Medrol

Medrol has a glucocorticoid effect.

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Indications Medrola

It is used for the following endocrine disorders:

• insufficiency affecting the adrenal glands;
• adrenal hyperplasia of a congenital nature;
• thyroiditis, which can be chronic or subacute;
• hypercalcemia in individuals with oncopathologies.

It is also used for such musculoskeletal disorders (as an additional remedy to eliminate exacerbation of the disease):

• arthritis of psoriatic origin;
• rheumatoid arthritis subtype, as well as JRA;
• Bechterew's disease;
• tenosynovitis in the acute phase;
• post-traumatic osteoarthritis;
• synovitis resulting from osteoarthritis;
• acute bursitis;
• arthritis that occurs against the background of gout and has an acute expression;
• epicondylitis.

Acute lesions affecting connective tissues and having a systemic nature:

• rheumatic carditis in the acute stage;
• SKV;
• general dermatomyositis;
• Horton's disease.

Epidermal lesions:

• pemphigus;
• psoriasis of severe severity;
• bullous dermatitis herpetiformis;
• dermatitis of an exfoliative nature;
• SSD;
• seborrheic dermatitis in a severe form;
• mycosis of a fungal nature.

Allergy symptoms:

• dermatitis (atopic or contact);
• rhinitis of allergic origin;
• allergy to medications;
• BA or serum sickness.

Eye pathologies:

• inflammation affecting the anterior region of the eye;
• chorioretinitis;
• posterior uveitis, as well as choroiditis (diffuse type);
• ulcers affecting the cornea (allergic in nature);
• a lesion developing in the area of the optic nerve;
• inflammation of the sympathetic variety;
• conjunctivitis of allergic etiology, or keratitis;
• iridocyclitis or iritis.

Pulmonary diseases:

• sarcoidosis of a symptomatic nature;
• Loeffler syndrome;
• berylliosis;
• pulmonary type of tuberculosis (disseminated or fulminant form);
• pneumonitis that has an aspiration form.

Diseases of hematological origin:

• thrombocytopenic purpura of unknown origin;
• erythroblastopenia;
• hemolytic form of anemia of autoimmune nature;
• secondary thrombocytopenia;
• erythroid anemia of hypoplastic nature.

It is prescribed for palliative therapy in cases of lymphomas or leukemia, and also to eliminate ulcerative colitis and some diseases of the nervous system (multiple sclerosis or cerebral edema caused by a neoplasm).

Other pathologies and conditions:

• meningitis of tuberculous nature (accompanied by subarachnoid block);
• trichinosis;
• organ transplant.

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Release form

The medicinal product is released in tablet form - 4 mg (10 pieces inside a cell package, 1, 3 or 10 packages in a box; 30 tablets inside a glass bottle), 16 mg (10 pieces inside a blister pack, 5 packs in a box; 14 pieces inside a blister, 1 blister in a package; 50 tablets inside a glass bottle) and 32 mg (20 or 50 tablets inside a glass bottle).

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Pharmacodynamics

The element methylprednisolone is a glucocorticoid type hormone. It passes through the cell walls and is synthesized with specific endings inside the cytoplasm, passes into the nucleus, is synthesized with DNA, and together with this activates the processes of mRNA transcription and enzyme binding. It demonstrates a noticeable effect on inflammatory lesions, immune symptoms, and the metabolism of carbohydrates with proteins and fats. It has an effect on skeletal muscles, systemic blood flow and the nervous system.

Methylprednisolone has anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and antiallergic activity. It reduces the level of immunoactive cells near the inflamed area, normalizes lysosomal membranes, weakens vasodilation, inhibits phagocytosis, and reduces the binding of PG and similar compounds.

The active component has a catabolic effect on proteins. The formed amino acids undergo hepatic metabolism and are transformed into glucose together with glycogen. Within the peripheral tissues, the use of glucose by these tissues is weakened, which causes hyperglycemia and glucosuria.

Methylprednisolone exhibits lipogenetic and lipolytic activity within various parts of the body, resulting in a redistribution of fat deposits.

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Pharmacokinetics

Absorption occurs within the small intestine. Protein synthesis rates are approximately 40-90%.

Metabolic processes develop inside the liver. The component methylprednisolone undergoes disintegration with the formation of elements 20p-hydroxy-6a-methylprednisone, as well as 20p-hydroxymethylprednisolone, excreted together with urine.

The half-life of the substance in the blood is approximately 3.5 hours, and the half-life in the body as a whole is up to 1.5 days.

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Dosing and administration

The medication must be taken orally.

Initially, the dosage is within 4-48 mg per day. Larger doses can be used: in case of cerebral edema - 0.2-0.9 g per day; in case of multiple sclerosis - 0.2 g per day; in case of organ transplantation - 7 mg/kg per day. If the desired result is not achieved after a sufficient time interval, Medrol should be discontinued and another type of treatment should be selected.

Children's doses are selected by the attending physician, taking into account the child's body surface area or weight. For example, people with adrenal insufficiency should be administered 3.3 mg/m2 ^or 0.18 mg/kg per day (in 3 doses); for other indications - 12-50 mg/m2 ^or 0.4-1.65 mg/kg per day (also in 3 doses). After prolonged therapy, the drug is discontinued gradually.

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Use Medrola during pregnancy

Medrol should not be prescribed to nursing mothers or pregnant women to prevent the development of severe complications in the woman or fetus (infant).

Contraindications

Contraindicated for use in individuals with allergies to any of the medication's components.

Caution is required in the following disorders:

• gastritis, ulcer and intestinal anastomosis;
• hyperlipidemia, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, ulcerative colitis of non-specific nature and osteoporosis;
• acute stage of psychosis;
• thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism;
• high blood pressure, myocardial infarction, glaucoma, chickenpox;
• liver or kidney damage of a severe nature;
• measles, tuberculosis, HIV or herpes;
• severe stages of diseases of bacterial or viral origin.

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Side effects Medrola

Side effects include:

• metabolic disorders: sodium retention, potassium loss, CHF, increased blood pressure, and negative nitrogen balance;
• lesions of the musculoskeletal structure: muscle weakness, steroid myopathy, osteoporosis, and along with this, tendon ruptures and necrosis affecting tubular bones and having an aseptic nature;
• digestive disorders: pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, esophagitis or bleeding inside the stomach;
• problems with the functioning of the nervous system: increased ICP values or mental disorders;
• epidermal manifestations: petechiae, inhibition of wound healing processes and thinning of the epidermis;
• disorders associated with the function of the hormonal system: menstrual disorders, growth retardation in children, hirsutism, as well as suppression of the pituitary gland and adrenal glands and an increased need for insulin in diabetics;
• eye lesions: exophthalmos or increased intraocular pressure;
• other disorders: development of withdrawal syndrome, signs of allergy and occurrence of latent infections.

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Overdose

Poisoning with the drug occurs only occasionally. Among the manifestations - with repeated repeated use over a long period of time, the development of cushingoid and other complications is possible.

In such situations, symptomatic measures are carried out.

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Interactions with other drugs

Combined use with cyclosporine leads to mutual inhibition of metabolic processes.

Phenobarbital, phenytoin with ephedrine, and also rifampicin with theophylline weaken the medicinal activity of methylprednisolone.

Oral contraception and ketoconazole with oleandomycin suppress the metabolic processes of methylprednisolone.

The drug increases the clearance rate of aspirin and also alters the effects of anticoagulants.

The drug increases the likelihood of developing negative symptoms associated with the activity of paracetamol and SG.

NSAIDs and alcoholic beverages in combination with methylprednisolone can provoke bleeding and intestinal ulceration.

Use together with antacids weakens the absorption of the drug.

Medrol weakens the effect of vaccines.

The therapeutic agent potentiates the metabolic processes of isoniazid with mexelitin.

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Storage conditions

Medrol should be stored in a place inaccessible to small children. Temperature values fluctuate within 20-25°C.

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Shelf life

Medrol can be used for a period of 5 years from the date of release of the therapeutic substance.

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Application for children

In pediatrics, the drug is prescribed with extreme caution. It is necessary to take into account the child's weight or body surface area.

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Analogues

Analogues of the drug are the medications Deltason, Solu-Medrol, Metipred with Prednisolone, and Depo-Medrol.

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