VETERINARY TEAM REFERENCE

DEA & state schedules

Scheduling applies to the medication, not to the patient. This independent reference is not affiliated with the DEA.

Prednisone

FEDERAL STATUS

Not federally scheduled

The identified ingredients in this entry are not listed in the reviewed federal schedules. Prescription-only status, product restrictions and state law are separate questions.

Federal source ↗

State / prescribing or dispensing jurisdiction

STATE STATUS

Select a jurisdiction

Choose the state relevant to prescribing or dispensing. Patient residence alone may not determine every applicable rule.

What each federal schedule means

Highlighted rows match the verified federal or selected state schedule. The schedule describes legal control and abuse potential; it does not rank clinical usefulness or establish a dose.

Federal Schedules I–V: meaning and practice implications
Schedule	Meaning and practice
I	High abuse potential; no currently accepted medical use in U.S. treatment; lacks accepted safety under medical supervision. In practice: Not available for routine veterinary prescribing. Authorized research is a separate pathway.
II	High abuse potential; accepted medical use, sometimes with severe restrictions; abuse can cause severe dependence. In practice: No prescription refills under federal law. Strict prescribing, security and record requirements apply.
III	Less abuse potential than I or II; accepted medical use; abuse can cause moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence. In practice: Federal prescriptions allow up to five authorized refills within six months. State rules may be stricter.
IV	Lower abuse potential than III; accepted medical use; limited dependence risk relative to III. In practice: The same federal five-refill / six-month prescription limit applies. Controlled-drug handling still applies.
V	Lower abuse potential than IV; accepted medical use; limited dependence risk relative to IV. In practice: Still controlled. Check authorized refills and state limits; do not automatically apply the III–IV refill rule.

What this means for the chart

For a controlled medication, confirm the prescriber’s authority for the applicable schedule, the exact formulation and quantity, authorized refills, secure handling, and required inventory / dispensing records. Check the state’s veterinary rules and any prescription monitoring program (PDMP) requirements or exemptions.

A PDMP reporting requirement does not by itself make a drug scheduled. “Not federally scheduled” does not mean over the counter, risk-free, or exempt from state law. States may use additional categories, such as Schedule VI, outside the federal I–V system.

← Medication & Supplement Reference

VETERINARY TEAM REFERENCE · MEDICATION

Prednisone

Prednisone is a glucocorticoid that changes inflammatory and immune responses. Deltasone is a human oral brand-name reference; a veterinary plan depends on species, diagnosis, treatment duration and patient risks.

Systemic glucocorticoidProduct-specific clinical reference

Updated October 16, 2026 · Sources and review status below

For veterinarians and veterinary staff. Product-label information is distinct from extra-label clinical practice. This is not a complete prescribing formulary or an automated interaction screen. Verify the current label, exact formulation, patient and species-specific clinical reference before use. Independent veterinary/pharmacy review remains pending.

Prescribing overview

Deltasone is a human prednisone tablet; veterinary use requires an indication-specific plan.

Key prescribing checks

Review infection, endocrine disease and concurrent medications before prescribing. Corticosteroids can suppress immune defenses and obscure signs of infection; the human label contraindicates systemic fungal infection.
Prolonged exposure can suppress the adrenal response. Do not abruptly stop a continuing course without the prescriber’s assessment and an individualized withdrawal plan.
Monitor tolerance and the original disease while balancing the desired anti-inflammatory or immune effect against adverse effects. Reconcile other steroids and therapies before a medication transition; a familiar brand name is not a substitute for checking the actual drug and formulation.

Uses by species

Approval and evidence apply to the named product, species, route and indication. An extra-label use requires its own prescribing assessment; a human indication is not an animal approval.

Dogs and cats

Extra-label

Veterinarian-selected inflammatory or immune-mediated disease

Human indications do not establish veterinary approval or dose.

Use / indication source ↗

Pharmacology & pharmacokinetics

Mechanism and clinical role

Synthetic adrenocortical steroid modifies inflammatory, immune and metabolic responses.

Absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination

Animal-specific pharmacokinetic parameters were not established by the reviewed label.

SAFETY REFERENCE · PRODUCT & SPECIES SPECIFIC

Contraindications & cautions

Contraindications identify circumstances where the source says a product should not be used. Precautions call for assessment or monitoring. Interactions identify combinations to review. They are distinct categories; this summary does not replace a full interaction check or the current product label.

Deltasone

Human prednisone tablets; veterinary use is extra-label.

Contraindications · when not to use

Systemic fungal infection; allergy to product ingredients.

Precautions & monitoring

Infection may worsen or be masked; use caution with ulcer disease, renal insufficiency and hypertension. Continuing therapy can suppress adrenal function.

Safety sources checked: October 16, 2026. Selected label information; independent veterinary or veterinary-pharmacy review remains pending. A label for dogs, cats, horses or humans does not establish safety for another species.

Adverse effects

Infection, adrenal suppression, fluid/metabolic disturbances and gastrointestinal ulceration are concerns.

These are selected source-reported effects, not incidence estimates or an exhaustive list. Spontaneous postmarketing reports do not by themselves establish frequency or causality.

Dosing & administration

Verify the source before prescribing. The regimens below summarize selected veterinary product labels, not every accepted veterinary use. They are not automatic substitutions between brands or formulations. Renal/hepatic disease, concurrent therapy, age, indication and clinical response can require a different plan.

A verified veterinary dose has not been entered for this product. Human-label dosing must not be used as an animal regimen. Consult a current species-specific clinical source and the prescribing veterinarian.

A veterinary dose was not verified; clinical indication determines the dose and taper.

Extra-label prescribing and food-animal residue requirements are separate from labeled regimens. FDA extra-label-use guidance ↗

Drug & supplement interactions

This is a selected interaction reference, not an automated or comprehensive combination checker. Reconcile prescription drugs, nonprescription products, supplements and recent treatment changes.

Deltasone

Human prednisone tablets; veterinary use is extra-label.

Live vaccines are contraindicated during immunosuppressive therapy. Enzyme modifiers, aspirin and oral anticoagulants require review.

Interaction source ↗

Monitoring

Review infection risk, weight, glucose, blood pressure and treatment duration.

Client counseling

Do not stop prolonged therapy without instructions; disclose NSAIDs, vaccines and other medicines.

This section supports the veterinary team's discharge discussion; it does not replace the product’s Client Information Sheet where one is required.

Storage & handling

Keep tablets securely and follow the dispensed label.

Brands, formulations & ingredient identity

Active ingredients

Prednisone

Prednisone and prednisolone are related but different active drugs. They should have separate lookup records rather than being presented as brand synonyms.

Deltasone identifies prednisone tablets under a human label. A human product’s indication, tablet strength or taper instructions do not establish an appropriate veterinary regimen.

Shared ingredients do not establish interchangeable concentrations, routes, release properties, species labeling or regional availability.

Deltasone

Formulation: Oral tablets
Label / product scope: Human product

Human prednisone brand; veterinary use requires a separate prescribing decision.

Product label / source ↗

References & review status

Clinical reference updated October 16, 2026. Independent veterinary or veterinary-pharmacy review not yet completed. Evidence gaps remain explicitly identified; this page does not claim equivalence to a comprehensive, professionally reviewed veterinary formulary.

01Official prescribing information ↗

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Prescribing overview

Key prescribing checks

Uses by species

Dogs and cats

Pharmacology & pharmacokinetics

Mechanism and clinical role

Absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination

Contraindications & cautions

Contraindications · when not to use

Precautions & monitoring

Adverse effects

Dosing & administration

Drug & supplement interactions

Deltasone

Monitoring

Client counseling

Storage & handling

Brands, formulations & ingredient identity

Active ingredients

Deltasone

References & review status

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