SoluMEDROL (Injection)

Methylprednisolone injection helps reduce swelling 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 problems, lupus, skin issues, kidney problems, ulcerative colitis, and flare-ups of multiple sclerosis. Methylprednisolone is a corticosteroid (a type of cortisone-like medicine or steroid). It works on the immune system to help reduce swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions.

This medicine should only be given by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

It is very important for your doctor to check you or your child's progress during regular visits to ensure this medicine is working correctly and to decide if you should keep using it. Blood or urine tests may be necessary 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 may have become pregnant while using this medicine, inform your doctor immediately.

If you are using this medicine for a long time, the skin at the injection site may become slightly depressed or wrinkled. Talk to your doctor if you notice any changes at the injection site, such as depressed or indented skin, or pain, redness, or sloughing (peeling) of the skin.

This medicine may cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and needs immediate medical attention. Contact your doctor right away if you experience a rash, itching, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while using this medicine.

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 may need to be adjusted temporarily during times of extra stress.

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

This medicine may lead to you or your child having more infections than usual. Avoid close contact with people who are sick or have infections, and wash your hands frequently. If you or your child are exposed to chickenpox or measles, inform your doctor immediately. If you or your child develop a fever, chills, sore throat, or any other signs of infection, call your doctor right away.

Tell your doctor if you or your child have recently been in a tropical climate or have unexplained diarrhea before receiving this medicine.

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

Contact your doctor right away if you experience blurred vision, difficulty reading, eye pain, or any other changes in vision during or after treatment. Your doctor may want you to see an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Contact your doctor immediately if you or your child experience pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellowing of the eyes or skin. These could be signs of a serious liver problem.

This medicine may lead to 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 are at an increased risk for osteoporosis. If your child is using this medicine, tell the doctor if you suspect your child is not growing properly.

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

Make sure that any doctor or dentist treating you is aware that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain skin tests.

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without checking with your doctor first. Your doctor may want you or your child to gradually reduce the dosage before stopping it completely.

Do not take other medicines unless you have discussed them with your doctor. This includes prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications, as well as herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, you need to think about the risks of taking it compared to the benefits it may provide. This decision will be made between you and your doctor. For this medicine, consider the following:

Allergies

Let your doctor know if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also inform your health care professional if you have other allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Studies so far have not shown any specific problems that would limit the use of methylprednisolone injection in children. However, children may experience slower growth and bone issues if they use methylprednisolone injection for a long time. The recommended doses should not be exceeded, and the patient should be closely monitored during treatment.

Depo-Medrol® and some strengths of Solu-Medrol® injection should not be used in premature infants. Both brands of methylprednisolone injection contain benzyl alcohol, which can cause serious side effects in premature infants.

Geriatric

Studies so far have not shown any specific problems for elderly patients that would limit the use of methylprednisolone injection. However, older patients are more likely to have liver, kidney, or heart issues, which may require careful consideration and dose adjustments for elderly patients receiving methylprednisolone injection.

Breast Feeding

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

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while others may be used together even if an interaction might happen. In these situations, your doctor may need to adjust the dose or take other precautions. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected based on their potential importance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

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

• 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 together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you take one or both of the 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 drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you take one or both of the 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 taken around the time of eating food or certain types of food because interactions may happen. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions. The following interactions have been selected based on their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may affect how you can use this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical issues, especially:

• Allergy to cow's milk or other dairy products or
• Brain injury, traumatic or
• Cerebral malaria or
• Fungal infections, systemic or
• Active herpes simplex eye infection or
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (low platelet count)—Should not be given to patients with these conditions.

• Cataracts or
• Congestive heart failure or
• Cushing's syndrome (adrenal gland problem) or
• Depression or
• Diabetes or
• Emotional problems or
• Eye infection or
• Glaucoma or
• Recent heart attack or
• Heart disease or
• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
• Liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis, hepatitis) or
• Mental illness 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. May make these conditions worse.

• Infection (bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite, or protozoa)—May lower your body's ability to fight infection.

Along with its necessary effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may happen, but if they do, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse right away if any of the following side effects happen:

More common

• Aggression
• agitation
• blurred vision
• decrease in the amount of urine
• dizziness
• fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• headache
• mental depression
• mood changes
• noisy, rattling breathing
• numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
• pounding in the ears
• swelling of the fingers, hands, feet, or lower legs
• trouble thinking, speaking, or walking
• troubled breathing at rest
• weight gain

Rare

• Cough
• difficulty with swallowing
• hives, itching, skin rash
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• tightness in the chest
• trouble breathing
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

• Backache
• bloody, black, or tarry stools
• chills
• dark urine
• darkening of the skin
• decrease in height
• decreased vision
• diarrhea
• eye pain or tearing
• facial hair growth in females
• fainting
• fever
• flushed, dry skin
• fractures
• fruit-like breath odor
• full or round face, neck, or trunk
• general feeling of illness, tiredness, or weakness
• heartburn or indigestion (severe and continuous)
• hoarseness
• increased hunger
• increased thirst
• increased urination
• light-colored stools
• loss of appetite
• loss of sexual desire or ability
• lower back or side pain
• menstrual irregularities
• muscle pain, tenderness, wasting, or weakness
• nausea
• pain in the back, ribs, arms, or legs
• painful or difficult urination
• sore throat
• stomach cramping or burning (severe)
• stomach pain
• sweating
• trouble healing
• trouble sleeping
• unexplained weight loss
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• upper right abdominal or stomach pain
• vision changes
• vomiting
• vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds
• yellow eyes and 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:

More common

• Increased appetite

Incidence not known

• Abnormal fat deposits on the face, neck, and trunk
• acne
• dry scalp
• lightening of normal skin color
• pain, redness, or hard skin at the injection site
• pitting or depression of the skin at the injection site
• red face
• reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin
• swelling of the stomach area
• 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.

• A-Methapred
• Depo-Medrol
• SoluMEDROL

Available Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Solution
• Solution
• Suspension

Therapeutic Class: Endocrine-Metabolic Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Adrenal Glucocorticoid

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. It may be given through a needle placed into one of your veins, as a shot into a muscle or joint, or as a shot into a lesion on your skin.

Your doctor may give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then switch you to an oral medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.

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