Question

When teaching the parents of an 8-year-old child who is taking a high dose of prednisone (Meticorten) for asthma, what critical information about prednisone should be included?

Answer 1

Answer: Prednisone is a corticosteroid and in high doses or even in usual doses can cause increased blood pressure because it generate salt and water retention and increased potassium excretion. Therefore, the possibility of a hyposodium diet and potassium supplementation should be considered when corticosteroids are used.