This article is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or use the medication guide.

Methylprednisolone information

What is Methylprednisolone?

Methylprednisolone belongs to a category of medications known as corticosteroids. This drug is used to prevent the body from releasing substances that lead to symptoms of inflammation, including itching, redness, swelling, and allergic reactions.

Methylpred is a multipurpose drug that is used to treat different conditions. These include lupus, arthritis, psoriasis, allergic disorders, and endocrine disorders, among others.

Methylprednisolone is a generic drug that is only available for prescription. It comes in other brand names, including

• Medrol
• Medrol Dosepak
• Methylpred-DP
• Depo-Medro
• Solu-Medro
• A-Methapred

Available forms of Methylprednisolone

Methylpred comes in different forms and strengths

• Methylprednisolone 4 mg tablets in a dose pack. It’s also available in other strengths 2mg, 6mg, 8mg, 16mg, 24mg, and 32mg.
• Methylprednisolone injectable solution

Proper Use- Methylprednisolone How to Take

The correct way of administering Methylpred depends on what version you’re using. If you’re using Methylprednisolone injectable solution, the doctor will inject it into your muscle (intramuscularly) or a vein (intravenously).

For the tablet, the doctor will determine the right dosage depending on several factors, such as your weight, height, the severity of symptoms, and other health problems.

As with other drugs, Methylprednisolone should be taken with strict adherence to the doctor’s instructions. Your doctor will determine the correct dosage and length of use depending on your exact condition and your body’s response to the medication.

If you’ve been taking a high dosage of this drug for a long time, you may experience Methylprednisolone withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it abruptly. For that reason, you should contact your doctor for guidance. Usually, the doctor will guide you on how to lower the dosage gradually until it’s safe to stop the medication.

You may take Methylprednisolone before or after eating. If you’re not taking the dosage every day, you might want to set a reminder to ensure that you follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter.

Dosing (Methylprednisolone directions)

The doctor will tailor the dosage to your condition, weight, and height. Follow the instructions keenly and don’t increase or decrease the dosage unless your doctor advises you to do so. A medical practitioner may prescribe a different dosage for different patients judging from the factors mentioned above. You should never use another patient’s instructions to self-medicate with Methylprednisolone.

Methylpred tablets/pills come in different strengths. The number of tablets to take each day and the time between the dosages will highly depend on their strength and how you’re responding to the medication. However, any adjustments on dosage and timing should only be as directed by the doctor.

When using Methylprednisolone injectable solution to treat asthmaticus;

Adults

• 40-80 mg/day given in 2 equal doses

Infants, children, and adolescents

• 2 mg/kg followed by 0.5 mg/kg/dose every 6 hours

When using Methylprednisolone in tablet form;

• Adults- 4-8 mg per day
• Children- Dosage for children is determined by the doctor depending on the condition being treated and the weight and age of the child.

Missed dose

For a methylprednisolone missed dose, take the dosage as soon as you remember throughout the day. However, if it’s close to that day’s next dosage, skip the forgotten dose and wait for the next one.

Uses- What does Methylprednisolone treat?

Methylpred is a type of corticosteroid drug. Corticosteroids are hormones that are naturally produced in the body or man-made. The common use of Methylprednisolone (Medrol generic) is to lower symptoms of inflammation in the body. Worth pointing out, this is a multifunctional drug, and different medical experts will prescribe it for various uses.

Allergic conditions that can be managed using Methylpred

• Allergic rhinitis
• Bronchial asthma
• Dermatitis (drug-induced, contact, and atopic)

Inflammatory conditions treatable using Methylprednisolone

• Systematic lupus erythematosus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Acute gouty arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Crohn’s disease

Note: Methylprednisolone has a lot of other uses other than these. Medical experts may choose to use it for other purposes that they deem fit.

Before using

Before using Methylprednisolone, here are a few critical things that you need to understand;

Allergies

Methylprednisolone allergic reaction is rare. However, there are cases where it has caused immediate hypersensitivity reactions whose symptoms include;

• Difficulty breathing
• Hive
• Severe swelling on the face, tongue, and throat

In case you observe any of these symptoms, seek medical care immediately.

Methylprednisolone Interactions

Methylprednisolone is known to interact with a myriad of other prescription and non-prescription drugs. When used concurrently, these medications may alter how Methylprednisolone works or increase its possible side effects.

For that reason, consider making a list of all other medicines that you’re taking and present it to your doctor or pharmacist. He/she will offer proper directions on the best way forward. Importantly, do not start or stop any medication before consulting your doctor.

Medications with the potential to interact with Methylprednisolone include;

• Aldesleukin
• Ibuprofen
• Aspirin
• Celecoxib
• Mifepristone
• Boceprevir
• Estrogen
• Salicylate
• Ritonavir (HIV protease inhibitor)
• Cyclosporine

This list is not exhaustive. If you have a question about any other drug not listed here, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Special conditions

• Methylprednisolone pregnancy- there’s no conclusive evidence on whether Methylprednisolone may harm an unborn baby. If you’re pregnant or planning to conceive while taking this drug, seek your doctor’s advice first. He/she will weigh the benefits against any possible risks and give proper guidance.

• Methylprednisolone and breastfeeding- research studies show that small amounts of Methylprednisolone get into breastmilk. However, there were no adverse effects in breastfed infants. Doses of up to 40 mg per day are considered safe to use during breastfeeding. However, adrenal suppression may occur if the dosage is higher than this.

• Pediatric- Methylprednisolone is safe for use in children and teens, provided you follow your doctor’s instructions. Worth mentioning, this drug is known to reduce the growth rate among children. Consult your doctor immediately if you notice any issues with growth.

Methylprednisolone warnings

• This drug interacts with lots of other medications. Please make a list of different medicines that you’re on and present it to your doctor for guidance.

• This is a category C medication. Pregnant patients should take it only if the benefits surpass the risks.

• Don’t receive any ‘live’ vaccinations while taking this drug. Consult your doctor first.

• Do not try to conceive when taking Methylprednisolone (men and women). Ask your doctor about when it’s safe to do so after stopping the medication.

• This drug may cause withdrawal symptoms if the administration is stopped immediately. Discuss with your doctor on how to cease consumption gradually.

Methylprednisolone Side Effects

Your doctor will prescribe Methylprednisolone 4mg Dosepak or injection only after accessing that the benefits outweigh the risk. As such, the side effects are often not severe.

Less severe Methylprednisolone side effects

• Increased sweating
• Headache
• Dizzine
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Bloating
• Acne
• Dry skin
• Bruising
• Wounds taking longer to heal
• Insomnia
• Mood change

Rare side effects

• Blurred vision
• Wounds not healing
• Shortness of breathing
• Bloody/tarry stool
• Seizures/convulsion
• Unusual pain around the arm or leg

This list does not exhaust all the side effects of Methylpred. Consult your doctor immediately in case of anything unusual.

Proper storage of Methylprednisolone

Methylprednisolone (Medrol generic) medications don’t require any special storage temperatures. However, they should be stored in a cool, dry place away from children, direct sunlight, and heat. Take this medication only for the length of time directed by the doctor. Consult your doctor/pharmacist on how to dispose of any unused drug.

Methylprednisolone Price/Cost

The best price for Methylprednisolone medication depends on the strength that you’re getting and where you’re getting it from. The price history for a pack of 21 tablets of Methylprednisolone 4 mg has been around $32 from January to May of this year. Currently, the average cost of this drug is $32-36 without Methylprednisolone coupon. However, with the best coupon of Methylprednisolone, it’s possible to cut this cost by 57%-67%.

Methylprednisolone Mechanism of Action

Methylpred (Medrol generic) is used to treat multiple sclerosis, so it works in different ways to manage inflammatory symptoms. These include inhibiting inflammatory cytokine activity, preventing the successful activation of T cells, and decreasing the spread of immune cells around the central nervous system.