Methylprednisolone Tablets (Methylprednisolone)

Adult dosage

The initial dose may vary from 4mg to 48mg of methylprednisolone per day, depending on the symptoms of the specific disease. In general, a low dose is sufficient for less severe conditions, but a high initial dose may be required in certain patients. The initial dose should be maintained or adjusted until a satisfactory response is achieved. For treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, daily administration of prednisolone 200mg for 1 week followed by administration of prednisolone 80mg every other day for 1 month is effective (methylprednisolone 4mg is equivalent to prednisolone 5mg). Alternate-day therapy means administering twice the daily dose on one morning out of every two days. Although a single morning dose causes considerably less adrenal suppression than taking prednisolone (10mg) in four divided doses every 6 hours, there is evidence that, when pharmacologic doses are used, a slight suppressive effect on adrenal activity continues into the following day. For more serious diseases, a regimen of high doses divided throughout the day will usually be required for initial control of disease progression. The initial suppressive dose should be continued until a satisfactory clinical response is obtained, usually for 4 to 10 days in many allergic and collagen diseases. ① Switch to ADT and gradually reduce the amount of corticosteroid given every other day. ② As disease progression is controlled, reduce the daily corticosteroid dose to the minimum effective dose as soon as possible, then switch to an alternate-day schedule. If this is difficult, it is preferable to administer three or even four times the daily dose every other day rather than simply doubling the daily dose.

This medication should not be administered to certain patients. For example, patients with allergies to this medication or its components, those with infections that cannot be treated with antibiotics, or those with viral infections such as herpes simplex, herpes zoster, or chickenpox should not use it. Additionally, patients receiving live vaccines or those with genetic issues like lactose intolerance should also avoid this medication. This medication should be used with caution in some patients. For instance, patients with glaucoma, tuberculosis, peptic ulcers, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, and psychiatric disorders should be monitored carefully as this medication may exacerbate symptoms. When taking this medication, it is crucial to watch for side effects. Symptoms like edema, elevated blood pressure, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, gastrointestinal issues, skin changes, and psychological changes may occur, so if any unusual symptoms arise, consult a physician immediately. If used long-term, do not abruptly discontinue the medication; instead, gradually reduce the dosage. In stress situations like surgery or infections, the dosage may need to be temporarily increased. During treatment with this medication, patients may become especially susceptible to infections; thus, it is important to avoid exposure to contagious diseases like chickenpox or measles, and vaccinations may also be limited. In addition, this medication has many drug interactions, so if taking other medications, inform your doctor or pharmacist. Taking it with certain drugs may diminish effectiveness or increase the risk of side effects. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should discuss with their doctor before using this medication, as it may impact the fetus or infant. Pediatric patients should use the minimum effective dose as it may affect growth, and their growth should be closely monitored. Elderly patients are more susceptible to side effects such as infections, diabetes, osteoporosis, and glaucoma when taking this medication, so they should be managed with increased caution.

Edema, sodium retention, potassium loss, fluid retention, hypokalemic alkalosis, congestive heart failure, hypertension, myasthenia, aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral epiphyses, steroid myopathy, loss of muscle mass, pathologic fractures of the pelvis, osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, arthralgia, tendon rupture, increased ALT, increased AST, increased ALP, nausea, thirst, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, increased appetite, peptic ulcers, abdominal distension, pancreatitis, esophagitis, diarrhea, delayed wound healing, facial erythema, thin and fragile skin, abnormal sweating, petechiae, ecchymoses, suppression of skin reactions, purpura, acne, hirsutism, hair loss, hyperpigmentation, papilledema, increased intracranial pressure, seizures, dizziness, headaches, insomnia, euphoria, depression, Cushing's syndrome, menstrual irregularities, growth suppression in children, symptoms of latent diabetes, secondary adrenal insufficiency, pituitary unresponsiveness, impaired glucose tolerance, increased demand for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents, inhibition of adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion, increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma, posterior subcapsular cataract, secondary infections of the eye due to fungi or viruses, central serous chorioretinopathy, retinal disorders, exophthalmos, negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism, immune system disorders, allergic reactions, shock, urticaria, anaphylactic reactions, hypersensitivity reactions

This medication may be sensitive to air and moisture; therefore, it should be stored in a tightly sealed container. The appropriate storage temperature is room temperature between 1°C and 30°C, avoiding excessively hot or cold places.

Appearance

White round tablets

Package unit

30 tablets/bottle, 500 tablets/bottle