Medrol (methylprednisolone) vs. Prednisone

• Are Medrol and Prednisone the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Prednisone?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Medrol?
• What is Prednisone?
• What is Medrol?
• What Drugs Interact with Prednisone?
• What Drugs Interact with Medrol?
• How Should Prednisone Be Taken?
• How Should Medrol Be Taken?

Medrol (methylprednisolone) and prednisone are glucocorticoids indicated to treat or manage many conditions, endocrine disorders, rheumatic disorders, collagen diseases, dermatologic diseases, allergies, ophthalmic (eye) diseases, respiratory diseases, hematologic disorders, neoplastic diseases (cancers), edematous states, gastrointestinal diseases, and others.

Brand names for prednisone include Deltasone, Rayos, and Prednisone Intensol.

Common side effects of Prednisone include:

• headache,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• acne, thinning skin,
• weight gain,
• restlessness, and
• trouble sleeping.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of prednisone including

• severe allergic reactions (skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of your lips/face/tongue),
• mood changes or depression,
• eye pain or vision changes,
• fever,
• cough,
• sore throat,
• difficulty urinating, or
• high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, confusion, or swelling of the ankles and feet).

Common side effects of Medrol include:

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

Serious side effects of Medrol include emergency medical conditions such as:

• low potassium,
• bloody vomit,
• bloody or tarry stools,
• high blood pressure,
• seizures,
• chest pains,
• mental status changes,
• pancreatitis,
• vision problems, and
• shortness of breath with swelling.

Prednisone is a glucocorticoid indicated to treat or manage many conditions, including endocrine disorders, rheumatic disorders, collagen diseases, dermatologic diseases, allergies, ophthalmic (eye) diseases, respiratory diseases, hematologic disorders, neoplastic diseases (cancers), edematous states, and gastrointestinal diseases.

Medrol (methylprednisolone) is a glucocorticoid (adrenocortical steroid) that can depress the immune response and inflammation and is used in diseases ranging from rheumatologic, hematologic, endocrine, dermatologic, immunologic, allergic, and ophthalmologic to many others.

Prednisone may interact with diuretics (water pills), rifampin, or vaccines.

Prednisone may also interact with macrolide antibiotics, anticholinesterase, anticoagulants, antidiabetic drugs, isoniazid, bupropion, cholestyramine, cyclosporine, digitalis glycosides, estrogens (including oral contraceptives), fluoroquinolones, barbiturates, phenytoin, carbamazepine, azole antifungals, ritonavir, indinavir, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), phenytoin, quetiapine, allergy skin tests, and thalidomide.

Medrol may interact with diuretics (water pills), rifampin, or vaccines.

Medrol may also interact with aspirin (taken on a daily basis or at high doses), blood thinner, cyclosporine, insulin or oral diabetes medications, ketoconazole, or seizure medications.

The initial dosage of prednisone may vary from 5 mg to 60 mg per day, depending on the specific disease entity being treated.

Medrol is available as 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 mg strength tablets. Dosages are extremely variable and are based on what diseases are being treated.