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Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate

Glucocorticoids Prescription
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Indications

Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate Injection (Solupred Injection) is used in the following conditions. Endocrine disorder: primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency, acute adrenocortical insufficiency, shock unresponsive to conventional, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, nonsuppurative thyroiditis, and hypercalcemia associated with cancer. Rheumatic disorder: rheumatoid arthritis (including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis), acute and subacute bursitis, epicondylitis, acute nonspecific tenosynovitis, acute gouty arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Collagen disease: systemic lupus erythematosus, during an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases. Also acute rheumatic carditis and systemic dermatomyositis (polymyositis). Dermatological disease: pemphigus, severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), exfoliative dermatitis, bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, severe seborrheic dermatitis, severe psoriasis and mycosis fungoides. Allergic states: it controls bronchial asthma, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, serum sickness, seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis, drug hypersensitivity reaction, urticarial transfusion reactions, acute noninfectious laryngeal edema (epinephrine is the drug of first choice) and anaphylactic reactions. Ophthalmic disease: severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye, such as herpes zoster ophthalmicus, iritis, iridocyclitis, chorioretinitis, diffuse posterior uveitis and chroiditis, optic neuritis, sympathetic ophthalmia, anterior segment inflammation, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic corneal marginal ulcers and keratitis. Gastrointestinal disease: to tide the patient over a critical period of the disease in ulcerative colitis (systemic therapy), regional enteritis (systemic therapy) and Crohn's disease. Respiratory disease: symptomatic sarcoidosis, berylliosis, fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis (when used together with appropriate antituberculosis chemotherapy), Loafer syndrome not manageable by other means, and aspiration pneumonitis. Hematologic disorder: acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults (IV only, IM administration is contraindicated), erythroblastopenia (RBC anemia), congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia and secondary thrombocytopenia in adults. Neoplastic disease: for palliative management of leukemias and lymphoma in adults, and acute leukemia of childhood. Edematous state: to induce diuresis or remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome, without uremia of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus. Miscellaneous: tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block (when used together with appropriate antituberculosis chemotherapy), and trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Methylprednisolone, a naturally occurring glucocorticoid (hydrocortisone and cortisone) that also has salt-retaining properties, is used as replacement therapy in adrenocortical deficiency states. This synthetic analog is mainly used for its strong anti-inflammatory effects in disorders of many organ systems.

After an intravenous injection of Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate, effects can be seen within one hour and last for a variable period. Nearly all of the dose is excreted within 12 hours. So if constantly high blood levels are needed, the injections should be given every 4 to 6 hours. The preparation is also absorbed rapidly when given intramuscularly, and it is excreted in a pattern similar to that seen after an intravenous injection.

Its anti-inflammatory potency is greater than that of prednisolone, in the ratio of 5 to 4. It has only minimal mineralocorticoid properties and is less likely than prednisolone to cause sodium and water retention. It influences carbohydrate, protein, fat and purine metabolism, electrolyte and water balance, and the functional capacities of the cardiovascular system, the kidney, the skeletal muscle, the nervous system and other organs and tissues. It also suppresses the immune response.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy

Corticosteroids have caused birth defects (they are teratogenic) in many animal species when given in doses equivalent to the human dose. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. So methylprednisolone sodium succinate should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Babies born to mothers who received corticosteroids during pregnancy should be watched carefully for signs of hypoadrenalism.

Lactation

Corticosteroids given systemically appear in human milk. They could suppress the baby's growth, interfere with the baby's own corticosteroid production, or cause other unwanted effects. Because nursing infants may suffer serious adverse reactions from corticosteroids, a decision should be made whether to continue nursing or to stop the medicine, taking into account how important the medicine is to the mother.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: Methylprednisolone can be given by IM or IV injection, or by IV infusion. For IM or IV injection, prepare the solution as the directions for reconstitution say. The dose needed can be given intravenously over a period of several minutes. When high dose therapy is wanted, the recommended dose of Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate for Injection, USP is 30 mg/kg, given intravenously over at least 30 minutes. This dose may be repeated every 4 to 6 hours for 48 hours. In general, high-dose corticosteroid therapy should continue only until the patient's condition has stabilized, usually not beyond 48 to 72 hours. Although adverse effects of high dose short-term corticoid therapy are uncommon, peptic ulceration may occur. Prophylactic antacid therapy may be indicated. In other indications, the initial dosage varies from 10 to 40 mg of Methylprednisolone, depending on the clinical problem being treated. Larger doses may be needed for short-term management of severe, acute conditions. The initial dose should usually be given intravenously over a period of several minutes. Later doses may be given intravenously or intramuscularly, at intervals set by the patient's response and clinical condition. Corticoid therapy is an adjunct to conventional therapy, not a replacement for it. If the drug has been given for more than a few days, the dosage must be decreased or stopped gradually. If a period of spontaneous remission occurs in a chronic condition, treatment should be discontinued. During prolonged therapy, routine laboratory studies should be done at regular intervals, such as urinalysis, two-hour postprandial blood sugar, blood pressure and body weight, and a chest X-ray. Upper GI X-rays are desirable in patients with an ulcer history or significant dyspepsia. In pediatric patients, the initial dose of Methylprednisolone may vary depending on the specific disease being treated. The initial dose is 0.11 to 1.6 mg/day in three or four divided doses. The dosage may be reduced for infants and children, but it should be governed more by the severity of the condition and the patient's response than by age or size, and it should not be less than 0.5 mg per kg every 24 hours. In the treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, the daily dose is 160 mg daily for 3 days. Methylprednisolone powder for injection/infusion should be given as an intravenous infusion over at least 30 minutes.

Side Effects & Interactions

Side Effects

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