What is methylprednisolone?
The bottom line
Methylprednisolone is a steroid medication commonly prescribed for various conditions, including severe allergies, inflammation, breathing disorders, or ulcerative colitis. Methylprednisolone should be taken as prescribed to minimize the risk of side effects, ranging from mood changes to increased hunger.
Prevention Tips
Store medications up, away, and out of reach of children and pets.
Take all prescribed medications as directed.
If you miss a dose of methylprednisolone, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice on continuing to take the medication.
This Really Happened
A 51-year-old woman called her poison center because she mistakenly took her methylprednisolone in one dose instead of taking it three times daily as prescribed. She consumed 20 milligrams of methylprednisolone all at once. The poison specialist informed the patient that a typical methylprednisolone daily dose could range from 4 – 48 mg, so she did not need to go to the Emergency Department for additional treatment of this therapeutic error. The poison specialist called the patient later in the day to find out how she was feeling. The patient reported that she was feeling better, but was a little “jittery” for a while after she took the methylprednisolone.
What is methylprednisolone, and what is it used for?
Methylprednisolone is a type of steroid medication. Doctors prescribe steroids to reduce inflammation for specific medical situations or conditions, including severe allergies, breathing disorders (like sarcoidosis), inflammatory conditions (such as arthritis and bursitis), collagen vascular diseases (including lupus and polymyositis), certain blood disorders, and ulcerative colitis.
How long does it take for methylprednisolone to work?
After someone ingests methylprednisolone, it is absorbed through the gut into the bloodstream within one to two hours and distributed throughout the body.
What to avoid while taking methylprednisolone
To avoid drug interactions, talk to your doctor before adding other medications while taking methylprednisolone. Medications known to interact with methylprednisolone include phenytoin, carbamazepine, or erythromycin. Since methylprednisolone may cause changes in the body’s handling of salt and potassium, people taking it may need to change their diet. In addition, individuals taking high doses of methylprednisolone should not be given certain vaccinations.
Does methylprednisolone make you sleepy?
Methylprednisolone generally does not make people sleepy; instead, it does the opposite, causing alertness. If taken too late in the day, methylprednisolone may cause difficulty sleeping at night. Methylprednisolone can cause noticeable side effects such as irritability, euphoria, mood swings, personality changes, increased appetite, or insomnia. Gastrointestinal disturbances, including nausea and stomach pain, can also occur in people who take methylprednisolone. Blood sugar levels and blood pressure may increase while on methylprednisolone.
How to take methylprednisolone
Physicians often advise patients to take methylprednisolone at the beginning of the day, with food or milk to avoid gastrointestinal side effects. Methylprednisolone is typically prescribed on different schedules depending on the condition treated. Standard methylprednisolone schedules include a taper or alternate-day therapy schedule. In a taper, the patient gradually decreases the amount taken over the following days or weeks. In an alternate-day therapy schedule, methylprednisolone is taken every other morning.
What should I do if I take too much methylprednisolone?
If you experience adverse or unexpected symptoms after taking methylprednisolone, or if someone takes too much methylprednisolone, use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
