Methylprednisolone Description

Generic Name : METHYLPREDNISOLONE

Pronunciation : (meth ill pred niss' oh lone)

Trade Name(s) : Deltacortril, Hostacortin.

Why it is prescribed: Methylprednisolone, a corticosteroid, is similar to a natural hormone produced by your adrenal glands. It relieves inflammation and is used to treat certain forms of arthritis and skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid, and intestinal disorders. Methylprednisolone is also used to treat certain types of cancer, severe allergies, and asthma.

When it is to be taken: For example, if your doctor tells you to take it three times a day, take it at 7 a.m., 3 p.m., and 11 p.m.

How it should be taken: Methylprednisolone comes in tablet form. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose.

Special Instruction :
1. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. If you take methylprednisolone for a long time, you probably will have periodic blood tests; X-rays; eye examinations; blood pressure, and weight measurements; and physical examinations. Checkups are particularly important for children because this drug can slow bone growth.
2. Methylprednisolone must be taken regularly to be effective. However, do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer period than your doctor has directed.
3. If your condition worsens, contact your doctor; your dose may need to be adjusted.
4. Do not stop taking methylprednisolone without consulting your doctor. Stopping the drug abruptly can cause loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, stupor, headache, fever, joint and muscle pain, peeling skin, and weight loss.
5. If you take large doses for a long time, your doctor probably will want to decrease your dose gradually to allow your body to adjust before stopping the drug completely.
6. Your doctor may instruct you to weigh yourself every day. Report any unusual weight gain.
7. Tell your doctor, dentist, and surgeon who treats you that you take methylpredniosolone, even if you stopped taking it in the last 12 months.
8. Your doctor may instruct you to follow a low-sodium, low-salt, potassium-rich, or high-protein diet. Follow these directions.
9. If you take methylprednisolone every other day and remember a missed dose on the morning of the day you should have taken it, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. If you remember a missed dose on that afternoon, start a new schedule. Take the missed dose on the next morning, do not take it at all on day two, and take the next dose on the morning of day three.
10. If you take methylprednisolone once a day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. If you do not remember a missed dose until it is time for your next dose, omit the missed completely and take only the regularly scheduled dose.
11. If you take more than one dose a day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it; then take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. If you remember a missed dose when it is time for you to take another, you may take both doses at one time.

Side Effects :
1. Nausea, vomiting, stomach irritation. Take this medication with food or milk. If these effects persist or your stools become black and tarry, contact your doctor.
2. Headache, dizziness, insomnia, restlessness, depression, anxiety, unusual moods, acne, thinned skin, increased sweating, increased hair growth, reddened face, easy bruising, tiny purple skin spots, irregular or absent menstrual periods. If these effects persist or are severe, contact your doctor.
3. Skin irritation, itching, or swelling. Contact your doctor at once.
4. Long-term therapy problems: weight gain, swollen feet, ankles, and lower legs; muscle pain and weakness; eye pain; vision problems; puffy skin; a cold or infection that lasts a long time. Contact your doctor.

Other Precautions :
1. Before you take methylprednisolone, tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially aspirin, arthritis medication, anticoagulants, diuretics, estrogen, phenytoin, rifampicin, and phenobarbital.
2. Do not have a vaccination, other immunization, or any skin test while you are taking methyprednisolone unless your doctor specifically tells you that you may.
3. Before you take methylprednisolone, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think that you may be pregnant, wish to become pregnant, or breast-feeding. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. Methylprednisolone can harm an unborn or breast-fed baby.
4. Before you take this drug, tell your doctor if you are allergic to aspirin or tartrazine.
5. Before you take this drug, tell your doctor your entire medical history, particularly if you have liver, kidney, intestinal, or heart disease; an underactive thyroidgland; high blood pressure; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection; or a history of tuberculosos (TB), seizures, ulcers, or blood clots.
6. 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.
7. Methylprednisolone can make your stomach and intestine more susceptible to the irritating effects of alcohol, aspirin, and certain arthritis medications, increasing your risk of ulcers.
8. Report any injuries or signs of infection that occur during treatment and within 12 months after treatment with methylprednisolone.
9. Your dose may need to be adjusted or you may need to start taking the drug again.
10. If you have diabetes, methylprednisolone may increase your blood sugar level. Test your urine for sugar frequently and contact your doctor if sugar is present; your dose of diabetes medication and your diet may need to be changed.
11. Do not allow anyone else to take this medication.

Storage Conditions :
1. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children.
2. Store it at room temperature.