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Same active ingredient — pay up to 3% less
These brands contain the same active ingredient (Methylprednisolone). Same strength and form. Confirm the switch with your doctor or pharmacist.
More from Methipred
Other strengths and forms by General Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Indications & Uses
Methylprednisolone is used in a number of conditions, grouped here by body system. Endocrine disorders: primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, nonsuppurative thyroiditis, and hypercalcemia associated with cancer. Rheumatic disorders: juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute and subacute bursitis, synovitis of osteoarthritis, acute nonspecific tenosynovitis, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, epicondylitis and acute gouty arthritis. Collagen diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic dermatomyositis and acute rheumatic carditis. Dermatologic diseases: bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), severe seborrheic dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, mycosis fungoides, pemphigus and severe psoriasis. Allergy: seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, serum sickness, contact dermatitis, bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis. Ophthalmic diseases: allergic corneal ulcers, herpes zoster ophthalmicus, anterior segment inflammation, sympathetic ophthalmia, keratitis, optic neuritis, allergic conjunctivitis, chorioretinitis, and iritis and iridocyclitis. Respiratory diseases: symptomatic sarcoidosis, Loeffler's syndrome not manageable by other means, berylliosis and aspiration pneumonitis. Hematological disorders: idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults, secondary thrombocytopenia in adults, acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia, erythroblastopenia and congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia. Neoplastic diseases: for palliative management of leukemias and lymphomas in adults, and acute leukemia of childhood. Edematous states: to induce a diuresis or remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome, without uremia, of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus. Gastrointestinal disease: to tide the patient over a critical period of the disease in ulcerative colitis and regional enteritis. CNS disease: acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis.
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamic properties
Methylprednisolone is a potent anti-inflammatory agent and can strongly suppress the immune system. Glucocorticoids mainly bind to and activate glucocorticoid receptors inside the cell. Once activated, these receptors bind to the promoter regions of DMA (which may activate or suppress transcription) and activate transcription factors, and this leads to inactivation of genes through deacetylation of histones. Methylprednisolone influences the kidney, fluid and electrolyte balance, lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, skeletal muscle, the cardiovascular system, the immune system, the nervous system and the endocrine system.
Pharmacokinetic properties
After oral administration in normal healthy adults, the absolute bioavailability of Methylprednisclone is generally high (82% to 89%). It is absorbed rapidly, and the maximum plasma concentration is reached around 1.5 to 2.3 hours across doses. The medicine is widely distributed into the tissues, with a volume of distribution of 41 to 61.5 liter. It crosses the Wood-brain barrier and the placental barrier, and it is secreted in breast milk. Plasma protein binding in humans is approximately 77%. The liver metabolises it to inactive metabolites. No dosing adjustments are necessary for renal failure. Methylprednisolone is haemodializable.
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
The usual range is 2 to 48 mg daily in divided doses, depending on the disease being treated.
Initial dosage for anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive use: the starting dose of Methylprednisolone tablets may vary from 4 to 48 mg per day, depending on the specific disease. In less severe conditions lower doses will generally be enough, while some patients may need higher initial doses. The initial dose should be kept or adjusted until a satisfactory response is seen. If there is no satisfactory response after a reasonable period, Methylprednisolone should be stopped and the patient moved to other appropriate therapy. Dosage requirements vary, so they must be individualized on the basis of the disease under treatment and how the patient responds.
Maintenance dosage for anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive use: once a favorable response is seen, the proper maintenance dose is found by lowering the initial dose in small steps at suitable time intervals, until the lowest dose that still maintains an adequate clinical response is reached. The dose needs constant monitoring. If the drug is to be stopped after long-term therapy, it is recommended that it be withdrawn gradually rather than abruptly.
Multiple Sclerosis: in acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, daily doses of 160 mg of Methylprednisolone for a week, followed by 64 mg every other day for 1 month, have been shown to be effective.
Methylprednisolone 4 mg tablet can be used to treat and control severe allergy and dermatitis. The guideline below should be followed to minimize steroid withdrawal syndromes.
Day 1: 2 tablets before breakfast + 1 tablet after lunch + 1 tablet after dinner + 2 tablets at bedtime
Day 2: 1 tablet before breakfast + 1 tablet after lunch + 1 tablet after dinner + 2 tablets at bedtime
Day 3: 1 tablet before breakfast + 1 tablet after lunch + 1 tablet after dinner + 1 tablet at bedtime
Day 4: 1 tablet before breakfast + 1 tablet after lunch + 1 tablet at bedtime
Day 5: 1 tablet before breakfast + 1 tablet at bedtime
Day 6: 1 tablet before breakfast
Alternate-day therapy (ADT)
Alternate-day therapy is a corticosteroid regimen in which twice the usual daily dose of corticoid is given every other morning. It is meant for patients who need long-term treatment at pharmacologic doses. They get the beneficial effects of corticoids, while certain unwanted effects are kept to a minimum. These include pituitary-adrenal suppression, Cushingoid state, Corficoid withdrawal symptoms, and growth suppression in children.
Several points apply when alternate-day therapy is being considered. The basic principles and indications for corticosteroid therapy still apply. The technique is mainly meant for patients in whom long-term pharmacologic corticoid therapy is expected. In less severe disease where corticoid therapy is indicated, it may be possible to start treatment with alternate-day therapy. More severe disease usually needs daily divided high-dose therapy to bring the disease under initial control. The initial suppressive dose should be continued until a satisfactory clinical response is obtained, usually four to ten days in many allergic and collagen diseases.
Side Effects
Short courses of Methylprednisolone are usually well tolerated, with few side effects and mild ones at that. Long term use of high doses of Methyiprednisoione can cause side effects that are predictable and may be serious. Whenever possible, the lowest effective dose should be used for the shortest time to keep side effects down. Alternate day dosing can also help reduce them. Side effects of Methylprednisolone and other corticosteroids range from mild annoyances to serious, irreversible damage to the body. They include fluid retention, weight gain, high blood pressure, potassium loss, headache, muscle weakness, hair growth on the face, glaucoma, cataracts, peptic ulceration, growth retardation in children, convulsions, and psychic disturbances including depression, euphoria, insomnia etc. Prolonged use can depress the ability of the body's adrenal glands to produce corticosteroids. If a person in this situation stops the medicine abruptly, symptoms of corticosteroid insufficiency can follow, with nausea, vomiting, and even shock. So withdrawal is usually done by lowering the dose gradually. Tapering slowly lessens the symptoms of corticosteroid insufficiency, and it also reduces the risk of an abrupt flare of the disease being treated.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Adrenocortical insufficiency can last for months after methylprednisolone is stopped. If the person goes through any kind of stress during that time, hormone therapy should be started again. Mineralocorticoid secretion may also be impaired, so salt and/or a mineralocorticoid should be given at the same time. Corticosteroids have a stronger effect in patients with hypothyroidism and in those with cirrhosis. They should be used cautiously in patients with ocular herpes simplex, because the cornea may perforate. In hypoprothrombinemia, aspirin should be used cautiously together with corticosteroids. Infants and children on prolonged corticosteroid therapy need careful observation of their growth and development.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Methylprednisolone is in pregnancy category C. Give it only if the possible benefit to the mother justifies the possible risk to the foetus. Methylprednisolone has not been properly studied in nursing mothers.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Overdose
Reports of acute toxicity or death after a glucocorticoid overdose are rare. There is no specific antidote for methylprednisolone, so treatment is supportive and based on the symptoms. Serum electrolytes should be monitored.
⚠️ In an emergency call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Storage
Keep Methylprednisolone in a cool, dry place, away from light. Keep it out of the reach of children.
Drug Interactions
Common questions about Methipred 16 mg
What is Methipred 16 mg Tablet?
Methipred 16 mg Tablet is a medicine that contains Methylprednisolone. It is made by General Pharmaceuticals Ltd. It belongs to the Glucocorticoids group of medicines.
What is Methipred used for?
Methylprednisolone is used in a number of conditions, grouped here by body system. Endocrine disorders: primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, nonsuppurative thyroiditis, and hypercalcemia associated with cancer.
What are the side effects of Methipred?
Short courses of Methylprednisolone are usually well tolerated, with few side effects and mild ones at that. Long term use of high doses of Methyiprednisoione can cause side effects that are predictable and may be serious.
Can I take Methipred during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Methylprednisolone is in pregnancy category C. Give it only if the possible benefit to the mother justifies the possible risk to the foetus. Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
What happens if I take too much Methipred?
Reports of acute toxicity or death after a glucocorticoid overdose are rare. There is no specific antidote for methylprednisolone, so treatment is supportive and based on the symptoms. In an emergency call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
How should I store Methipred?
Keep Methylprednisolone in a cool, dry place, away from light. Keep it out of the reach of children.
Can I take other medicines with Methipred?
Some medicines can interact with Methylprednisolone, for example: Cyclosporine, Erythromycin, Phenytoin, Rifampicin, Phenobarbitone, Clarithromycin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about every medicine you take.
Is there a cheaper medicine with the same ingredient?
Solupred by Ziska Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has the same ingredient and strength for ৳19.50 per unit, compared with ৳20.06 for Methipred. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before switching.
Do I need a prescription for Methipred?
Methipred is a prescription (Rx) medicine. Take it as your doctor advises.