methylprednisolone

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A glucocorticoid used therapeutically primarily as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Brand names: A-Methapred®, Cortimed™, Depmedalone™, Depo-Medrol®, Medralone®, Medrol®, Methacort™, Pri-Methylate™, Sano Drol™, Solu-Medrol®

Chemical formula:

Drug Forms:
• Methylprednisolone Oral tablet (below)
• Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate Solution for injection
• Methylprednisolone Acetate Suspension for injection

Español:
• Metilprednisolona, Tableta oral
• Metilprednisolona Succinato Sódico, Solución para inyección
• Acetato de metilprednisolona, Suspensión para inyección

Methylprednisolone Oral tablet

What is this medicine?

METHYLPREDNISOLONE is a corticosteroid. It is commonly used to treat inflammation of the skin, joints, lungs, and other organs. Common conditions treated include asthma, allergies, and arthritis. It is also used for other conditions, such as blood disorders and diseases of the adrenal glands.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
• Cushing's syndrome
• diabetes
• glaucoma
• heart problems or disease
• high blood pressure
• infection such as herpes, measles, tuberculosis, or chickenpox
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• mental problems
• myasthenia gravis
• osteoporosis
• seizures
• stomach ulcer or intestine disease including colitis and diverticulitis
• thyroid problem
• an unusual or allergic reaction to lactose, methylprednisolone, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth with a drink of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take it with food or milk to avoid stomach upset. If you are taking this medicine once a day, take it in the morning. Do not take more medicine than you are told to take. Do not suddenly stop taking your medicine because you may develop a severe reaction. Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to take. If your doctor wants you to stop the medicine, the dose may be slowly lowered over time to avoid any side effects.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
• mifepristone
• radiopaque contrast agents

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
• tacrolimus
• vaccines
• warfarin

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. If you are taking this medicine for a long time, carry an identification card with your name and address, the type and dose of your medicine, and your doctor's name and address.

The medicine may increase your risk of getting an infection. Stay away from people who are sick. Tell your doctor or health care professional if you are around anyone with measles or chickenpox.

If you are going to have surgery, tell your doctor or health care professional that you have taken this medicine within the last twelve months.

Ask your doctor or health care professional about your diet. You may need to lower the amount of salt you eat.

The medicine can increase your blood sugar. If you are a diabetic check with your doctor if you need help adjusting the dose of your diabetic medicine.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• eye pain, decreased or blurred vision, or bulging eyes
• fever, sore throat, sneezing, cough, or other signs of infection, wounds that will not heal
• increased thirst
• mental depression, mood swings, mistaken feelings of self importance or of being mistreated
• pain in hips, back, ribs, arms, shoulders, or legs
• swelling of the ankles, feet, hands
• trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
• confusion, excitement, restlessness
• headache
• nausea, vomiting
• skin problems, acne, thin and shiny skin
• weight gain

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Last updated: 5/21/2004 10:31:00 AM

Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.

An anti-inflammatory steroid administered to children and adolescents to relieve the pain induced by sickle cell anemia.

A glucocorticoid with anti-inflammatory action similar to that of prednisolone. The acetate is often prepared in long-acting forms while the water-soluble, rapid-acting succinate is suitable for intravenous administration and is used in the treatment of shock.

• m.-21-dimethylaminoacetate — a long-acting glucocorticoid, used in the treatment of dermatoses and allergic conditions.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2007)

Methylprednisolone
Systematic (IUPAC) name
(1S,2R,8S,10S,11S,14R,15S,17S)-14,17-dihydroxy-14-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-2,8,15-trimethyltetracyclo[8.7.0.02,7.011,15]heptadeca-3,6-dien-5-one
Identifiers
CAS number	83-43-2
ATC code	D07AA01 D07AC14, D10AA02, H02AB04
PubChem	6741
DrugBank	APRD00342
ChemSpider	6485
Chemical data
Formula	C22H30O5
Mol. mass	374.471 g/mol
Synonyms	(6α, 11β)-11,17,21-trihydroxy-6-methyl-pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Protein binding	78%
Metabolism	liver primarily, kidney, tissues; CYP450: 3A4 substrate
Half life	urine; Half-life: 18-26h (biological)
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	C
Legal status	POM(UK) ℞-only(US)
Routes	IV, IM, IV Infusion, oral

Methylprednisolone is a synthetic glucocorticoid drug. It is sold in the USA and Canada under the brand names Phocenta, Medrol, Solu-Medrol and Cadista.^[1] It is also available as a generic drug.

It is a variant of prednisolone, methylated at carbon 6 of the B ring.

Contents 1 Uses 2 Side effects 3 Additional images 4 References

Uses

Like most adrenocortical steroids, methylprednisolone is typically used for its anti-inflammatory effects. However, glucocorticoids have a wide range of effects, including changes to metabolism and immune responses. The list of medical conditions for which methlyprednisolone is prescribed is rather long, and is similar to other corticosteroids such as prednisolone. Common uses include arthritis therapy and short-term treatment of bronchial inflammation or acute bronchitis due to various respiratory diseases. It is used both in the treatment of acute periods and long-term management of autoimmune diseases, most notably Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Methlyprednisolone is also prescribed for non-penetrating spinal cord injuries. It has been proven that a dose of 30 mg/kg IV followed by IV drip at 5.4 mg / kg / hr for 23 hours improves sensory and motor recovery if given within 8 hours of the injury.

It is also used for vestibular neuritis.^[2]

Side effects

Methylprednisolone has serious side effects if taken long-term, including weight gain, glaucoma, osteoporosis and psychosis, especially when used at high dosage. The most serious side effect occurs after the adrenal glands cease natural production of cortisone, which methylprednisolone will replace. Abrupt cessation of the drug after this occurs can result in a condition known as Addisonian crisis, which can be fatal. To prevent this, the drug is usually prescribed with a tapering dosage, including a pre-dosed "dose pack" detailing a specific number of pills to take at designated times over a few-day period.

Additional images

Methylprednisolone

References

1. ^ National Center for Biotechnology Information - PUBCHEM
2. ^ Strupp M, Zingler VC, Arbusow V, et al. (July 2004). "Methylprednisolone, valacyclovir, or the combination for vestibular neuritis". N. Engl. J. Med. 351 (4): 354–61. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa033280. PMID 15269315. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=short&pmid=15269315&promo=ONFLNS19. 

v • d • e Corticosteroids - glucocorticoid/receptor and mineralocorticoid/receptor (A07EA, C05AA, D07, D10AA, H02, R01AD, R03BA, S01BA, S02B, and S03B) (Endogenous in CAPS) Mineralocorticoids (3-one, 4-ene, no FG at 16) Pregnenedione: ALDOSTERONE · 11-DEOXYCORTICOSTERONE · HALOGENATED AT 9: Fludrocortisone Glucocorticoids (3-one, 4-ene, 11-FG, 17-hydroxy) Pregnene CORTISONE Pregnenedione (+20-one) HYDROCORTISONE/CORTISOL# (Hydrocortisone aceponate, Hydrocortisone buteprate, Hydrocortisone butyrate) · Budesonide · Ciclesonide · Deflazacort · Medrysone · Tixocortol · HALOGENATED AT 6: Cloprednol · HALOGENATED, WITH FG AT 16: Halcinonide Pregnadiene (+1-ene) Rimexolone · HALOGENATED, WITH FG AT 16: Flunisolide · Triamcinolone · Amcinonide · Fluocinolone acetonide (Fluocinonide) Pregnadienediol (+21-hydroxy) Prednisone (Meprednisone) · HALOGENATED AT 9: Fluorometholone · HALOGENATED, WITH FG AT 16: Fluocortolone (Clocortolone, Diflucortolone, Fluocortin) · Desoximetasone Pregnadienetriol (+11-hydroxy) Prednisolone# (Methylprednisolone, Methylprednisolone aceponate, Prednicarbate, Prednylidene) · Desonide · HALOGENATED: Fluprednisolone (Difluprednate, Fluperolone) · HALOGENATED, WITH FG AT 16: Dexamethasone# · Betamethasone (Clobetasol, Clobetasone, Diflorasone, Halometasone, Ulobetasol) · Beclometasone · Paramethasone  · Alclometasone · Fluclorolone · Flumetasone · Fluprednidene Pregnatriene (+2-ene) Cortivazol Androstene HALOGENATED, WITH FG AT 16: Fluticasone (Fluticasone propionate, Fluticasone furoate) Other/ungrouped HALOGENATED: Loteprednol · HALOGENATED, WITH FG AT 16: Fludroxycortide · Formocortal · Mometasone furoate Aldosterone antagonists Spironolactone · Eplerenone · Potassium canrenoate · Canrenone Synthesis Trilostane · Carbenoxolone · Aminoglutethimide · Metyrapone #WHO-EM. †Undergoing clinical trials, not FDA approved. ‡Withdrawn from market. §Development halted.

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