Solu-Medrol

Who is Solu-Medrol for ?

Your doctor has ordered methylprednisolone, a corticosteroid, to relieve inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, and pain). The drug will be added to an intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter placed in your vein for at least 1 hour per day. Methylprednisolone is similar to a natural hormone produced by your adrenal glands. It is used to treat, but not cure, certain forms of arthritis; skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid, and intestinal disorders (e.g., colitis); and multiple sclerosis. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. The length of treatment depends on how you respond to the medication.

When should I be careful taking Solu-Medrol ?

Before administering methylprednisolone,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to methylprednisolone, aspirin, or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially anticoagulants ("blood thinners") such as warfarin (Coumadin), arthritis medications, aspirin, azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics ("water pills"), erythromycin, estrogen (Premarin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), oral contraceptives, phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin (Rifadin), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have a fungal infection (other than on your skin); do not take methylprednisolone without talking to your doctor.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver, kidney, intestinal, or heart disease; diabetes; an underactive thyroid gland; high blood pressure; mental illness; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection; seizures; tuberculosis (TB); or ulcers.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking methylprednisolone, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking methylprednisolone.

Solu-Medrol Side Effects

Although side effects from methylprednisolone are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• headache
• dizziness
• insomnia
• restlessness
• depression
• anxiety
• unusual moods
• increased sweating
• increased hair growth
• reddened face
• acne
• thinned skin
• easy bruising
• tiny purple skin spots
• irregular or absent menstrual periods

• swollen feet, ankles, and lower legs
• muscle pain and weakness
• eye pain
• vision problems
• puffy skin (especially the face)
• a cold or infection that lasts a long time