Methylpred-DP (Oral)

Methylprednisolone helps reduce inflammation in different parts of the body. It is used to treat various conditions, including inflammation (swelling), severe allergies, adrenal issues, arthritis, asthma, blood or bone marrow disorders, eye or vision issues, lupus, skin conditions, kidney problems, ulcerative colitis, and flare-ups of multiple sclerosis. Methylprednisolone is a corticosteroid (cortisone-like medicine or steroid). It acts on the immune system to help lessen swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

It is very important that your doctor checks your progress at regular visits to ensure this medicine is working properly and to decide if you should keep using it. Blood or urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to avoid getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

If you are using this medicine for a long time, inform your doctor about any extra stress or anxiety in your life, including other health concerns and emotional stress. Your dose of this medicine might need to be changed temporarily while you are under extra stress.

Using too much of this medicine or using it for a long time may increase your risk of having adrenal gland problems. Talk to your doctor right away if you experience more than one of these symptoms while using this medicine: blurred vision, dizziness or fainting, fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat, increased thirst or urination, irritability, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may make you more prone to infections than usual. Avoid people who are sick or have infections and wash your hands often. If you are exposed to chickenpox or measles, tell your doctor right away. If you start to have a fever, chills, sore throat, or any other sign of an infection, call your doctor immediately.

Check with your doctor right away if you notice blurred vision, difficulty reading, eye pain, or any other change in vision during or after treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

While you are being treated with methylprednisolone, do not get any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Methylprednisolone may lower your body's resistance, which could mean the vaccine may not work as well or you might get the infection the vaccine is meant to prevent. Also, do not be around others in your household who receive live virus vaccines because they could pass the virus on to you. Some examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, influenza (nasal flu vaccine), poliovirus (oral form), rotavirus, and rubella. Keep your distance and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.

This medicine may cause changes in mood or behavior for some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you experience depression, mood swings, a false or unusual sense of well-being, trouble sleeping, or personality changes while using this medicine.

This medicine might cause thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) or slow growth in children if used for a long time. Inform your doctor if you have any bone pain or if you have an increased risk for osteoporosis. If your child is using this medicine, tell the doctor if you think your child is not growing properly.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain skin tests.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, you and your doctor must consider the risks of taking the medicine against the benefits it will provide. For this medicine, the following factors should be taken into account:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know about any other allergies you may have, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, carefully read the label or package ingredients.

Pediatric

There is no information available on how methylprednisolone affects children. Safety and effectiveness have not been established.

Geriatric

There is no information available on how methylprednisolone affects older adults.

Breast Feeding

There are no sufficient studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before using this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should never be used together, while others may be combined even if an interaction could happen. In such cases, your doctor might need to adjust the dose or take other precautions. When taking this medicine, it is crucial that your healthcare professional knows if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions are significant and may not cover all possibilities.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may choose not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you are taking.

• Desmopressin
• Rotavirus Vaccine, Live

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed, your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency of one or both medicines.

• Aceclofenac
• Acemetacin
• Aldesleukin
• Amtolmetin Guacil
• Aspirin
• Atazanavir
• Balofloxacin
• Bemiparin
• Besifloxacin
• Bromfenac
• Bufexamac
• Bupropion
• Celecoxib
• Choline Salicylate
• Ciprofloxacin
• Clonixin
• Cobicistat
• Darunavir
• Dexibuprofen
• Dexketoprofen
• Diclofenac
• Diflunisal
• Dipyrone
• Droxicam
• Enoxacin
• Etodolac
• Etofenamate
• Etoricoxib
• Felbinac
• Fenoprofen
• Fepradinol
• Feprazone
• Fleroxacin
• Floctafenine
• Flufenamic Acid
• Flumequine
• Flurbiprofen
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Ibuprofen
• Indomethacin
• Itraconazole
• Ketoprofen
• Ketorolac
• Levofloxacin
• Lomefloxacin
• Lornoxicam
• Loxoprofen
• Lumiracoxib
• Lutetium Lu 177 Dotatate
• Macimorelin
• Meclofenamate
• Mefenamic Acid
• Meloxicam
• Morniflumate
• Moxifloxacin
• Nabumetone
• Nadifloxacin
• Nadroparin
• Naproxen
• Nepafenac
• Niflumic Acid
• Nimesulide
• Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
• Nirmatrelvir
• Norfloxacin
• Ofloxacin
• Oxaprozin
• Oxyphenbutazone
• Parecoxib
• Pazufloxacin
• Pefloxacin
• Phenylbutazone
• Piketoprofen
• Piroxicam
• Pranoprofen
• Proglumetacin
• Propyphenazone
• Proquazone
• Prulifloxacin
• Ritonavir
• Rofecoxib
• Rufloxacin
• Salicylic Acid
• Salsalate
• Sargramostim
• Sodium Salicylate
• Somatrogon-ghla
• Sparfloxacin
• Sulindac
• Tacrolimus
• Telaprevir
• Tenoxicam
• Tiaprofenic Acid
• Tolfenamic Acid
• Tolmetin
• Tosufloxacin
• Valdecoxib
• Voriconazole

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both medicines may be the best option for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency of one or both medicines.

• Acenocoumarol
• Alcuronium
• Aprepitant
• Atracurium
• Auranofin
• Carbamazepine
• Clarithromycin
• Cyclosporine
• Dalfopristin
• Diltiazem
• Erythromycin
• Fluindione
• Fosaprepitant
• Gallamine
• Hexafluorenium
• Ketoconazole
• Licorice
• Metocurine
• Mibefradil
• Nefazodone
• Phenobarbital
• Primidone
• Quinupristin
• Rifampin
• Saiboku-To
• Troleandomycin
• Warfarin

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be used during meals or around certain types of food because interactions may happen. Using alcohol or tobacco with some medicines may also cause interactions. The following interactions are significant and may not cover all possibilities.

Other Medical Problems

Other medical issues may affect how this medicine is used. Make sure to tell your doctor about any other medical problems you have, especially:

• Cataracts or
• Congestive heart failure or
• Cushing's syndrome (an adrenal gland problem) or
• Diabetes or
• Eye infections or
• Glaucoma or
• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
• Infections (e.g., bacterial, viral, or fungal) or
• Liver disease or
• Mental health issues (e.g., depression) or
• Myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness) or
• Osteoporosis (weak bones) or
• Stomach or bowel problems (e.g., diverticulitis, ulcers, ulcerative colitis) or
• Thyroid problems or
• Inactive tuberculosis—Use with caution. It may worsen these conditions.

• Systemic fungal infections—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

• Infections (bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, or protozoal)—May decrease your body's ability to fight infections.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known

• Black, tarry stools
• blindness
• bloating
• bloody vomit
• blurred vision
• bone pain
• change in vision
• chest pain
• chills
• confusion
• constipation
• cough
• dark urine
• darkening of the skin
• decrease in height
• decrease in the amount of urine
• decreased range of motion
• decreased vision
• diarrhea
• difficulty in swallowing
• dilated neck veins
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• dry mouth
• extreme tiredness or weakness
• eye pain
• eye tearing
• eyeballs bulge out of the eye sockets
• fainting
• feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• fever
• flushed, dry skin
• fruit-like breath odor
• full or bloated feeling
• headache
• heartburn
• hives, itching, skin rash
• impaired wound healing
• increased hunger
• increased thirst
• increased urination
• indigestion
• irregular breathing
• irregular heartbeat
• joint pain
• limp
• loss of appetite
• loss of consciousness
• lower back or side pain
• mental depression
• mood changes
• muscle pain, cramps, or weakness
• nausea
• nervousness
• noisy, rattling breathing
• numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
• pain in the back, ribs, arms, or legs
• pain or burning in the throat
• pain or swelling in the arms or legs without any injury
• painful or difficult urination
• painful, swollen joints
• pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
• pounding in the ears
• pressure in the stomach
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• seizures
• sensation of spinning
• severe or continuing stomach pain
• slow growth in children
• slow or fast heartbeat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or tongue or inside the mouth
• swelling of the face, fingers, feet, abdominal or stomach area, or lower legs
• tearing
• tightness in the chest
• troubled breathing
• troubled breathing at rest
• unexplained weight loss
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting
• vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds
• yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

• Abnormal fat deposits on the face, neck, and trunk
• acne
• bruising
• dry scalp
• increased sweating
• large, flat, blue or purplish patches in the skin
• lightening of normal skin color
• menstrual changes
• reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin
• redness of the face
• small, red or purple spots on the skin
• swelling of the stomach area
• thin, fragile skin
• thinning of the scalp hair

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Medrol
• Medrol Dosepak
• Methylpred-DP

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Endocrine-Metabolic Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Adrenal Glucocorticoid

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance for unwanted effects.

If you use this medicine for a long time, do not suddenly stop using it without checking first with your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (tablets):Dose depends on medical condition: Adults—At first, 4 to 48 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

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