§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of (i) afflictions for which the steroid Prednisolone is prescribed, (ii) the side-effects which have been recorded and (iii) the alternative treatments there are for such conditions; and if he will make a statement. [9647]
§ Mr. MalonePrednisolone is a corticosteroid licensed for more than 70 specific indications which are serious or life threatening, such as asthma, malignant diseases, and arthritic disorders.
The side effects of Prednisolone are well known and documented in product information for doctors and patients and in the British National Formulary, copies of which are available in the Library.
Other treatments are available for many of the diseases for which Prednisolone is indicated. These are not usually alternatives, but are used to treat symptoms rather than modify the disease process.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people(a) have been prescribed and (b) have taken the steroid Prednisolone in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [9646]
§ Mr. MaloneIt is not possible to identify the number of people who were prescribed Prednisolone.