Methylprednisolone is used to treat many different inflammatory disorders such as arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, allergic syndromes and endocrine diseases. It is also used to treat disorders of the skin, eyes, lungs, stomach, nervous system or the blood cells.
What is Methylprednisolone?
Methylprednisolone is a steroid. It works by preventing the release of substances that cause inflammation.
How should Methylprednisolone be taken?
Methylprednisolone can be administered orally or through forms of injection (intramuscularly, intra-articularly or intravenously). The dosage varies from case to case. It may have to be adjusted in case of surgical interventions, severe trauma or infections.
Side effects associated with Methylprednisolone
Methylprednisolone can weaken the immune system.
Among the other possible side effects of methylprednisolone include the following:
- Headache
- Mild pain or muscle weakness
- Swelling
- Stomach discomfort
You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience:
- Vision problems or eye pain
- Shortness of breath, swelling or rapid weight gain
- Severe depression, personality changes, strange thoughts or behaviors
- Pain in the arm, leg or back
- Blood in the stool or sputum
- Vomiting that looks like coffee
- Convulsions
- Low levels of potassium ( triggering confusion, irregular heartbeat, excessive thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, or muscle weakness)
Finally, the drug can affect a child’s growth and development. For this reason, it is important to consult with your doctor if you suspect that a child is being treated with methylprednisolone.
Contraindications and warnings associated with the use of Methylprednisolone
Methylprednisolone should not be taken in case of any ongoing fungal infections.
During treatment with methylprednisolone, it is necessary to avoid contact with ill individuals or individuals struggling from infections. It is also prohibited to undergo any vaccinations with live agents or eat grapefruit and its derivatives.
Before starting treatment with methylprednisolone, it is important to tell your doctor if:
- You have any allergies to the active substance, its excipients or any other drugs or food
- You are taking any other medications, herbal remedies or supplements. Mentioning in particular: insulin or oral antidiabetics, aspirin, cyclosporine, hypericum, antifungal drugs, drugs against HIV/ AIDS, anticonvulsants and drugs against tuberculosis
- You are suffering (or have suffered) from heart disease, kidney or liver disease, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, parasitic diseases, glaucoma, cataracts, head trauma, gastric ulcers, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, thyroid disorders, muscle problems ( e.g. myasthenia gravis), seizures or epilepsy, electrolyte imbalance or increase of calcium in the blood (associated with cancer)
- You are pregnant or breast-feeding
It is also important to inform doctors, surgeons and dentists of any ongoing treatment with methylprednisolone.
Treatment with methylprednisolone should not be stopped abruptly. This can increase the onset of withdrawal symptoms.
