SoluMedrol

Drugs

Generic Name: Methylprednisolone sodium succinate
Product Name: SoluMedrol

Indication of SoluMedrol
Action of SoluMedrol
Dose advice of SoluMedrol
Schedule of SoluMedrol
Common side effects of SoluMedrol
Uncommon side effects of SoluMedrol

Indication of SoluMedrol:

Solu-Medrol is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid. Methylprednisolone sodium succinate is a synthetic corticosteroid used mostly short term in severe conditions to reduce inflammation. It is therefore used to treat inflammatory disorders such as:

asthma

arthritis

severe allergic reactions

Crohn's disease

systemic lupus erythematosusIt can be used to decrease fluid retention and swelling in the brain (cerebral oedema) due to a brain tumour. It is also used to suppress the immune system in organ transplantation.

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Action of SoluMedrol:

Solu-Medrol is a drug known as a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are hormones produced naturally by the adrenal glands, which have many important functions, including control of inflammatory responses. Methylprednisolone is a synthetic corticosteroid and is used to decrease inflammation. It works by acting within cells to prevent the release of certain chemicals that are important in the immune system. These chemicals are normally involved in producing immune and allergic responses, thus resulting in inflammation. By decreasing the amount of these chemicals in a particular area, the inflammation is reduced. This can help many diseases that are characterized by excessive inflammation.Solu-Medrol also decreases the number of white blood cells circulating in the blood. This, along with the decrease in inflammatory chemicals, can prevent the rejection of organ transplants, as it prevents the body from attacking foreign tissues.

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Dose advice of SoluMedrol:

Solu-Medrol is administered by injection into the muscle (intramuscular) or via a drip into the vein (intravenous). Short-term management of severe, acute conditions:If high dose therapy is required (greater than 250mg), the recommended dose of Solu-Medrol sterile powder is 30mg/kg intravenously administered over a period of at least 30 minutes. Dose may be repeated four to six hourly. Generally, high dose corticosteroid therapy should only be given until the patient's condition has stabilized, not beyond 24 to 48 hours. Short term high dose therapy increases the risk of peptic ulceration.Other Indications:

Recommended initial dosage depends on the condition being treated, and varies from 10 to 500mg.

Any initial dose of up to 250mg should be given intravenously over a period of 5 minutes, a dose greater than 250mg should be given over a period of 30 minutes. After this, intervals between subsequent doses depend on the condition being treated and the patient response to therapy, and can be given intravenously or intramuscularly.

Dosage should be decreased gradually when therapy has continued for more than a few days. Use in Infants:Dosage should be reduced for infants. This is determined more by the condition being treated and the response of the patient, than by parameters such as age and size. Dosage should not be less than 0.5mg/kg per 24 hours.

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Schedule of SoluMedrol:

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Common side effects of SoluMedrol:

Side effects of medicines can affect people in different ways. The following are a list of common side effects that people have experienced when taking this medication.

mood changes

thinning of the skin

increased pressure inside the eye (glaucoma)

weight gain

thinning of the bones (osteoporosis)

ulceration of the stomach or intestine

increased susceptibility to infections

acne

nausea and vomiting

muscle weakness and wasting

suppression of growth in children

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