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General information...
Methylprednisolone is a synthetic glucocorticoid drug. It is sold in the USA and Canada under the brand names Medrol,
Solu-Medrol and Cadista. It is also available as a generic drug.
Like most adrenocortical steroids, methylprednisolone is typically used for its anti-inflammatory effects.
However, glucocorticoids have a wide range of effects, including changes to metabolism and immune responses.
The list of medical conditions for which methlyprednisolone is prescribed is rather long,
and is similar to other corticosteroids such as prednisolone.
Common uses include arthritis therapy and short-term treatment of bronchial inflammation or
acute bronchitis due to various respiratory diseases.
It is used both in the treatment of acute periods and long-term management of autoimmune diseases,
most notably Systemic lupus erythematosus.
Methylprednisolone has serious side effects if taken long-term, including weight gain,
glaucoma, osteoporosis and psychosis, especially when used at high dosage.
The most serious side effect occurs after the adrenal glands cease natural production of cortisone,
which methylprednisolone will replace. Abrupt cessation of the drug after this occurs can result
in a condition known as Addisonian crisis, which can be fatal.
To prevent this, the drug is usually prescribed with
a tapering dosage,
including a pre-dosed "dose pack" detailing a specific number of pills to take at designated times over a few-day period.
Methlyprednisolone is also prescribed for spinal cord injuries (traumas).
It has been proven that a dose of 30 mg/kg IV followed by IV drip at 5.4 mg / kg / hr for 23 hours improves
sensory and motor recovery if given within 8 hours of the injury.
The information about Solumedrol [Methylprednisolone] is edited, and based on this article
editor: H.m.Hanse copyright in accordance with the GNU licence