Methylprednisolone (By injection)

meth-il-pred-NIS-oh-lone

Treats inflammation, severe allergies, flare-ups of ongoing illnesses, and many other medical problems. May also be used to decrease some symptoms of cancer. This medicine is a corticosteroid (cortisone-like medicine or steroid).

Drug classes

Endocrine-Metabolic Agent, Immune Suppressant (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Methylprednisolone injection provides relief for inflamed areas of the body. It is used to treat a number of different conditions, such as inflammation (swelling), severe allergies, adrenal problems, arthritis, asthma, blood or bone marrow problems, eye or vision problems, lupus, skin conditions, kidney problems, ulcerative colitis, and flare-ups of multiple sclerosis. Methylprednisolone is a corticosteroid (cortisone-like medicine or steroid). It works on the immune system to help relieve swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Injectable

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine may be given through a needle placed in one of your veins or as a shot into a muscle.

A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

Your doctor may give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then switch you to an oral medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.

If a dose is missed:

You must use this medicine on a fixed schedule. Call your doctor or pharmacist if you miss a dose.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using aminoglutethimide (Cytadren®), amphotericin B (Fungizone®), carbamazepine (Tegretol®), cholestyramine (Questran®), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), digoxin (Digitek®, Lanoxin®), isoniazid (Nydrazid®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®), pancuronium (Pavulon®), phenobarbital (Luminol®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rimactane®), or certain antibiotics (such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, Biaxin®, Ery-tab®, or Zithromax®).

Tell your doctor if you are also using a diuretic or “water pill,” a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®), pain or arthritis medicine (NSAIDs such as aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen, Advil®, Aleve®, Celebrex®, or Motrin®), insulin or diabetes medicine that you take by mouth (such as glyburide, metformin, Actos®, Amaryl®, Avandia®, Glucotrol®, or Glucovance®), or estrogen (including birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy).

This medicine may interfere with vaccines. Ask your doctor before you get a flu shot or any other vaccines.

When Not To Use

You should not receive this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to methylprednisolone or if you have a fungus infection that affects your whole body. You should not have this medicine injected into a muscle if you have idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Some strengths of Solu-Medrol® that contain benzyl alcohol should not be used in premature babies.

Warnings

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have recently spent time in a tropical climate.

Make sure your doctor knows about all other health problems you have, including kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, or stomach or bowel problems. Tell your doctor if you have adrenal gland problems (such as Cushing syndrome), nerve or muscle disease (such as myasthenia gravis), thyroid problems, or a recent heart attack.

If this medicine is being injected into a joint, make sure your doctor knows about any other problems you have had with that joint.

Tell your doctor right away if you have a fever or other signs of an infection such as chills, sore throat, or pain. This medicine could cause you to get infections more easily. If you are exposed to chicken pox or measles, tell your doctor right away. Avoid people who are sick, and wash your hands often.

Make sure your doctor knows if you already have an infection, such as herpes eye infection, tuberculosis, or threadworm (Strongyloides). Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea or if you get infections often.

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

This medicine may cause mood or behavior changes. Talk with your doctor if you feel unusually happy or sad, have trouble sleeping, have mood swings, or start to have unusual behavior.

If you use this medicine for a long time, tell your doctor about any extra stress or anxiety in your life, including other health concerns and emotional stress. Your dose might need to be changed for a short time while you have extra stress.

Tell your doctor if you have any bone pain or if you have an increased risk for osteoporosis (weak bones). If your child is using this medicine, tell the doctor if you think your child is not growing properly. This medicine might affect the bones, so it could cause slow growth in children or osteoporosis in anyone if it is used for a long time.

Check with your doctor right away if you have blurred vision, trouble seeing, eye pain, or any other changes in vision. You may need to be checked by an eye doctor.

Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Blurred vision, eye pain, changes in vision

Dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps, nausea, or vomiting

Fast, slow, pounding, or uneven heartbeat

Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches

Mood swings, unusual thoughts or behavior

Muscle pain, weakness, or cramps, sudden joint pain

Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet

Unusual bleeding or bruising

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Color changes on the skin, dark freckles

Diarrhea

Easy bruising

Increased thirst or urination

Red, pink, purple, or brown flat spots or bumps on your skin

Round, puffy face

Skin looks sunken or indented where the shot was given

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

A-Methapred, Depo-Medrol, Dyural-40, Dyural-80, Dyural-L, Dyural-LM, Multi-Specialty Kit, Novaplus Depo-Medrol, Novaplus Solu-Medrol, Physicians EZ Use M-pred Injection Kit, ReadySharp-P40, ReadySharp-P80, Solu-Medrol, SoluMEDROL

There may be other brand names for this medicine.