Description
is used as an anti-inflammatory agent also any of several of its salts (such as an acetate) used similarly
Indicated
Endocrines disease : Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (Hydrocortisone or Cortisone is the first choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance).
Rheumatic diseases : The additional therapy for short term treatment of psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute and sub acute bursitis, acute non spesific tenosynovitis, acute gout arthritis, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, synovitis of osteoarthritis, and epycondylitis.
Collagens diseases : For exacerbation or maintenance therapy in selected cases of systemic lupus erythematosus, acute rheumatic carditis or systemic dermatomyositis (polymyositis).
Dermatologic disease : Pemphigus, bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), mycosis fungoides, severe psoriasis, and severe seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Allergic states : Seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, drug hypersensitivity reaction, contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis.
Ophtalmic diseases : Treatment of severe, acute and chronis allergic and inflamatory processes involving the eye and its adnexa.
Respiratory diseases : Symptomatic sarcoidosis, Loeffler's syndrome not manageable by other means, berylliosis, fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy, and aspiration pneumonitis.
Hematologic disorders : Idiophatic thrombocytopenia purpura and secondary thrombocytopenia in adults, acquired (autoimmune) haemolytic anaemia, erythroblastopenia, and congenital hypoplastic anaemia.
Neoplastic diseases : For palliative management of leukemias and lymphomas in adults and acute leukemia for childhood.
Edematous states : To induce diuresis or remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome without uremia, idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus.
Gastrointestinal diseases : To tide the patient over a critical period of the diseases in ulcerative colitis and regional enteritis.
Nervous system : Acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis
Others : Tuberculous meningitis, trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement
DOSAGE
Adults: The initial dosage of Methylprednisolone may vary from 4–48 mg per day depending on the specific and severe disease and patients response. If satisfactory therapy effects have been recovered, the dose must be decreased until effective minimum dose for maintenance. Clinical situations in which high-dose therapy of Methylprednisolone may be indicated include multiple sclerosis : 160 mg/day for a week, followed by 64 mg every other day for 1 month have been shown to be effective. If after a reasonable period of time there is a lack of satisfactory clinical response, it should be discontinued and the patient transferred to other appropriate therapy. If after long term therapy the drug is to be stopped, it is recommended that it be withdrawn gradually rather than abruptly. ADT (Alternate Day Therapy) is a corticosteroid dosing regimen in which twice the usual daily dose of corticosteroid is administered every morning (drug is administered every 2 days). The purpose of this mode of therapy is to provide the patient requiring long term pharmacologic dose treatment while minimizing certain undesirable effects, including pituitary-adrenal supression, the Cushingoid state, corticoid withdrawal symptoms and growth supression in children.
Elderly: Treatment of elderly patients, particularly if long term, should be planned bearing in mind the more serious consequences of the common side effects of corticosteroid in old age (particularly osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, susceptibility to infection and thinning of skin).
Children (12 years): In general dosage for children should be based upon clinical response and is at the discretion of the clinician. Treatment should be limited
Side effects
The use of drugs generally has certain side effects and according to each individual. If excessive and dangerous side effects occur, please consult a medical professional. Side effects that may occur in the use of the drug are: Adrenal suppression, anaphylactoid reactions, immunosuppression, acute myopathy, Kaposi's sarcoma, psychiatric disorders (eg depression, euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes), increased susceptibility and severity of infections, impaired healing , HTN, Na and fluid retention, CV collapse (high doses), gastric ulcer, subcapsular cataract, skin atrophy, acne, muscle weakness, growth retardation, decreased blood K; dermal/subdermal skin depression at the inj site. Topical: Itching, burning erythema, vesicles; rarely, folliculitis, hypertrichosis, perioral dermatitis,
