Mepi Tablet (Methylprednisolone)

Adult use

The initial dose may vary from 4 mg to 48 mg per day as methylprednisolone, 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 obtained. If a satisfactory clinical result is not achieved after a reasonable period, discontinue treatment and switch to another appropriate therapy. The dose should be determined individually according to the various diseases being treated and the patient's response. After an adequate response is obtained, an 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. Ongoing monitoring of the dose is required. Circumstances that may require dose adjustment include improvement or worsening of the disease, individual patient responsiveness to the drug, 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 adequately address the patient's condition. After long-term treatment, gradual dose reduction is recommended when discontinuing the drug. Multiple sclerosis For treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, it is effective to administer prednisolone 200 mg daily for 1 week, followed by prednisolone 80 mg every other day for 1 month (4 mg of methylprednisolone is equivalent to 5 mg of prednisolone). 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 considerably less adrenal suppression than taking prednisolone (10 mg) in 4 divided doses every 6 hours throughout the day, there is evidence that, when pharmacologic doses are used, a slight suppressive effect on adrenal activity continues into the following 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. ① Switch to ADT and gradually reduce the amount of corticosteroid given every other day. ② Reduce the daily corticosteroid dose to the minimum effective level as soon as possible according to control of disease progression, then switch to an alternate-day schedule. If difficulties arise, it is preferable to administer 3 or even 4 times the daily dose every other day rather than merely doubling the daily dose. Once the patient is controlled again, attempt to reduce this dose to the lowest level.

This medication should not be administered to certain patients. For instance, it should not be used in patients who are allergic to this medicine or any of its components, have infections with no effective antibacterial agents, have simple herpes or shingles, chickenpox patients, and those receiving live vaccines or attenuated live vaccines. Additionally, caution should be exercised when used in patients with glaucoma, tuberculosis, posterior capsule cataract, electrolyte disorders, hypertension, thrombosis, recent surgical history, history of acute myocardial infarction, diverticulitis, peptic ulcer, mental illness, severe osteoporosis, and others. Special care is also needed for patients with infections, diabetes, renal failure, hypothyroidism, fatty liver, myasthenia gravis, elderly patients, epilepsy patients, and patients with ulcerative colitis. Various side effects may occur during the course of taking this medication, so symptoms such as edema, increased blood pressure, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, digestive disorders, skin changes, neuropsychiatric symptoms, endocrine disorders, and eye-related problems should be closely monitored. Long-term use may lead to adrenal insufficiency, so the medication should not be abruptly discontinued but gradually reduced, and the dosage may need to be temporarily increased in stressful situations. Moreover, the risk of infection is increased due to weakened immunity, so special attention to infections is necessary. This medication may interact with several other medications, so if you are taking other drugs, you must inform the healthcare provider, as there may be side effects or changes in effect when combined with specific drugs. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult their physician before using this medication as it can impact the fetus or newborn, and breastfeeding should be suspended. In children, this medication should be administered with careful consideration of the minimum doses due to the potential for growth retardation, and elderly patients also require careful observation to prevent the risk of side effects. Finally, if a patient receiving this medication is infected with chickenpox or measles, it could lead to serious consequences, so vaccination history and medical history should be thoroughly checked, and precautions should be taken to minimize infection risk.

Edema, sodium retention, potassium loss, fluid retention, hypokalemic alkalosis, congestive heart failure, hypertension, myasthenia, avascular necrosis of the femoral and humeral heads, steroid myopathy, loss of muscle mass, pathological fractures of the pelvis, osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, arthralgia, tendon rupture, increased ALT, increased AST, increased ALP, nausea, dry mouth, vomiting, gastric 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, ecchymosis, suppression of skin reactions, purpura, acne, hirsutism, alopecia, pigmentation, nipple edema, increased intracranial pressure, convulsions, dizziness, headache, insomnia, euphoria, depression, Cushing's syndrome, menstrual irregularities, growth suppression in children, symptoms of latent diabetes mellitus, secondary adrenal insufficiency, pituitary non-responsiveness, 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, negative nitrogen balance due to catabolism, immune system disorders, allergic reactions, shock, urticaria, anaphylactic reaction, hypersensitivity reactions

This medication is sensitive to air and moisture, so it must be stored in a tightly sealed container. It is advisable to maintain the storage temperature at room temperature between 1 degree and 30 degrees.

Appearance

White oval-shaped tablets

Package unit

30 tablets/bottle, 500 tablets/bottle