Lodotra is a modified-release form of prednisone. When compared to standard immediate-release prednisone, rheumatoid arthritis patients were found to experience less morning stiffness. Night-time levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 are elevated in rheumatoid arthritis, causing extreme pain and joint stiffness after waking. It has been previously established that morning stiffness can be helped with prednisone administered at 2 a.m. but that's terrribly inconvenient for most people. Lodotra is an oral medication that releases prednisone from the tablet core about 4 hours after it is taken. Taking Lodotra at 10 p.m. would result in release of the medication at 2 a.m. -- more effective in treating morning stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis, researchers claim.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis: 10 Things You Should Know
• Free E-Course Newsletter: Rheumatoid Arthritis 101
• Advice for Patients With Long-term Rheumatoid Arthritis

According to the January 19th issue of The Lancet, 288 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were evaluated in a 12-week study that compared modified-release with immediate-release prednisone.

• After 12 weeks, patients taking the modified-release prednisone experienced 44 minutes less morning stiffness than at the beginning of the study -- 29.2 minutes less than those taking the standard version.
• A 12-month study reported at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology also yielded positive results with patients having 50 percent less morning stiffness.

Lodotra successfully completed Phase III trials in Europe in 2006 and marketing approval was requested in 15 European countries. In the United States, Lodotra is in development. A second phase III study planned for the second quarter of 2008 will include about 300 patients in the United States and Europe.

More Related Resources:

• The Facts of Corticosteroids
• The Prednisone Quiz: Is it True or False?
• Video: How Corticosteroid Drugs Work
• Why Prednisone Must Not Be Stopped Suddenly
• 10 Things You Should Know About Prednisone
• Long-term Prednisone Use: What Are the Benefits v. Risks?

Join the Discussion:

• Join Us in Our Arthritis Forum / Message Board

_{Photo © Photodisc / Sheer Photo, Inc / Getty Images}