Depo-Medrol (injection)

Depo-Medrol is a steroid that stops the body from releasing substances that lead to inflammation.

Depo-Medrol is used to treat various inflammatory conditions like arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, allergic disorders, gland (endocrine) disorders, and issues affecting the skin, eyes, lungs, stomach, nervous system, or blood cells.

Depo-Medrol may also be used for other reasons that are not mentioned in this medication guide.

You may not be able to receive a Depo-Medrol if you have a fungal infection.

You should not be treated with Depo-Medrol if you are allergic to it. You may not be able to receive this medicine if you have a fungal infection.

Depo-Medrol can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Steroids can also make an existing infection worse or reactivate an infection you recently had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• heart disease, high blood pressure;
• a thyroid disorder;
• diabetes;
• glaucoma or cataracts;
• kidney disease;
• cirrhosis or other liver disease;
• seizures, epilepsy or recent head injury;
• past or present tuberculosis;
• herpes infection of the eyes;
• a condition called scleroderma;
• stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, or recent intestinal surgery;
• a parasite infection that causes diarrhea (such as threadworms);
• mental illness or psychosis;
• osteoporosis or low bone mineral density (steroid medication can increase your risk of bone loss);
• a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis; or
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium in your blood).

It is not known whether Depo-Medrol will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

You should not breast-feed while using Depo-Medrol.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Depo-Medrol may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you have:

• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
• shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;
• severe depression, changes in personality, unusual thoughts or behavior;
• new or unusual pain in an arm or leg or in your back;
• severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting;
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• a seizure (convulsions); or
• low potassium--leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling.

Depo-Medrol can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using Depo-Medrol.

Common side effects of Depo-Medrol may include:

• weight gain (especially in your face or your upper back and torso);
• slow wound healing;
• muscle pain or weakness;
• thinning skin, increased sweating;
• stomach discomfort, bloating;
• headache; or
• changes in your menstrual periods.

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.

Depo-Medrol is injected into a muscle or soft tissue, into a skin lesion, into the space around a joint, or given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Call your doctor if you have any signs of infection (fever, chills, body aches).

If you have major surgery or a severe injury or infection, your Depo-Medrol dose needs may change. Make sure any doctor caring for you knows you are using this medicine.

If you use this medicine long-term, you may need medical tests and vision exams.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your Depo-Medrol (injection).

Seek emergency medical help or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Do not get a "live" vaccine while using Depo-Medrol. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you come into contact with chickenpox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even life-threatening for people using Depo-Medrol.

Sometimes, it is not safe to use certain medications together. Some drugs can change the levels of other drugs in your blood, which may lead to more side effects or make the medicines work less well.

Many drugs can affect Depo-Medrol. This includes both prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are mentioned here. Inform your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking and any medicine you begin or stop using.