Metirade Tablet (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, low doses are sufficient for less severe conditions, although high initial doses may be required in certain patients. The initial dose should be maintained or adjusted until a satisfactory response is achieved. If there is no satisfactory clinical outcome after a reasonable period, treatment should be discontinued and another appropriate treatment initiated. The dose must be individualized according to the various diseases being treated and the patient's response. After an adequate response is achieved, the appropriate maintenance dose should be determined 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. Circumstances that may require dosage adjustment include remission or worsening of the disease, individual patient response to the medicine, 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 appropriate to the patient's condition. After long-term treatment, gradual dose reduction is recommended when discontinuing the medicine. Treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis is effective with 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 means administering twice the daily dose on one morning every other day. 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. It is important to keep the initial suppressive dose period as short as possible, particularly if prolonged use of alternate-day therapy is intended. Once control is achieved, two approaches are possible: ① switch to ADT and gradually reduce the amount of corticosteroid administered every other day; ② reduce the daily corticosteroid dose to the minimum effective dose as soon as possible, according to disease control, and then switch to an alternate-day schedule. Theoretically, approach ① is preferable. If difficulties arise, it is preferable to administer three times, or even four 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. Once controlled, the established alternate-day regimen may be attempted again.

This drug should not be administered to patients with hypersensitivity to any of its components or to patients with infections for which effective antibacterial agents are not available, as it may worsen the infection. It should also be avoided in patients with simple herpes, shingles, chickenpox, or those receiving live vaccination. This medication contains lactose, so it should not be used by patients with genetic issues such as lactose intolerance, lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption. Patients with glaucoma, tuberculosis, posterior subcapsular cataract, hypertension, thrombosis, or a history of acute myocardial infarction should use this medication cautiously, as there is a risk of symptom exacerbation. Diabetic patients should be observed closely as blood sugar may increase, and patients with osteoporosis, renal failure, or congestive heart failure should also be cautious because their condition may worsen due to side effects of this medication. Long-term use of this medication can lead to adrenal suppression, so abrupt discontinuation should be avoided, and dosage should be gradually reduced. During surgeries or trauma, the dosage may need to be temporarily increased. Due to immunosuppressive effects, there is an increased risk of infection, so care should be taken to avoid exposure to chickenpox or measles, and if infection is suspected, medical attention should be sought immediately. This medicine can interact with several other drugs, so it is important to consult with a doctor or pharmacist if taking other medications. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should use caution when administering this medication due to potential effects on the fetus, and it is recommended to avoid taking this medication while breastfeeding. In children, there may be side effects such as growth suppression, so it should be used with caution at the minimum effective dose, and elderly patients should be observed carefully due to higher risks of side effects.

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 fracture of the pelvis, osteoporosis, vertebral compression fracture, 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, erosive esophagitis, diarrhea, delayed wound healing, facial erythema, thin and delicate skin, abnormal sweating, petechiae, purpura, skin reaction suppression, purpura, acne, hirsutism, hair loss, pigmentation, peripheral edema, increased intracranial pressure, seizures, dizziness, headache, insomnia, euphoria, depression, Cushing's syndrome, menstrual irregularities, growth suppression in children, symptoms of latent diabetes, 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 capsule cataract, secondary eye infections, central serous chorioretinopathy, retinal disorders, exophthalmos, negative nitrogen balance, immune system disorders, allergic reactions, shock, urticaria, anaphylactic reactions, hypersensitivity reactions

This medication may be sensitive to air or moisture, so it should be stored in a tightly sealed container. It is also advisable to store it at room temperature, between 1 to 30 degrees Celsius, avoiding extremes of temperature. By following this, the efficacy of the medication can be maintained for a long time.

Appearance

White round tablets

Package unit

30 tablets/bottle, 300 tablets/bottle