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Article: Widely prescribed prednisone should be taken with caution
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- October 18, 1987
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright (null) Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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When Dr. Philip Hench and his colleagues at the Mayo Clinic in
1949 announced the dramatic effects of cortisone in the treatment of
arthritis, the medical world proclaimed that victims of this
crippling disease would soon be dancing in the streets. Cortisone
became available, but it soon became evident there were severe side
effects, making the use of cortisone a questionable treatment for
arthritics.
In 1955, a derivative of cortisone was introduced under the
brand names of Meticorten, Deltasone and others. Its generic name
was prednisone. This cortisonelike drug is about five times more
potent in its hormone and anti-inflammatory activity than cortisone.
It is prescribed to reduce ...