Corticosteroid medicine card
Content date: 11 November 2026
Used to settle inflammation. In Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, treatment is usually short term; some liver diseases need different plans.
Your next step
Check your written prescription and monitoring plan. If anything is unclear, ask your care team before changing a dose.
Get urgent help: Fainting or severe weakness with vomiting, black stools or vomiting blood, severe mental health changes or difficulty breathing: seek emergency care.
How do I use it?
- Follow your written dose and tapering schedule. Oral prednisolone is often taken in the morning with food when prescribed once daily. Budesonide is not identical; its capsules, tablets and foam differ according to disease location. Do not switch between them. A separate card explains how to use Cortiment 9-mg tablets.
How do I store it?
- Keep the product in its packaging away from heat and moisture and follow its leaflet. Storage temperatures and packaging requirements differ between formulations; do not use instructions for another medicine.
What tests do I need?
- Monitoring of blood pressure, blood glucose, weight, infections and mood. Bone, vitamin D, calcium and eye assessments may be needed depending on dose, duration and risk factors.
Possible side effects: what to expect
- Not everyone experiences side effects. Increased appetite, indigestion, sleep difficulties or mood changes may occur. Morning prednisolone with food, when prescribed once daily, may help; report troublesome symptoms rather than changing the dose yourself.
- Risks depend on dose, duration and formulation. Glucose, blood pressure and infection risk may rise; longer courses can affect bones and eyes. Serious mental-health changes can occur and need prompt assessment. Monitoring and your clinician’s prescribed taper help reduce risk.
Important points
- Do not stop steroids suddenly or change your taper yourself. Tell the team before surgery or severe illness; you may need a special plan. Avoid grapefruit with budesonide.
Brand / device: ........................ | Dose and how I take or use the medicine: ........................
Next dose: ........................ | Next blood tests: ........................
Team contact: ........................
When to get help
Fainting or severe weakness with vomiting, black stools or vomiting blood, severe mental health changes or difficulty breathing: seek emergency care.
Fever or infection, markedly raised blood glucose, major mood changes, or contact with chickenpox: contact the team promptly. If vomiting prevents you taking a dose, seek same-day advice.
Related guides
Pregnancy and breastfeeding with bowel and liver disease
Budesonide MMX 9 mg / Cortiment
Anti-rejection medicines after liver transplantation: a practical guide