Medrol: reviews of people taking the drug, instructions, side effects

In the article, we will consider the reviews of people taking the Medrol drug and a brief instruction to it.

This is a glucocorticosteroid medication for oral administration. People who took this medicine indicate that it has a pronounced anti-inflammatory property, which allows it to be used in various pathological conditions.

Composition and form of release

The dosage form of the drug is tablets that are elliptical in shape, white in color, on one side are two notches, on the other is a logo. Available in 10 pieces. in a blister, 1, 3 or 10 blisters in a cardboard packet or 30 tablets in dark glass bottles.

The active element of the drug is methylprednisolone, auxiliary components:

• lactose;
• dried corn starch;
• calcium stearate;
• sucrose.

This is indicated in the instructions for Medrol. Reviews about this medication are presented at the end of the article.

pharmachologic effect

Methylprednisolone is the active ingredient in the Medrol medication. This is a glucocorticosteroid (GCS). The substance penetrates through cell membranes and forms complexes with specific cytoplasmic receptors. Subsequently, such complexes penetrate into the cell nucleus, where they form a bond with DNA (in particular, chromatin), after which the transcription of matrix ribonucleic acid is stimulated and the subsequent production of various enzymes. This principle of action determines the effectiveness of GCS.

Methylprednisolone has an effect on the immune system and the course of the inflammatory process. In addition, this substance affects the processes of carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, skeletal muscles, the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system. Like other medicines of this pharmacological category, methylprednisolone has anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties.

Reviews of people taking the drug "Medrol", mostly positive.

The following therapeutic effects are achieved:

• suppression of phagocytosis;
• a decrease in the number of immunoactive cells in the area of ​​the inflammatory focus;
• decreased production of prostaglandins and compounds identical to them;
• stabilization of lysosome membranes;
• decreased vasodilation.

The intensity of the anti-inflammatory methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone is comparable. In the first substance, only insignificant mineralocorticoid functionality is noted. The catabolic effect on proteins is manifested in the form of the conversion of amino acids released during gluconeogenesis in the liver into glucose and glycogen. At the same time, there is a decrease in glucose consumption by peripheral tissues, which can contribute to hyperglycemia and glucosuria, especially in patients with a probability of developing diabetes.

Lipolytic action

The lipolytic effect of the substance manifests itself initially in the limb region. In addition, the element exhibits a lipogenetic property, which is pronounced in the head, chest and neck. In a complex, this causes a redistribution of body fat. The maximum activity of the component does not appear at the peak of the plasma level, but only after it. This means that the effect of the drug is due to the effect on the activity of enzyme compounds.

This is confirmed by the instructions for use. It is better to familiarize yourself with the reviews about Medrol in advance, before taking the drug.

Indications for appointment

The list of indications for the use of the drug includes the following pathologies:

• aspiration pneumonitis;
• fulminant or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis ;
• berylliosis;
• symptomatic sarcoidosis;
• Leffler's syndrome;
• complex therapy of tuberculous meningitis with a threat of subarachnoid block or with it;
• CNS diseases (used in the combined treatment of myasthenia of various origins);
• endocrine diseases: congenital adrenal hyperplasia, secondary and primary adrenal insufficiency, thyroiditis of a chronic and subacute nature, hypercalcemia in oncological neoplasms;
• thrombocytopenic purpura, as well as secondary thrombocytopenia, hemolytic autoimmune anemia, congenital type hypoplastic anemia, erythrocytic anemia;
• therapy of acute connective tissue pathologies with systemic dermatomyositis, rheumatic heart disease, lupus, giant cell arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatism;
• skin pathology: erythema multiforme, bullous herpetiform dermatitis, pemphigus, exfoliative dermatitis, fungal mycosis, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis;
• short-term additional therapy of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, including rheumatic diseases: in acute forms or exacerbation of psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, nonspecific tendosynitis, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, synovitis with osteoarthritis,
• treatment of severe conditions with year-round or seasonal allergic rhinitis, serum sickness, hypersensitivity reactions to medications, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma;
• severe inflammatory processes associated with eye diseases: chorioretinitis, keratitis, optic neuritis, iridocyclitis, iritis, allergic corneal ulcers, allergic conjunctivitis, sympathetic ophthalmia, choroiditis and posterior diffuse uveitis;
• palliative treatment for oncological pathologies: leukemia, lymphoma;
• with the stimulation of diuresis and in order to achieve remission of proteinuria in patients with nephrotic syndrome, against the background of lupus erythematosus;
• ulcerative colitis and regional enteritis;
• the development of trichinosis with damage to the heart muscle or nervous system;
• with cerebral edema with the development of a tumor in it, exacerbation of the condition with multiple sclerosis.

According to reviews, Medrol is very effective.

Contraindications

The medicine is contraindicated in the following cases:

• during lactation;
• with high sensitivity to the components.

With caution, tablets are prescribed for patients with esophagitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer, intestinal anastomosis, acute or latent peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, myasthenia gravis, hypertension, myocardial infarction, myocardial hypertension, myocardial infarction heart, impaired renal and hepatic function, open-angle glaucoma, herpes simplex, HIV infection, measles, chickenpox, strongyloidosis.

According to people's reviews, Medrol is most often well tolerated by the body.

Instructions for use

The medicine is taken orally. The dosage regimen is prescribed by the doctor based on strict indications. Dose selection is made individually, taking into account the patient's response to therapy. The following daily dosage is recommended: 4-48 mg at the first dose, then a correction is made depending on the nature of the pathology and the condition of the patient.

With multiple sclerosis

For multiple sclerosis, 200 mg of the substance is prescribed, for brain edema - 200-1000 mg, after organ transplantation - 7 mg per 1 kg of body weight, with adrenal insufficiency - 0.18 mg per 1 kg per day. Cancellation of a medical device after a long reception is carried out gradually. With a positive trend in therapy, gradually reducing the dose, you should stop at the lowest maintenance dose, which will help maintain the clinical effect.

This is confirmed by the reviews of people taking the drug "Medrol" with myasthenia gravis.

Dosing control

The use of the drug must be accompanied by constant monitoring of dosing. Dose adjustment may be required if the condition changes in case of an exacerbation of the pathological process, the onset of remission, an increased or decreased reaction of the patient to the medication, against the background of stress not directly associated with the disease.

Alternating therapy technique

The use of this tool is indicated using the alternative therapy technique, when the doubled dosage is taken 1 time every other day in the morning. This method of treatment allows for prolonged use to achieve the maximum effect and significantly reduce the side effects of the medication associated with slowing the development of children, suppressing the adrenal pituitary system, and withdrawal syndrome.

Side effects

According to reviews of people taking the drug, Medrol can cause the following adverse reactions:

1. Digestive system: peptic ulcer, gastric bleeding, esophagitis, pancreatitis, bowel perforation, increased functions of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase.
2. Metabolism: heart failure, sodium retention, increased blood pressure, hypokalemic alkalosis, potassium loss, fluid retention.
3. Endocrine system: Cushing's syndrome, decreased carbohydrate tolerance, hirsutism, development of latent diabetes mellitus, menstrual irregularities, slowed development and growth. According to reviews of Medrol, side effects of this nature do not occur very often.
4. Musculoskeletal system: steroid myopathy, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, tendon rupture, compression and pathological fractures, aseptic necrosis in the tubular bones.
5. CNS: increased intracranial pressure, pseudotumor in the brain, mental disorders, convulsions.
6. Visual organs: high intraocular pressure with the probability of damage to the optic nerve, subcapsular posterior cataract, exophthalmos.
7. Dermatological phenomena: petechiae and ecchymosis, thinning of the skin, delayed wound healing.
8. Allergic reactions: hypersensitivity.

Reviews of people taking the drug "Medrol"

Patient reviews are diverse. The clinical effect of the treatment in most cases was positive, but there are a lot of negative reviews about the medicine. This is due to the fact that the drug often caused multiple adverse reactions from the internal organs and body systems, which sometimes became the reason for its cancellation.

What other reviews are there about the use of Medrol? Patients note that this is a rather serious medication, which is dispensed only by prescription and is prescribed after a qualitative diagnosis. As for its effectiveness, patients note a good effect from treatment, the elimination of many pathological symptoms in the development of severe forms of certain diseases. The medicine is used in the form of tablets, which are easily swallowed, and the medicinal properties of the drug are approximately one hour after administration.

We reviewed the reviews on the Medrol tablets and the instructions for the use of the drug.