Elsolon Tablet (Methylprednisolone)

Adult use

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 result is not obtained after a reasonable period, discontinue administration and switch to another appropriate treatment. The dose must be determined individually according to the various diseases being treated and the patient's response. After an adequate response is achieved, determine an appropriate maintenance dose by reducing the initial dose at suitable intervals until the lowest 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 medication, and the effect on the patient of exposure to stressful situations that are not directly related to 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 a satisfactory patient condition. After long-term treatment, gradual dose reduction is recommended when discontinuing the medication. For the treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, it is effective to administer prednisolone 200mg daily for 1 week, followed by prednisolone 80mg every other day for 1 month (4mg of methylprednisolone is equivalent to 5mg of prednisolone). Alternate-day therapy is a regimen in which twice the daily dose is administered on one morning out of every two days. The purpose of this regimen is to enhance the effects of corticosteroids in patients requiring long-term medication and to minimize adverse effects such as pituitary-adrenal suppression, Cushingoid state, corticosteroid withdrawal symptoms, and growth suppression in children. Although a single morning dose causes considerably less adrenal suppression than taking prednisolone (10mg) in 4 divided doses every 6 hours, there is evidence that, when pharmacologic doses are used, a slight suppressive effect on adrenal activity persists into the following day. The initial suppressive dose should be continued until a satisfactory clinical response is achieved, which is usually 4 to 10 days for many allergic and collagen diseases. Switch to ADT and gradually reduce the amount of corticosteroid given every other day. As soon as possible, reduce the daily corticosteroid dose to the minimum effective dose according to control of disease progression, and then switch to an alternate-day schedule. If this is difficult, it is preferable to administer 3 times, or even 4 times, the daily dose every other day rather than simply doubling the daily dose. Once the patient is again controlled, attempt to reduce this dose to the minimum. If an acute exacerbation occurs during disease progression, it may be necessary to return to a fully suppressive corticosteroid dose divided throughout the day to achieve control.

This medication should not be administered to certain patients. For instance, individuals with an allergy to this medication or its ingredients, those with uncontrollable infections, individuals with simple herpes, shingles, chickenpox, or patients receiving live vaccines should not use it. Additionally, patients with certain conditions such as glaucoma, tuberculosis, cataracts, hypertension, thrombosis, or those who have undergone heart surgery should use this medication with caution, and they should follow their physician's instructions as symptoms may worsen. During the course of taking this medication, various side effects may occur, including edema, elevated blood pressure, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, gastrointestinal issues, skin changes, psychiatric symptoms, and eye problems, requiring careful monitoring. In case of long-term use, do not abruptly discontinue but taper off gradually, and in cases of trauma, surgery, or infections, the dosage may need to be temporarily increased. As immune function is suppressed, special care should be taken regarding infections, and exposure to chickenpox or measles may result in severe complications, thus confirming vaccination status and reducing infection risk is essential. There are many interactions with other medications, so it is mandatory to inform healthcare professionals about any current medications being taken, as co-administration with certain drugs can exacerbate side effects. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult with their physicians closely before using this medication, as it may affect the fetus or newborn. In children, side effects such as growth retardation may appear, so the minimum effective dose should be used, and growth status should be carefully monitored. Elderly patients may be at higher risk of side effects like infections, diabetes, or osteoporosis, so usage should be approached with increased caution. During treatment, care is necessary for skin tests or vaccinations, as rare but serious allergic reactions may occur, and any unusual symptoms should be reported to healthcare professionals immediately.

Edema, sodium retention, potassium loss, fluid retention, hypokalemic alkalosis, congestive heart failure, hypertension, myasthenia, aseptic necrosis of the femoral and humeral epiphyses, steroid myopathy, loss of muscle mass, pathological fractures of the pelvis, osteoporosis, spinal compression fractures, arthralgia, tendon rupture, increased ALT, increased AST, increased ALP, nausea, dry mouth, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, increased appetite, peptic ulcer, abdominal distension, pancreatitis, 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 disorders, increased intracranial pressure, papilledema, convulsions, dizziness, headache, insomnia, euphoria, depression, Cushing's syndrome, menstrual disorders, growth suppression in children, symptoms of latent diabetes, secondary adrenal insufficiency, pituitary unresponsiveness, decreased glucose tolerance, increased requirement for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents, suppression of adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion, increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma, posterior capsule cataract, secondary eye infections due to fungi or viruses, retinal disorders, exophthalmos, nitrogen balance, immune system disorders, allergic reactions, shock, urticaria, anaphylactic reaction, hypersensitivity reactions

This medication should be stored in a tightly sealed container to protect it from air and moisture, preferably kept at room temperature between 1°C and 30°C. Proper storage will ensure the medication's efficacy is maintained safely.

Appearance

White oval tablet

Package unit

30 tablets/bottle, 500 tablets/bottle