Methylprednisolone
Methylprednisolone, steroid drug used in the treatment of various inflammatory and allergic disorders. It reduces swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions by blocking some of the body’s normal immune system defenses. It is most commonly used to manage serious skin disorders such as dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis; and to treat asthma; inflammation of the small intestine (enteritis); multiple sclerosis; lupus erythematous; ulcerative colitis; and major rheumatic disorders like bursitis, tendinitis, and most forms of arthritis. It is also used to treat anemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), bone cysts in children, croup, and severe vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
This drug is available by prescription only. It comes in a tablet, an injectable liquid, an ointment, and an enema. For tablets, the usual adult dosage is 4 to 48 mg daily, taken orally as a single dose or in divided doses; a reduced tablet dosage is prescribed for children and may be prescribed for adults over the age of 60. The usual adult dosage for injections into a muscle or joint is 10 to 120 mg at intervals ranging from once a week to once every four weeks; the injection dosage for children is prescribed according to body weight. The usual adult dosage for enemas is 40 mg three to seven times per week, preferably right after a bowel movement; the enema dosage for children is determined individually by a physician. The effect of methylprednisolone should be felt in two to four days. For acute disorders, it is usually taken for four to ten days. For chronic disorders, this drug should be taken only as long as needed to stabilize the chronic condition and permit a gradual withdrawal.
Methylprednisolone can be taken with food or milk to prevent stomach irritation. It should not be used by persons who have had an allergic reaction to it in the past or by pregnant or breast-feeding women. It should also be avoided by persons with active tuberculosis, peptic ulcer disease, eye infections caused by the herpes simplex virus, or recent surgical joining of two bowel segments. It should be used with caution by persons with reduced kidney function and people over the age of 60. Prolonged use in infants and children should be avoided. Methylprednisolone should be discontinued 72 hours before vaccination against measles, rabies, smallpox, or yellow fever and should not be resumed for at least 14 days after vaccination. This drug should not be stopped abruptly after long-term treatment but should be tapered off in decreasing dosages.
Common side effects of methylprednisolone include increased appetite, weight gain, retention of salt and water, and elimination of potassium in the urine. Prolonged use of the oral form is associated with serious side effects such as mood alterations, increased blood sugar, possible diabetes, osteoporosis (loss of bone strength), hypertension (high blood pressure), arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat), peptic ulcer, cataracts, glaucoma, reactivation of latent tuberculosis, retarded growth and development in children, and increased susceptibility to infection.
Methylprednisolone may interact adversely with certain drugs including amphotericin B; antacids; antihypertensive (high blood pressure) drugs; aspirin; barbiturates ; carbamazepine; cyclosporine; digoxin; ephedrine; drugs containing estrogen; insulin; ketoconazole; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, and naproxen; oral anticoagulants (blood thinners); oral antidiabetic drugs; oral contraceptives (birth control pills); phenytoin; and certain vaccines. Heavy smoking may add to the effects of methylprednisolone, and drinking alcoholic beverages can increase the risk of peptic ulcers in persons taking this drug orally.
Brand Names:Duralone, Medrol, Meprolone
This drug is available by prescription only. It comes in a tablet, an injectable liquid, an ointment, and an enema. For tablets, the usual adult dosage is 4 to 48 mg daily, taken orally as a single dose or in divided doses; a reduced tablet dosage is prescribed for children and may be prescribed for adults over the age of 60. The usual adult dosage for injections into a muscle or joint is 10 to 120 mg at intervals ranging from once a week to once every four weeks; the injection dosage for children is prescribed according to body weight. The usual adult dosage for enemas is 40 mg three to seven times per week, preferably right after a bowel movement; the enema dosage for children is determined individually by a physician. The effect of methylprednisolone should be felt in two to four days. For acute disorders, it is usually taken for four to ten days. For chronic disorders, this drug should be taken only as long as needed to stabilize the chronic condition and permit a gradual withdrawal.
Methylprednisolone can be taken with food or milk to prevent stomach irritation. It should not be used by persons who have had an allergic reaction to it in the past or by pregnant or breast-feeding women. It should also be avoided by persons with active tuberculosis, peptic ulcer disease, eye infections caused by the herpes simplex virus, or recent surgical joining of two bowel segments. It should be used with caution by persons with reduced kidney function and people over the age of 60. Prolonged use in infants and children should be avoided. Methylprednisolone should be discontinued 72 hours before vaccination against measles, rabies, smallpox, or yellow fever and should not be resumed for at least 14 days after vaccination. This drug should not be stopped abruptly after long-term treatment but should be tapered off in decreasing dosages.
Common side effects of methylprednisolone include increased appetite, weight gain, retention of salt and water, and elimination of potassium in the urine. Prolonged use of the oral form is associated with serious side effects such as mood alterations, increased blood sugar, possible diabetes, osteoporosis (loss of bone strength), hypertension (high blood pressure), arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat), peptic ulcer, cataracts, glaucoma, reactivation of latent tuberculosis, retarded growth and development in children, and increased susceptibility to infection.
Methylprednisolone may interact adversely with certain drugs including amphotericin B; antacids; antihypertensive (high blood pressure) drugs; aspirin; barbiturates ; carbamazepine; cyclosporine; digoxin; ephedrine; drugs containing estrogen; insulin; ketoconazole; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, and naproxen; oral anticoagulants (blood thinners); oral antidiabetic drugs; oral contraceptives (birth control pills); phenytoin; and certain vaccines. Heavy smoking may add to the effects of methylprednisolone, and drinking alcoholic beverages can increase the risk of peptic ulcers in persons taking this drug orally.
Brand Names:Duralone, Medrol, Meprolone
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