Methylprednisolone Acetate

Adults: 1. Administration for local effect Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis When methylprednisolone acetate is given into a joint, the dose depends on the size of the joint and on how severe the condition is in that patient. The doses below are a general guide. Large joints (knees, ankles, shoulders): 20 to 80 mg. Medium joints (elbows, wrists): 10 to 40 mg. Small joints (metacarpophalangeal, interphalangeal, sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular): 4 to 10 mg. Miscellaneous (ganglion, tendinitis, epicondylitis) For conditions of the tendinous or bursal structures, the dose changes with the condition being treated and ranges from 4 to 30 mg. In recurrent or chronic conditions, repeated injections may be necessary. Dermatological conditions 20 to 60 mg of the suspension is injected into the lesion. For large lesions, it may be necessary to spread doses of 20 to 40 mg over repeated local injections. One to four injections are usually used. The gap between injections depends on the type of lesion being treated and on how long the improvement from the first injection lasts. 2. Administration for systemic effect In patients with adrenogenital syndrome, a single intramuscular injection of 40 mg every two weeks may be adequate. To maintain patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the weekly intramuscular dose varies from 40 to 120 mg. For patients whose dermatologic lesions benefit from systemic corticoid therapy, the usual dose is 40 to 120 mg of methylprednisolone acetate given intramuscularly at weekly intervals for one to four weeks. In acute severe dermatitis due to poison ivy, relief may come within 8 to 12 hours after a single intramuscular dose of 80 to 120 mg. In chronic contact dermatitis, repeated injections at 5 to 10 day intervals may be necessary. In seborrheic dermatitis, a weekly dose of 80 mg may be adequate to control the condition. In asthmatic patients, an intramuscular dose of 80 to 120 mg may bring relief within 6 to 48 hours, and the relief may last for several days to two weeks. In the same way, patients with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) who receive an intramuscular dose of 80 to 120 mg may get relief of coryzal symptoms within six hours, lasting for several days to three weeks. 3. Multiple sclerosis For 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 (4 mg of methylprednisolone is equivalent to 5 mg of prednisolone). Otherwise, the dose should be as directed by the registered physician.