Prednisone and Dexamethasone belong to which class of medications?

• A. Antineoplastics
• B. Antibiotics
• C. Antivirals
• D. Glucocorticoids

Answer: (D)

Prednisone and dexamethasone are glucocorticoids, a type of corticosteroid focused on dampening inflammation and immune activity. They bind the glucocorticoid receptor inside cells and influence gene expression to reduce inflammatory mediators like cytokines, limit leukocyte trafficking, and stabilize cellular processes that contribute to inflammation. This makes them powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents useful in asthma, autoimmune diseases, severe allergic reactions, and reducing cerebral edema, among others. Prednisone is a prodrug that is converted in the liver to its active form, prednisolone, while dexamethasone is active and often more potent with a longer duration of action. They are not antibiotics, antivirals, or antineoplastic drugs; instead, their role is to modulate the immune response, either alone or as part of combination therapy. Long-term use can cause hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, and suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.