Medrol
- Generic Name: methylprednisolone
- Brand Name: Medrol
Medrol (Methylprednisolone) side effects drug center
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Medrol Side Effects Center
What Is Medrol?
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. Medrol is available in generic form.
What Are Side Effects of Medrol?
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.
Dosage for Medrol
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.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Medrol?
Medrol may interact with aspirin (taken on a daily basis or at high doses), diuretics (water pills), blood thinner, cyclosporine, insulin or oral diabetes medications, ketoconazole, rifampin, seizure medications, or "live" vaccines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use and all vaccines you recently received.
Medrol During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Medrol use in pregnancy is not advised; benefits versus potential problems should be considered for pregnant women. Medrol is not advised for women who are breastfeeding. Medrol has been used in pediatric patients, but the dosage should be carefully adjusted for each patient and disease.
Additional Information
Our Medrol Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
Medrol Consumer Information
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;
- bruising, thinning skin, or any wound that will not heal;
- blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
- severe depression, changes in personality, unusual thoughts or behavior;
- new or unusual pain in an arm or leg or in your back;
- bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
- seizure (convulsions); or
- low potassium--leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling.
Steroids can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.
Common side effects may include:
- fluid retention (swelling in your hands or ankles);
- dizziness, spinning sensation;
- changes in your menstrual periods;
- headache;
- mild muscle pain or weakness; or
- stomach discomfort, bloating.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Medrol (Methylprednisolone)
Medrol Professional Information
SIDE EFFECTS
Fluid and Electrolyte Disturbances
Sodium retention
Congestive heart failure in susceptible patients
Hypertension
Fluid retention
Potassium loss
Hypokalemic alkalosis
Musculoskeletal
Muscle weakness
Loss of muscle mass
Steroid myopathy
Osteoporosis
Tendon rupture, particularly of the Achilles tendon
Vertebral compression fractures
Aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads
Pathologic fracture of long bones
Gastrointestinal
Peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage
Pancreatitis
Abdominal distention
Ulcerative esophagitis
Increases in alanine transaminase (ALT, SGPT), aspartate transaminase (AST,
SGOT), and alkaline phosphatase have been observed following corticosteroid
treatment. These changes are usually small, not associated with any clinical
syndrome and are reversible upon discontinuation.
Dermatologic
Impaired wound healingPetechiae and ecchymoses
May suppress reactions to skin tests
Thin fragile skin
Facial erythema
Increased sweating
Neurological
Increased intracranial pressure with papilledema (pseudo-tumor cerebri) usually
after treatment
Convulsions
Vertigo
Headache
Endocrine
Development of Cushingoid state
Suppression of growth in children
Secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness, particularly in times
of stress, as in trauma, surgery or illness
Menstrual irregularities
Decreased carbohydrate tolerance
Manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus
Increased requirements of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetics
Ophthalmic
Posterior subcapsular cataracts
Increased intraocular pressure
Glaucoma
Exophthalmos
Metabolic
Negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism
The following additional reactions have been reported following oral as well
as parenteral therapy: Urticaria and other allergic, anaphylactic or hypersensitivity
reactions.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Medrol (Methylprednisolone)
&Copy; Medrol Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Medrol Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.