Methylprednisolone Side Effects, Uses, Dosage and Interactions

Are you searching for Methylprednisolone side effects and additional information about it? Methylprednisolone is a prescription medication used to treat many conditions, including low corticosteroid levels (adrenal insufficiency), certain types of arthritis, allergic conditions, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and other diseases affecting the lungs, skin, eyes, kidneys, blood, thyroid, stomach, and intestines.

Methylprednisolone belongs to a group of drugs called corticosteroids, which replace corticosteroids, which the body usually makes or reduce inflammation that could damage the body. This medication comes in tablet form and may be taken with or without food.

This medication also comes in an injectable form to be given by a healthcare professional. General side effects of methylprednisolone include upset stomach, dizziness, and difficulty falling asleep. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how methylprednisolone will affect you.

Uses of Methylprednisolone

Methylprednisolone is a prescription medication used to treat:

• Low corticosteroid levels. Corticosteroids are steroids naturally produced by the body that are required for normal body function.
• arthritis
• allergic reactions
• asthma
• Multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which nerves do not function properly due to inflammation.
• Lupus. Lupus is a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks itself.
• Severe psoriasis. Psoriasis is a disease in which the skin becomes red, irritated, and flaky.
• Certain conditions affect the lungs, skin, eyes, kidneys, blood, thyroid, stomach, and intestines. Methylprednisolone frequently treats diseases of these organs by reducing inflammation.
• some types of cancer such as leukemia (cancer in bone marrow) and lymphoma (cancer of white blood cells)

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Methylprednisolone Side Effects

Serious side effects have been reported. See the “Methylprednisolone Precautions” section.

Common side effects include:

• dizziness
• hypertension
• slow healing
• retention of fluid resulting in swelling
• acne
• electrolyte imbalances
• decreased immune system function
• decreased bone density
• depression
• inappropriate happiness
• nausea
• joint and muscle pain
• blurred vision
• headache
• abnormal distribution of body fat

This is not a whole list of side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Ask your doctor for medical information about side effects. You may communicate side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Methylprednisolone Interactions

Inform your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Restasis, Gengraf)
• phenobarbital (Donnatal)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• aspirin (Ecotrin)

This is not a complete list of methylprednisolone drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How Should I Take Methylprednisolone?

Take methylprednisolone exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller quantities or for longer than recommended.

Methylprednisolone is sometimes taken every other day. Follow your doctor’s dosing instructions very carefully. Your dose needs may change if you have unusual stress such as a severe illness, fever or infection, or surgery or a medical emergency. Inform your doctor about any such situation that affects you.

This medicine can cause unusual results with specific medical tests. Report any doctor who treats you that you are using methylprednisolone. It would be best if you did not stop using this medicine suddenly. Follow your doctor’s instructions about tapering your dose.

Use a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take methylprednisolone. Any medical care supplier who treats you should know that you take steroid medication. If you require surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medicine. You may need to quit using the medicine for a short time. Stocks at room temperature aside from moisture and heat.

Precautions

Your doctor must check your progress at regular visits to ensure this medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it. Blood or urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Applying for this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an efficient form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you presume you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

If you are applying this medicine for a long time, tell your doctor about any extra stress or anxiety, including other health concerns and emotional stress. Your dose of this medicine might need to be changed for a short time while you have extra weight.

Applying too much of this medicine or using it for a long time may increase your risk of having adrenal gland problems. Discuss to your doctor right away if you have more than one of these signs while using this medicine: blurred vision, dizziness or fainting, fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat, increased thirst or urination, irritability, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may produce you to get more infections than usual. Avoid people who are sick or have infections and wash your hands often. If you are exposed to chickenpox or measles, tell your doctor right away. If you start to have a fever, chills, sore throat, or any other sign of an infection, call your doctor immediately.

FAQs

Q: What does methylprednisolone do to your body?

A: It reduces your immune system’s response to various diseases to reduce symptoms such as swelling, pain, and allergic-type reactions. This medication is a corticosteroid hormone. Methylprednisolone may also be used with other drugs in hormone disorders.

Q: How long do side effects of methylprednisolone last?

A; After getting a dose of a Methylprednisolone tablet, it should be out of your system after approximately 13 to 20 hours. Methylprednisolone tablets have an elimination half-life of about 2.5 hours to 3.5 hours. This is the time it uses for the drug levels in your plasma to reduce by half.

Q; Is methylprednisolone a potent steroid?

A: Methylprednisolone and prednisone are corticosteroids that can have a significant impact on the body. They are effective medications for reducing inflammation. Both drugs can produce a range of side effects and complications. Methylprednisolone is more potent than prednisone.

Q: Do I take all six methylprednisolones at once?

A: It’s most useful to take prednisone as a single dose once a day straight after breakfast. For example, if your treatment is 30mg daily, it’s common to take six tablets (6 x 5mg) at the same time after breakfast.

Conclusion

Methylprednisolone (Medrol, Depo-Medrol, Solu-Medrol) is a medication prescribed to patients to suppress inflammation from various conditions and diseases. Side effects, drug interactions, dosage, and pregnancy safety information should be reviewed before taking this medication.