Methylprednisolone
Brand names
- A-Methapred
- Depmedalone-40
- Depmedalone-80
- Depo-Medrol
- Enpak Refill
- Mar-Pred 40
- Medrol
- Medrol Acne Lotion
- Medrol Enpak
- Medrol Veriderm Cream
- Meprolone
- Neo-Medrol Acne Lotion
- Neo-Medrol Veriderm
- Solu-Medrol
Usage
To treat numerous conditions
that involve inflammation
(a response by body tissues,
producing redness, warmth,
swelling, and pain). Such
conditions include arthritis,
allergic reactions,
asthma, some
skin diseases, multiple sclerosis flare-ups, and other
autoimmune diseases. Also
prescribed to treat deficiency
of natural steroid hormones.
How it works
This hormone mimics the
effects of the body's natural
corticosteroids. It depresses
the synthesis, release, and
activity of inflammation-producing body chemicals.
It also suppresses the activity
of the immune system.
Side effects
- Serious
- Vision problems, frequent urination, increased thirst, rectal
bleeding, blistering skin, confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, euphoria,
depression,
mood swings, redness and
swelling at injection site.
- Common
- Increased appetite, indigestion, nervousness,
insomnia,
greater susceptibility to infections, increased
blood
pressure, slowed wound healing, weight gain, easy
bruising,
fluid retention.
- Less common
- Change in skin color, dizziness,
headache, increased
sweating, unusual growth of body or facial hair, increased
blood sugar, peptic ulcers, adrenal insufficiency,
muscle
weakness, cataracts,
glaucoma,
osteoporosis.
Possible interactions
- Other medicaments:
Methylprednisolone may decrease the effects of:
- insulin and require higher doses.
- isoniazid (INH, Niconyl, etc.).
- salicylates (aspirin, sodium salicylate, etc.).
Methylprednisolone taken concurrently with:
- amphotericin B (Fungizone) may increase risk of potassium loss.
- carbamazepine (Tegretol) may blunt methylprednisolone benefits.
- cholestyramine (Questran) may decrease the amount of medicine that is
absorbed into your body.
- clarithromycin (Biaxin) can result in increased methylprednisolone levels
and toxicity.
- cyclosporine (Sandimmune) can result in increased steroid levels and
cyclosporine toxicity.
- ketoconazole (Nizoral) (and other azole antifungals) may increase blood
levels of methylprednisolone and result in toxicity (abnormal heartbeats or
psychiatric reactions).
- loop diuretics, such as furosemide (Lasix) or bumetanide (Bumex), may
result in increased risk of potassium loss.
- NSAIDs may cause increased risk of ulceration of the stomach or intestine.
- oral anticoagulants (warfarin-Coumadin) may either increase or decrease
their effectiveness; consult your physician regarding the need for prothrombin time testing and dose adjustment.
- oral antidiabetic medicaments or insulin may result in loss of
control of blood sugar and require higher doses or more frequent dosing of
oral hypoglycemics or insulin in order to control blood sugar.
- primidone (Mysoline) may lead to increased metabolism of
methylprednisolone and decreased therapeutic benefits of methylprednisolone.
- quinupristin/dalfopristin (Synercid) can result in increased steroid levels
and toxicity.
- rifampin (Rifadin, others) may lead to increased metabolism of methylprednisolone and decreased therapeutic benefits of methylprednisolone.
- ritonavir (Norvir) and perhaps other protease inhibitors
may change therapeutic benefits of methylprednisolone.
- tacrolimus (Prograf) can result in increased tacrolimus levels and
tacrolimus toxicity.
- theophylline (Theo-Dur) results in variable changes in blood levels; more
frequent theophylline blood levels are indicated.
- thiazide diuretics can result in additive potassium loss.
- vaccines (such as flu or pneumococcal) may result in a blunting of the
immune response to the vaccine.
The following medicaments may decrease the effects of methylprednisolone:
- antacids-may reduce its absorption.
- barbiturates (Amytal, Butisol, phenobarbital, etc.).
- phenytoin (Dilantin, etc.) or fosphenytoin (Cerebyx).
- rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, etc.).
- Herbal medicines or minerals:
- Fir or
pine needle oil should not be used by
asthmatics. Ephedra alone does carry a German Commission E monograph
indication for asthma treatment. If you are allergic to plants in the Asteraceae family (aster,
chrysanthemum, daisy or ragweed), you may also be
allergic to Echinacea,
chamomile,
feverfew and
St. John's wort. Added
calcium
and vitamin D while taking this medicine is prudent. During wound repair,
zinc
supplementation may be prudent. Talk to your doctor before
adding any herbals to this medicine.
- Tobacco smoking:
- Nicotine increases the blood levels of naturally produced cortisone and
related hormones.
- Marijuana smoking:
- May cause additional impairment of immunity.
- Occurrence of unrelated illness:
- Decreases resistance to infection.
Tell your doctor if you get an infection of any kind. May also reduce ability to respond
to stress of acute illness, injury or surgery. Tell your doctor about any
significant changes in your state of health.
- Discontinuation:
- After extended use of this medicament, do not stop it abruptly. Ask
your doctor for help regarding slow withdrawal. For 2 years after stopping
this medicament, it is essential that you tell medical personnel that you have used
this medicament if you get sick, are injured or have surgery. Impaired response to
stress after taking cortisonelike medicaments may last for 1 to 2 years.
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