- Used to prevent the symptoms of asthma, especially the breathing difficulties
- Used to treat severe skin disorders like psoriasis and dermatitis
- Used to treat conditions like arthritis, lupus, colitis and allergic rhinitis
- Used to treat eye disorders
Medrol is the brand name for the generic drug Methylprednisolone and it is manufactured by Pfizer. It is available in tablets with strengths of 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg, 24 mg and 32 mg. It is also available as injections of 20 mg/mL, 40 mg/mL and 80 mg/mL.
Indications
This drug is used to prevent the airways from getting blocked with inflammation and this prevents a full-blown asthma attack. It is also prescribed for a whole range of conditions like arthritis, colitis, psoriasis and eye complications.
Action
This drug is a corticosteroid which blocks the inflammation in the body. This synthetic steroid is very similar to the naturally occurring one in the human adrenal gland.
Side Effects
There are a few side effects that a few people might experience while taking this drug – some minor and some severe. Any side effect should be reported to the doctor, even though the minor ones in most cases tend to disappear in a few days or a couple of weeks. The mild side effects could be insomnia, headaches, weight gain, sore or hoarse throat, dry mouth and nervousness. The serious side effects could be depression, mood swings, irregular menstrual cycle, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, swelling of face or ankles, seizures, dizziness, blurred vision and unusual skin growths.
Caution
Your doctor will want to know everything about you when it comes to your medical history before he prescribes this drug. This is because there could be reactions between any medication or supplement you are taking and this drug. He will also want to know if you are allergic to any drug or if you have any allergies. You should also tell him if you smoke and if so, how much. Any drug and alcohol history should also be stated. Any family history of the same ailment you have or in the same area should be told to the doctor too. Remember to tell him about all the vitamins and supplements you take too – even if they are natural or herbal.
Contraindications
Any fungal infection anywhere on the body will be a contraindication for this drug. So be sure to inform your doctor if you suffer from it. You should also tell your doctor about any ailment or condition like TB, glaucoma, cataracts, high blood pressure, seizures, epilepsy or liver problems. This drug weakens your immunity so be sure to stay away from infections and infectious people, especially those suffering from measles and chicken pox. Do not get any live vaccine when you are on this medication. Pregnant women and nursing mothers would do well to avoid taking this drug as one does not know if there will be any harmful effects on the baby. This drug can react with certain other drugs so check every drug you take with your doctor.