Drug name: Brand Medrol

Active substance: Methylprednisolone

Pharmacological effects: Methylprednisolone is the active ingredient of Medrol. The preparation belongs to a class of drugs called glucocorticosteroids. The drug works by decreasing the release of interleukin-1, interleukin-2 and interferon from the lymphocytes and macrophages. Thus the drug exerts anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, desensibilizing, anti-shock, antitoxic and immunosuppressive effects. The hormonal preparation affects lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism as well as production of many innate hormones of the body. Medrol also affects water-electrolyte balance of the organism by retaining Na+ , increasing excretion of K+ and the removal of calcium from the bone tissue as well as Ca2+ excretion.

Indications: The preparation is indicated in treatment of:

• Systemic disease of the connective tissue
• Acute and chronic joint inflammatory disease: gout arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, polyarthritis, ankylosing spondyloarthritis, juvenile arthritis, Stills disease in adults, bursitis, nonspecific tendosinovitis, synovitis, epicondylitis
• Rheumatic fever
• Bronchial asthma
• Asthmatic status
• Acute and chronic allergies: angioneurotic swelling, hives, drug and food allergies
• Eye allergies: allergic conjunctivitis, allergic ulcers of the cornea
• Various skin disease among them psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, eczema, exfoliative dermatitis, malignant exudative erythema and others
• Cerebral swelling
• Inflammatory disease of the eye
• Primary or secondary renal failure
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• Renal disease of autoimmune genesis
• Haemopoietic organ disease
• Lung disease: acute alveolitis, lung fibrosis, sarcoidosis
• Tuberculosis meningitis
• Lung tuberculosis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Gastrointestinal disease: Chrone's disease,
• Hepatitis
• Prophylaxis of transplant rejection
• Hypercalcemia caused by cancer
• Nausea and vomiting during cytostatic therapy

Consult your doctor on other possible indications of the drug.

Warnings and Precautions: The use of Medrol for short term therapy is contradicted in cases of:

• Hypersensitivity to any components of the preparations.

The drug should be used with caution on cases of:

• Parasitic and infectious disease of viral, fungal and bacterial origin
• Post-vaccine period
• Immunodeficient conditions
• Gastrointestinal disease: stomach, duodenal ulcer and etc.
• Cardiovascular disease: myocardial infraction, chronic heart failure, arterial hypertension
• Endocrine disease: diabetes, thyreotoxicosis and etc.
• Acute and chronic liver and/or renal failure
• Hypoalbunemia
• Systemic osteoporosis
• Acute psychosis
• Obesity
• Glaucoma
• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding

Before the treatment with Medrol the patient must be carefully examined for possible contradictions. The preparation may cause withdrawal syndrome. After the withdrawal of Medrol for a period of 2 months decreased function of adrenal glands can be monitored. Consult your doctor for other possible precautions and contradictions that may apply to you. The preparation must not be used without a prior consultation with your health care provider.

Side effects: Drugs may cause side-effects which in specific patients may manifest differently. In the following paragraph we want to underline the most serious and frequent side effect of Medrol that were identified by the drug manufacturers. The possibility of the adverse effect manifestation depends only on the individual and his specific traits. Methylprednisolone side effects include:

• Endocrine system: steroid induced diabetes, decreased adrenal gland fucntion, Yatsenko-Cushing syndrome, retardation of sexual development in children.
• Gastrointestinal tract: nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis, stomach and duodenal ulcer, erosive esophagitis, bleeding and perforation of the GI tract, increased or decreased appetite, meteorism, hiccups, increasd activity of liver transaminase
• Cardiovascular system: arrhythmia, bradycardia, development of chronic heart failure in patients predisposed to the conditions, increased arterial pressure, thrombosis, complications in patients with myocardial infraction
• CNS: delirium, disorientation, euphoria, hallucinations, psychosis, paranoia, increased intracranial pressure, nervousness, insomnia, vertigo, headaches, seizures, agitation
• Sensory organs: cataract, increased intraocular pressure, predisposition to secondary infection development
• Metabolism: increased Ca2+ excretion, increased body weight, negative nitrogen balance, fluid and sodium retention, hypokaliemia
• Locomotor system: osteoporosis, slowed growth and ossification in children, ligament or muscle rupture, muscle atrophy
• Skin: slowed wound healing, thinning of skin, and etc.
• Allergic reaction: generalized and local.
• Other: development and exacerbation of infections, withdrawal syndrome

For full information on any risks and adverse effects associated with Medrol, please consult your doctor, read the included leaflet or contact our customer support service.

Interactions: Before using Methylprednisolone please tell your doctor which drugs or supplements you are already taking including those bought without a prescription. Also check if any additional medicine which you will take during the course of Medrol therapy are safe in combination. Especially mention if you are taking the following groups of drugs:

• Cardiac glycosides
• NSAID's
• Antiviral drugs
• Vaccines
• Tuberculosis treatment
• Antipyretic drugs
• Antibiotics
• Muscle relaxants
• Antacids
• Other hormonal therapy
• Diabetes treatment
• Anticoagulants
• Vitamins
• Antihelmintics
• Antimycotics
• Diuretics
• Ethanol
• Immunosuppressors
• Antiepileptics
• Alpha-adrenomimetics
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Neuroleptics
• M-cholinoblockers

Patients information: Medrol is not to be shared with healthy individuals. It is strictly FORBIDDEN to use the drugs in treatment of any conditions unrelated to their indications. The product as well as utilized vials, syringes, needles if used during the course of treatment should be kept out of reach of children and never reused.