Solu-Medrol
Solu-Medrol is a medicine that helps reduce inflammation and allergic reactions.
Form
injektiokuiva-aine ja liuotin, liuosta varten
Strength
40 mg
Active Ingredient
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate
Manufacturer
Pfizer Oy
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide your dose, usually 10-500 mg for initial treatment, given into a vein. For certain conditions like rheumatic diseases, 250 mg daily for up to 5 days, or for multiple sclerosis, 500-1000 mg daily for 3-5 days.
Method
Solu-Medrol is given as an injection into a vein or muscle by a doctor or nurse.
Important
Up to 1000 mg daily for severe cases, as determined by your doctor.
Possible Side Effects
RARE
- •Infections due to weakened immune system, other infections.
- •Increase in white blood cell count.
- •Allergic reactions to the medicine, including severe allergic reactions.
- •Cushing's syndrome-like symptoms (e.g., weight gain, rounded face), withdrawal symptoms when stopping steroids (e.g., loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, headache, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, weight loss, low blood pressure).
- •Metabolic issues like too much acid in the body, sodium and fluid retention, low potassium, high blood fat, high blood sugar, increased need for diabetes medicine, abnormal fat deposits, increased appetite (leading to weight gain).
- •Mood changes (mood swings, mental dependence, suicidal thoughts, depression, euphoria), psychotic disorders (mania, delusions, hallucinations, schizophrenia), personality changes, confusion, anxiety, unusual behavior, sleeplessness, irritability.
- •Increased pressure inside the skull, seizures, memory loss, problems with thinking, learning, and memory, dizziness, headache.
- •Eye diseases affecting retina and choroid, cataracts, increased eye pressure, bulging eyes, blurred vision.
- •Vertigo (spinning sensation).
- •Heart failure in prone patients, irregular heartbeat.
- •Increased blood clotting, very low blood pressure, high blood pressure, warm and red skin.
- •Blood clot in the lungs, hiccups.
- •Stomach and digestive issues (e.g., stomach ulcer, pancreatitis, esophagitis, stomach pain, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea), stomach or duodenal ulcer that may bleed or perforate.
- •Methylprednisolone can cause liver damage, including hepatitis and increased liver enzyme levels.
- •Skin reactions (e.g., sudden local swelling, excessive hair growth, small bruises, easy bruising, skin redness, excessive sweating, stretch marks, rash, itching, hives, acne, skin discoloration).
- •Muscle weakness, muscle pain, muscle disease, muscle wasting, bone loss (osteoporosis), bone death, abnormal fractures, nerve-related joint disease, joint pain, slowed growth in children.
- •Crisis related to adrenal gland tumor.
- •Irregular menstrual cycle.
- •Slow wound healing, swelling, fatigue, malaise, skin reactions at the injection site.
- •Increased eye pressure, reduced carbohydrate tolerance, changes in blood values, increased calcium in urine, weakened skin test reactions.
- •Spinal compression fracture, tendon rupture.
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to methylprednisolone or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Do not use if you have a fungal infection.
- Do not use if you have recently received or are about to receive a vaccine containing live or weakened germs.
- This medicine can lower your body's ability to fight infections, making you more likely to get sick or worsening existing infections.
- Long-term daily use of this medicine can slow down growth in children; it should only be used for severe illnesses.
Show 3 more warnings
- Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other vision problems.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you experience muscle weakness, pain, cramps, or stiffness while using this medicine.
- Tell your doctor if you have cancer and notice symptoms like muscle cramps, weakness, confusion, irregular heartbeat, or vision problems, as these could indicate tumor lysis syndrome.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category C
Suitable for older adults, with specific precautions. Consider the risk of adverse effects of cortisone treatment. (updated 10.11.2025)