General Information and Indications:
Methylprednisolone, a corticosteroid, is
similar to a natural hormone produced by your adrenal glands. It is often
used to replace this chemical when your body does not make enough of it. It
relieves inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, and pain) and is used to
treat certain forms of arthritis; skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid, and
intestinal disorders (e.g., colitis); severe allergies; and asthma.
Methylprednisolone is also used to treat certain types of cancer.
Information For Users:
Methylprednisolone comes as a tablet to take by mouth.
Your doctor will prescribe a dosing schedule that is best for you. Follow
the directions on your prescription label, ask your doctor or pharmacist If
you have any questions. Take methylprednisolone exactly as directed. Do not
take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your health
care provider.
Do not discontinue taking methylprednisolone without informing your doctor.
Stopping the drug abruptly can cause loss of appetite (anorexia), upset
stomach, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, headache, fever, joint and muscle
pain, peeling skin, and weight loss. If you take large doses for a long
time, your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually to allow your
body to adjust before stopping the drug completely. Watch for these side
effects if you are gradually decreasing your dose and after you stop taking
the tablets. If these problems occur, call your doctor without delay. You
may need to increase your dose of tablets temporarily or start taking them
again.
special precautions:
o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have
allergy to methylprednisolone, aspirin, tartrazine (a yellow dye in some
processed foods and drugs), or any other medications.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription
medications you are taking, especially anticoagulants ('blood thinners')
such as warfarin (Coumadin), arthritis medications, aspirin, azithromycin (Zithromax),
clarithromycin (Biaxin), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxin),
diuretics ('water pills'), erythromycin, estrogen (Premarin), ketoconazole (Nizoral),
oral contraceptives, phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin (Rifadin),
theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins.
o if you have a fungal infection (other than on your skin), do not take
methylprednisolone without informing your doctor.
o inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding liver, kidney, intestinal, or
heart disease; diabetes; an underactive thyroid gland; high blood pressure;
mental illness; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection;
seizures; tuberculosis (TB); or ulcers.
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are
breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking methylprednisolone, call
your doctor.
o if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, Inform your doctor or
dentist that you are taking methylprednisolone.
o if you have a history of ulcers or take large doses of aspirin or other
arthritis medication, limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages while
taking this drug. Methylprednisolone makes your stomach and intestines more
susceptible to the irritating effects of alcohol, aspirin, and certain
arthritis medications. This effect increases your risk of ulcers.
Possible Adverse
Effects:
Though adverse effects of methylprednisolone
are not common, they could occur. Inform your doctor if any of the following
symptoms are severe or do not go away:
o upset stomach
o stomach irritation
o vomiting
o headache
o dizziness
o insomnia (sleeplessness)
o restlessness
o depression
o anxiety
o acne
o increased hair growth
o easy bruising
o irregular or absent menstrual periods
If you have any of the following symptoms, call your doctor without delay:
o skin rash
o swollen face, lower legs, or ankles
o vision problems
o cold or infection that lasts a long time
o muscle weakness
o black or tarry stool
Brand Name(s):
o A-methaPred®
o A-methaPred® ADD-Vantage®
o Depo-Medrol®
o Medrol®
o Medrol® Dosepak®
o Meprolone® Unipak® |
