shortage |
| Prednisolone | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Herpes and shingles, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Multiple sclerosis, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Anemia, Organ transplant rejection | 23 labelers | $0.568 per mL 15 mg/5 mL solution | No current entry |
| Budesonide | Asthma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis | 14 labelers | $0.498 per capsule 3 mg capsule | No current entry |
| Cortisone | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma | 1 labeler | n/a | No current entry |
| Celecoxib | Osteoarthritis | 65 labelers | $0.0762 per capsule 200 mg capsule | No current entry |
| Meloxicam | Osteoarthritis | 43 labelers | $0.0166 per tablet 7.5 mg tablet | No current entry |
Every medicine labeled for the same conditions as prednisone
Source: FDA drug labels (indications), NDC Directory, NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages (October 8, 2026)
How does prednisone compare with medicines for the same use?
18 side-by-side pages set prednisone beside a medicine whose label shares a use: approvals, generics, pharmacy cost, warnings and supply.
What next?
- Alternatives to prednisone
- 16 medicines for the same use
- Other corticosteroids
- the pharmacologic class, with prices and generics
- Prednisone side effects
- the label's list beside FAERS reports
- Check an interaction
- what two or more labels say about each other