Depo-Medrol vs. Celestone

• Are Depo-Medrol and Celestone the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Depo-Medrol?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Celestone?
• What Is Depo-Medrol?
• What Is Celestone?
• What Drugs Interact with Depo-Medrol?
• What Drugs Interact with Celestone?
• How Should Depo-Medrol Be Taken?
• How Should Celestone Be Taken?

Depo-Medrol (methylprednisolone acetate) and Celestone (betamethasone) are anti-inflammatory corticosteroids used to treat pain and inflammation that occurs with arthritis, allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, lupus, breathing disorders and more.

Side effects of Depo-Medrol and Celestone that are similar include nausea, headache, dizziness, trouble sleeping (insomnia), increased sweating, or acne.

Side effects of Depo-Medrol that are different from Celestone include vomiting, heartburn, appetite changes, or injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling).

Side effects of Celestone that are different from Depo-Medrol include mood changes, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration, skin problems, slow wound healing, spinning sensation, stomach pain, bloating, or changes in shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

Both Depo-Medrol and Celestone may interact with antibiotics, seizure medications, azole antifungals, estrogens (including oral contraceptives), cyclosporine, or rifamycins.

Depo-Medrol may also interact with aldesleukin, mifepristone, other drugs that weaken the immune response, other drugs that cause bleeding/bruising, boceprevir, HIV protease inhibitors, St. John's wort, and telaprevir.

Celestone may also interact with aminoglutethimide, potassium-depleting drugs (i.e., amphotericin-B, diuretics), anticholinesterases, anticoagulants, antidiabetics, isoniazid, cholestyramine, digitalis glycosides, barbiturates, aspirin or other nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and vaccines.

Common side effects of Depo-Medrol include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• heartburn,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• trouble sleeping,
• appetite changes,
• increased sweating,
• acne, or
• injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling).

Other side effects of Depo-Medrol include a rise in blood sugar, and a lowered ability to fight infections.

Common side effects of Celestone include:

• sleep problems (insomnia)
• mood changes
• acne
• dry skin
• thinning skin
• bruising or discoloration
• skin problems
• slow wound healing
• increased sweating
• headache
• dizziness
• spinning sensation
• nausea
• stomach pain
• bloating
• changes in shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist)

Depo-Medrol (methylprednisolone acetate) is an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid used to treat pain and swelling that occurs with arthritis and other joint disorders. It may also be used to treat conditions such as blood disorders, severe allergic reactions, certain cancers, eye conditions, skin/intestinal/kidney/lung diseases, and immune system disorders. Depo-Medrol is available in generic form.

Celestone (betamethasone) is corticosteroid used to prevent inflammation and to treat conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, breathing disorders and more.

Depo-Medrol may interact with aldesleukin, mifepristone, antibiotics, other drugs that weaken the immune response, other drugs that cause bleeding/bruising, azole antifungals, boceprevir, cyclosporine, estrogens, HIV protease inhibitors, rifamycins, St. John's wort, seizure medications, and telaprevir. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Depo-Medrol should be used only when prescribed. It may rarely harm a fetus. Infants born to mothers who use this medication during pregnancy may have hormone problems. Tell your doctor if you notice symptoms such as persistent nausea/vomiting, severe diarrhea, or weakness in your newborn. This medication passes into breast milk but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Celestone may interact with aspirin (taken on a daily basis or at high doses), diuretics (water pills), blood thinners, cyclosporine, ketoconazole, oral insulin or diabetes medications, rifampin, or seizure medications.

The initial dosage of Depo-Medrol varies from 4 to 120 mg depending on the disease being treated.

Dosage of betamethasone may vary from 0.6 mg to 7.2 mg per day depending on the condition being treated. Tell your doctor if you are taking medications such as aspirin, diuretics blood thinners, seizure medicine or insulin as these and other medications can interact with betamethasone. Betamethasone and other steroid medication can weaken your immune system. Alcohol consumption should also be avoided.