Solu Medrol
SIDE EFFECTS
| Fluid and Electrolyte Disturbances | ||
| Sodium retention Fluid retention Congestive heart failure in susceptible patients | Potassium loss Hypokalemic alkalosis Hypertension | |
| Musculoskeletal | ||
| Muscle weakness Steroid myopathy Loss of muscle mass Severe arthralgia Vertebral compression fractures | Aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads Pathologic fracture of long bones Osteoporosis Tendon rupture, particularly of of the Achilles tendon | |
|
Peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage Pancreatitis Abdominal distention Ulcerative esophagitis |
Increases in alanine transaminase (ALT, SGPT), aspartate transaminase(AST, SGOT), and alkaline phosphatase have been observed following corticosteroid treatment. These changes are usually small, not associated with any clinical syndrome and are reversible upon discontinuation. | |
|
Impaired wound healing Thin fragile skin Petechiae and ecchymoses |
Facial erythema Increased sweating May suppress reactions to skin tests | |
|
Increased intracranial pressure with papilledema (pseudo-tumor cerebri) usually after treatment | ||
| Development of Cushingoid state Suppression of growth in children | ||
| Secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness, particularly in times of stress, as in trauma, surgery or illness | ||
| Menstrual irregularities | ||
| Decreased carbohydrate tolerance Manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus Increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetics | ||
| Posterior subcapsular cataracts Increased intraocular pressure | ||
| Negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism | ||
| The following additional adverse reactions are related to parenteral corticosteroid therapy: Hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation Subcutaneous and cutaneous atrophy Sterile abscess | ||
| Anaphylactic reaction with or without circulatory collapse, cardiac arrest, bronchospasm Urticaria | ||
| Nausea and vomiting | ||
| Cardiac arrhythmias; hypotension or hypertension | ||
DRUG INTERACTIONS
The pharmacokinetic interactions listed below are potentially clinically important. Mutual inhibition of metabolism occurs with concurrent use of cyclosporin and methylprednisolone; therefore, it is possible that adverse events associated with the individual use of either drug may be more apt to occur. Convulsions have been reported with concurrent use of methylprednisolone and cyclosporin. Drugs that induce
hepatic enzymes such as phenobarbital, phenytoin and rifampin may increase the clearance of methylprednisolone and may require increases in methylprednisolone dose to achieve the desired response. Drugs such as troleandomycin and ketoconazole may inhibit the metabolism of methylpred-nisolone and thus decrease its clearance. Therefore, the dose of methylprednisolone should be titrated to avoid steroid toxicity. Methylprednisolone may increase the clearance of chronic high dose aspirin. This could lead to decreased sali-cylate serum levels or increase the risk of salicylate toxicity when methylprednisolone is withdrawn. Aspirin should be used cautiously in conjunction with corticosteroids in patients suffering from hypoprothrombinemia. The effect of methyl-prednisolone on oral anticoagulants is variable. There are reports of enhanced as well as diminished effects of anticoagulant when given concurrently with corticosteroids. Therefore, coagulation indices should be monitored to maintain the desired anticoagulant effect.
Generic Name: Methylprednisolone sodium succinate
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