Prednisone
Also called Dehydrocortisone.
A corticosteroid taken by mouth for inflammation, asthma flares, autoimmune disease and allergic reactions. The liver converts it into prednisolone before it works.
Sources and notes
- The introductionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Other namesfrom sourceWikidataIts English label and aliases on Wikidata.
- Formula and weightcomputedPubChem
- 2D drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKit
- 3D modelfrom sourcePubChem 3D conformerLoaded after the page has painted, and on a phone only when you ask for it; the 2D drawing shows until it arrives.
Where you encounter it
Dispensed on prescription, not sold on a shelf.
Sources and notes
- The line abovefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedFrom the group the molecule belongs to.
Explore its structure
Choose a part to light it up.
A C=O with a carbon on each side. Its oxygen accepts hydrogen bonds but has no hydrogen to give, and it resists oxidation better than an aldehyde.
From: standard chemistry.
An O-H on a carbon that is not part of an aromatic ring, the group that makes a molecule an alcohol. It both gives and accepts hydrogen bonds, which helps the molecule mix with water.
From: standard chemistry.
Rings joined where they share atoms, or a single ring standing alone. Atoms in a ring are held in place, so this part keeps its shape while chains around it can bend.
From: standard chemistry.
Sources and notes
- The drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKitThe page's one shipped drawing, with the chosen part lit in amber under it.
- The partscomputedFound by ruleEach part is found by a chemical pattern, never picked by hand atom by atom; its words say where they come from.
Compare a related molecule
Prednisone
Dexamethasone
Three differences: dexamethasone has a hydroxyl where prednisone has a ketone, plus a methyl and a fluorine.
Dexamethasone is several times more potent than prednisone, lasts far longer and needs no liver activation, while prednisone holds more sodium and water.
Prednisone vs Dexamethasone, side by sideSources and notes
- The sentencefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKitDrawn the same way round; the amber marks where the two differ.
- The captionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
Properties and sources
Calculated by PubChem
- Molecular formula
- C21H26O5
- Molecular weight
- 358.4 g/mol
- XLogP3octanol/water, log units
- 1.5
- Polar surface areatopological
- 91.7 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 2
- H-bond acceptors
- 5
- Rotatable bonds
- 2
- Complexity
- 764
Measured LD50, HSDB via PubChem
101 mg/kg pure prednisone, mouse, another route
An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person.
Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA, HSDB via PubChem
Danger Health hazard pictogram (GHS08); hazard statements H360, H361, H372, H373
Reported Licence
The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Prednisone for human use (ANDA 080356, authorized January 17, 1972). Drugs@FDA
Groups it belongs to
- Category
- Prescription medicine
- Family
- Corticosteroids
- Hazard classes
- Health hazard, GHS Danger
C[C@]12CC(=O)[C@H]3[C@H]([C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(C(=O)CO)O)CCC4=CC(=O)C=C[C@]34CPubChem CID 5865 · Wikidata Q424972 · InChIKey XOFYZVNMUHMLCC-ZPOLXVRWSA-N · Data refreshed
Questions
- What is Prednisone?
- A corticosteroid taken by mouth for inflammation, asthma flares, autoimmune disease and allergic reactions. The liver converts it into prednisolone before it works.
- How toxic is Prednisone?
- The reported LD50 of Prednisone is 101 mg/kg (mouse, other). An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person. Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Danger and the hazard pictogram Health hazard. from sourcefrom source
- What kind of molecule is Prednisone?
- Prednisone has the formula C21H26O5 and a molecular weight of 358.4 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under corticosteroids, in the prescription medicine group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
- What else is Prednisone called?
- Prednisone is also called Dehydrocortisone. from source
- Who licenses Prednisone as a medicine?
- The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Prednisone for human use (ANDA 080356, authorized January 17, 1972). from source
Sources and notes
- Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
- LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChemOther values the sources report: mouse, another route, 135 mg/kg; mouse, another route, 600 mg/kg. The page shows the one LD50 the site uses everywhere.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA, HSDB via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Licencefrom sourceDrugs@FDARead 2026-10-21.
- Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09
Keep exploring
More related molecules
- Budesonide Also a corticosteroid
- Triamcinolone Also a corticosteroid
- Betamethasone Also a corticosteroid
- Cortisol Both carry an alcohol and a ketone group.
Sources and notes
- A group apartfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison captions
- The same kind of moleculefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated groupsA structural neighbour in the same family or type group; the line names the group in its own words.
- Similar in shapecomputedRDKit Morgan/TanimotoNeighbours by structural fingerprint; the sentence names the chemical groups the two share.
- The drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKit