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Generic Name: methylprednisolone (meh thill pred NIH sew
lone)
Brand Names:
Duralone, Medipred, Medralone, Medrol, Predacorten, Solu-Medrol |
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What is the most important information I should know about
methylprednisolone?
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Do not stop taking methylprednisolone suddenly if you have been
taking it for a few weeks. You may need a gradual reduction in dosage
before you stop taking this medication. |
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Take oral methylprednisolone with food or milk to lessen stomach
upset. |
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Carry some type of medical identification that will let others know
you are taking methylprednisolone in the case of an emergency. |
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What is methylprednisolone?
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Methylprednisolone is in a class of drugs called steroids.
Methylprednisolone reduces swelling and decreases the body's immune
response. |
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Methylprednisolone is used to treat many different conditions. It is
used to treat endocrine (hormonal) disorders when the body does not
produce enough of its own steroids. It is also used to treat many immune
and allergic disorders, such as arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, asthma,
ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. |
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Methylprednisolone may also be used for purposes other than those
listed in this medication guide. |
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
methylprednisolone?
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Do not take methylprednisolone if you have a serious bacterial,
viral, or fungal infection. Methylprednisolone weakens the body's immune
response and thus its ability to fight infection. |
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Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have |
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high blood pressure or heart disease, |
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ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, or stomach ulcers, |
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a psychiatric condition, |
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any other medical conditions. |
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You may not be able to take methylprednisolone, or you may require a
dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any
of the conditions listed above. |
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Methylprednisolone is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means
that it is not known whether methylprednisolone will be harmful to an
unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your
doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. |
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Methylprednisolone passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing
baby. Do not take methylprednisolone without first talking to your
doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. |
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How should I take methylprednisolone?
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Take methylprednisolone exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not
take more or less than is prescribed for you. If you do not understand
these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them
to you. |
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Take each oral dose with a full glass of water. |
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Take oral methylprednisolone with food or milk to lessen stomach
upset. |
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Methylprednisolone is also available as an injection. Your
healthcare provider will administer injectable methylprednisolone. If
you are using injectable methylprednisolone at home, your healthcare
provider will give you detailed instructions regarding preparation,
administration, and storage of the medication. |
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If you are taking one dose daily, take that dose before 9 a.m. if
possible, to follow the body's natural cycle. If you take more than one
dose daily, space the doses evenly throughout the day as directed by
your doctor. |
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Do not stop taking methylprednisolone suddenly if you have been
taking it for a few weeks. You may need a gradual reduction in dosage
before you stop taking this medication. |
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Carry some type of medical identification that will let others know
you are taking methylprednisolone in the case of an accident. |
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Store methylprednisolone at room temperature away from moisture and
heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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If you take one dose daily, take the missed dose as soon as you
remember. However, if you don't remember until the next day, skip the
dose you missed and take only the regular daily dose. |
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If you take more than one dose daily, you can either take the missed
dose as soon as you remember, or you can take two doses (the one you
missed plus your regularly scheduled dose) when it is time for the next
dose. |
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If you take one dose every other day, take the missed dose as soon
as you remember, then go back to your regular every-other-day schedule. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention. A single large dose of this
medication is unlikely to cause symptoms or death. An overdose is more
likely to be caused by a chronic overdose--large doses taken over a
period of time. |
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Symptoms of an overdose include obesity (especially around the
stomach); a round face; increased hair growth (especially around the
face); acne; bruising; increased blood pressure; swollen hands, feet, or
ankles (fluid retention); and sore or weak muscles. |
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What should I avoid while taking methylprednisolone?
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Use alcohol cautiously. Together, alcohol and oral
methylprednisolone can be damaging to the stomach. |
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Avoid sources of infection. Wash the hands frequently and keep them
away from the mouth and eyes. The immune system may be weakened while
taking methylprednisolone. |
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Do not receive any immunizations during treatment with
methylprednisolone without first talking to your doctor. |
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What are the possible side effects of methylprednisolone?
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking methylprednisolone and seek emergency medical attention or
contact your doctor immediately: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); |
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increased blood pressure (severe headache or blurred vision); or |
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sudden weight gain (more than 5 pounds in a day or two). |
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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue to take methylprednisolone and talk to your doctor if you
experience |
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nausea, vomiting, or stomach upset; |
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muscle weakness or joint
pain; |
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problems with diabetes control; or |
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increased hunger or thirst. |
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Other side effects that occur only rarely, usually with high doses
of methylprednisolone, may include |
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roundness of the face, and |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect methylprednisolone?
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Do not take any other over-the-counter or prescription medications,
including herbal products, during treatment with methylprednisolone
without first talking to your doctor. Many other medicines can interact
with methylprednisolone resulting in side effects or altered
effectiveness of the medications. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has additional information about methylprednisolone
written for health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed. |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.02. Revision Date: 1/
23/ 04. |
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