Methylprednisolone Tablets (Methylprednisolone)

Adult dosage

1. 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, although a high initial dose may be required in certain patients. The initial dose should be maintained or adjusted until a satisfactory response is achieved. If a satisfactory clinical outcome is not achieved after a reasonable period, discontinue treatment and switch to another appropriate treatment. The dose must be individualized according to the various diseases being treated and the patient's response. Once an adequate response is achieved, determine an appropriate maintenance dose by reducing the initial dose at suitable intervals until the minimum dose that maintains an adequate clinical response is reached. Continuous monitoring of the dose is required. Situations that may require dose adjustment include improvement or worsening of the disease, individual patient response to the medicine, and the effect on the patient of exposure to stressful circumstances that do not directly affect the symptoms of the disease being treated. In the latter case, it may be necessary to increase the dose for a period sufficient to achieve satisfactory control of the patient's condition. After long-term treatment, gradual dose reduction is recommended when discontinuing the medicine. 2. Multiple sclerosis For treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, administration of prednisolone 200mg daily for 1 week followed by prednisolone 80mg every other day for 1 month is effective (4mg of methylprednisolone is equivalent to 5mg of prednisolone). 3. ADT (Alternate Day Therapy) Alternate-day therapy is a regimen in which twice the daily dose is administered on one morning every other day. Although a single morning dose causes substantially less adrenal suppression than taking prednisolone (10mg) four times a day, every 6 hours, there is evidence that when pharmacologic doses are used, a slight suppressive effect on adrenal activity may persist through the following day. The initial suppressive dose should be continued until a satisfactory clinical response is achieved, usually for 4 to 10 days in many allergic and collagen diseases. ① Switch to ADT and gradually reduce the amount of corticosteroid given on alternate days. ② Depending on control of disease progression, reduce the daily corticosteroid dose to the minimum effective dose as soon as possible, and then switch to an alternate-day schedule. If difficulties arise, it may be preferable to administer three or even four times the daily dose on alternate days rather than merely twice the daily dose. Once the patient is again controlled, attempt to reduce the dose to the lowest possible level. If an acute exacerbation occurs during disease progression, it may be necessary to return to a fully suppressive corticosteroid dose divided over the day to achieve control. Once control is achieved, the established alternate-day regimen may be retried.

This medication should not be used in certain patients. For example, it should not be administered to patients who are allergic to this drug or its components, those with an infection that can be treated with antimicrobial agents, or patients with viral diseases such as herpes simplex, herpes zoster, or chickenpox. Also, patients who have received live vaccines or have genetic issues like lactose intolerance should not take this medication. Caution should be exercised when using this drug in certain patients. Patients with glaucoma, tuberculosis, keratitis, cataracts, electrolyte imbalances, hypertension, thrombosis, and those who have recently undergone surgery should be administered this medication with caution. Patients with infections, diabetes, osteoporosis, renal failure, heart failure, hypothyroidism, fatty liver, severe myasthenia gravis, elderly patients, epilepsy, and ulcerative colitis also require special attention. When taking this medication, careful observation is necessary as side effects may occur. Various side effects may include edema, increased blood pressure, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, gastrointestinal issues, skin changes, psychological symptoms, eye abnormalities, and immune system issues; symptoms should be immediately discussed with healthcare professionals if they occur. Long-term use of this medication may impair adrenal function; therefore, it should not be abruptly discontinued but rather gradually reduced in dosage. In stressful situations, the dosage may need to be temporarily increased. Immunity may be weakened, so extra care should be taken to prevent infections, and exposure to chickenpox or measles should be avoided. This drug may interact with other medications, so it is essential to inform healthcare professionals of any other medications being taken. Special caution is required when used in conjunction with heart-related medications, antibiotics, diuretics, antihypertensives, and anticoagulants. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult with a doctor before taking this medication as it may affect the fetus or newborn. For children, it should be used carefully at the minimum effective dose as it may impact growth, and elderly patients are also at higher risk for side effects and should be monitored closely. Finally, vaccination, especially live vaccinations, should be avoided during the course of taking this drug, and care should be taken during skin tests or other examinations. By adhering to these precautions, the medication's effectiveness can be safely enjoyed.

Edema, sodium retention, potassium loss, fluid retention, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, congestive heart failure, hypertension, myasthenia, avascular necrosis of the femoral and humeral heads, steroid myopathy, loss of muscle mass, pathologic fractures of the iliac bone, osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, arthralgia, tendon rupture, increased ALT, increased AST, increased ALP, nausea, thirst, vomiting, stomach pain, anorexia, increased appetite, peptic ulcer, abdominal distension, pancreatitis, ulcerative esophagitis, diarrhea, delayed wound healing, facial erythema, thin and fragile skin, abnormal sweating, petechiae, purpura, suppression of skin reactions, purpura, acne, hirsutism, hair loss, pigmentation, papilledema, increased intracranial pressure, convulsions, dizziness, headache, insomnia, euphoria, depression, Cushing's syndrome, menstrual irregularities, growth retardation in children, symptoms of latent diabetes mellitus, secondary adrenal insufficiency, pituitary non-responsiveness, decreased glucose tolerance, increased demand for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents, suppression of adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion, increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma, posterior subcapsular cataract, secondary infection of the eye, retinal disorders, exophthalmos, nitrogen balance, immune system disorders, allergic reactions, shock, urticaria, anaphylactic reactions, hypersensitivity reactions

This medication should be stored in a tightly closed container to avoid exposure to air and moisture. Additionally, it is best to store the medication at room temperature, between 1 degree and 30 degrees Celsius, avoiding extreme temperatures.

Appearance

White oval tablet

Package unit

30 tablets/bottle, 500 tablets/bottle