Methylprednisolone brands and prices in Pakistan

About Methylprednisolone

Methylprednisolone is a corticosteroid (a steroid medicine). It is a man-made version of a hormone your body makes naturally. It calms swelling and redness (inflammation) and turns down the immune system. It comes as tablets and as injections. It is a prescription medicine, and the injections are given by a doctor or nurse, often in hospital or clinic. It is not the same as the body-building steroids.

Who should not take it, or should take care

• Do not take it if you have ever had an allergic reaction to methylprednisolone, another steroid or anything in the tablet.
• Do not take it if you have a serious fungal infection, or any infection that is not being treated.
• Do not take it if you have recently had, or are about to have, a vaccination. Live vaccines must not be given while you are on it, and other vaccines may work less well. Ask your doctor first.
• Tell your doctor if you have had or been near chickenpox, measles or shingles and you have not had them before. They can be serious on steroids.
• Tell your doctor if you have tuberculosis (now or in the past), a worm infection, or a herpes eye infection.
• Tell your doctor if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure or a recent heart attack.
• Tell your doctor if you have had depression, bipolar disorder or other mental health problems, including a bad reaction to steroids before.
• Tell your doctor if you have epilepsy, glaucoma, thyroid, kidney or liver disease, osteoporosis, myasthenia gravis, stomach ulcers or bowel problems.
• Pregnancy: ask your doctor before using it. Leaflets say it may slow a baby's growth and raise the chance of a low birth weight, so the lowest effective amount is used.
• Breastfeeding: small amounts pass into breast milk. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Children: steroids can slow growth, so doctors use the lowest amount that works and keep a close eye on growth.
• Tell any surgeon, dentist, anaesthetist or lab staff that you take it, because it can change some test results (including skin tests such as for TB or allergy).

Medicines and drinks that can interact

• Aspirin and anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen: do not start them without asking
• Warfarin and similar blood thinners
• Diabetes medicines, blood pressure medicines and water tablets (diuretics): doses may need changing
• Epilepsy medicines such as phenytoin, carbamazepine and barbiturates
• Antibiotics and TB medicines such as erythromycin, clarithromycin and rifampicin
• Antifungals such as ketoconazole and itraconazole
• HIV medicines
• Ciclosporin and tacrolimus
• The contraceptive pill
• Digoxin and diltiazem
• Some muscle relaxants used in surgery and medicines for myasthenia gravis
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice: avoid them while taking it
• Vaccines: no live vaccines, and others may work less well

Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, supplement and herbal product you take.

Using it safely

• Take it exactly as your doctor or pharmacist told you. The plan can differ from person to person, and it will be written on your label.
• Swallow tablets whole with water, and ask a pharmacist if the label says to take them with food or milk to protect your stomach.
• Do not stop suddenly, especially after taking steroids for a long time or at a high amount. Your doctor will lower it step by step to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
• If you miss a dose, take your next one as normal and do not double up. Tell your doctor or pharmacist.
• Carry a steroid treatment card if you were given one. Show it to any doctor, nurse or dentist, and tell hospital staff you take steroids. A medical alert bracelet can help in an emergency.
• Avoid people with chickenpox, measles or shingles, wash your hands often, and report signs of infection early.
• Keep your check-ups. You may need blood pressure, blood sugar, bone or eye checks.
• Wait until you know how it affects you before driving or using machines, because it can cause dizziness, blurred vision or tiredness.
• Store out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine.

Common questions

Is methylprednisolone the same as other steroid tablets like prednisolone?
They are in the same family (corticosteroids) and work in a similar way, but they are different medicines. Do not swap one for another unless your doctor says so.

Why must I not stop it suddenly?
After steroid use your body may make less of its own steroid hormone. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms such as fever, aching muscles and joints, tiredness and weight loss, and can make you very unwell. Your doctor will tell you how to come off it safely.

Can I have vaccines while taking it?
Live vaccines must not be given while you are on it, and other vaccines may not work as well. Tell the person giving any vaccine that you take a steroid, and ask your doctor before any vaccination.

Can it affect my mood?
Yes. Steroids can cause low mood, anxiety, trouble sleeping, confusion or, rarely, more serious mental health problems. These can start soon after starting or when the amount is lowered. Tell a doctor promptly, and get urgent help if you think about harming yourself.

Can I drink alcohol or have grapefruit?
The leaflets I checked do not give clear advice on alcohol, so ask your pharmacist. Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while you take it.

Prepared from the sources listed by the MedInfoBase team. General information, not medical advice: it gives no doses. Your doctor or pharmacist decides the medicine and dose for you.