Depo-Medrone® (Medrol® / Methylprednisolone) - 4mg (100 Tablets)

How does Medrol (Methylprednisolone) work?

Methylprednisolone is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are hormones produced naturally by the adrenal glands which have many important functions, including control of inflammatory responses.

Methylprednisolone is a synthetic corticosteroid and is used to decrease inflammation. It works by acting within cells to prevent the release of certain chemicals that are important in the immune system. These chemicals are normally involved in producing immune and allergic responses, resulting in inflammation. By decreasing the release of these chemicals in a particular area, inflammation is reduced. This can help control a wide number of disease states, characterised by excessive inflammation. They include severe allergic reactions, inflammation of the lungs in asthma and inflammation of the joints in arthritis.

Methylprednisolone also decreases the numbers of white blood cells circulating in the blood. This, along with the decrease in inflammatory chemicals, can prevent the rejection of organ transplants, as it prevents the body from attacking foreign tissue. It is useful for the treatment of certain types of leukaemia, where there is an abnormally large production of certain white blood cells. It is also used to treat some diseases which are caused by the immune system attacking itself (auto immune diseases).

Methylprednisolone can also be given to people whose adrenal glands are not producing enough natural corticosteroids (adrenal insufficiency).

Methylprednisolone is used in much higher doses than the levels of corticosteroids produced naturally by the body, and as such, the usual actions of corticosteroids become exaggerated and can be observed as side effects of this medicine.

What is Medrol (Methylprednisolone) used for?

• Acute and lymphatic leukaemia
• Cancer of the lymph nodes (lymphoma)
• Diseases caused by the body's immune system attacking itself (autoimmune diseases such rheumatoid arthritis)
• Inflammatory disorders e.g. asthma, arthritis, severe allergic reactions, Crohn's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus
• Inflammatory eye diseases such as iritis and optic neuritis
• Insufficient production of natural steroid hormones by the adrenal glands (adrenal insufficiency)
• Suppression of the immune system in organ transplantation

Medrol (Methylprednisolone) Side Effects

• Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)
• Depression
• Thinning of the skin
• Increased pressure inside the eye (glaucoma)
• Weight gain
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Thinning of the bones (osteoporosis)
• Ulceration of the stomach or intestine
• Increased susceptibility to infections
• Acne
• Increased risk of fractures of the bones
• Increased hair growth (hirsutism)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Supression of growth in children and adolescents
• Indigestion (dyspepsia)