Medrol
Complete list of drugs used to
treat arthritis.
Medrol, a corticosteroid, is similar to a natural hormone produced by
your adrenal glands. It often is used to replace this chemical when your body does not
make enough of it. It relieves inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, and pain) and is
used to treat certain forms of arthritis; skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid, and
intestinal disorders (e.g., colitis); severe allergies; and asthma. Medrol also is used to
treat certain types of cancer.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your
doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How should Medrol be used?
Medrol comes as a tablet to take by mouth. Your doctor will prescribe
a dosing schedule that is best for you. Follow the directions on your prescription label
carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.
Take Medrol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than
prescribed by your doctor.
Do not stop taking Medrol without talking to your doctor. Stopping the
drug abruptly can cause loss of appetite, upset stomach, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion,
headache, fever, joint and muscle pain, peeling skin, and weight loss. If you take large
doses for a long time, your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually to allow
your body to adjust before stopping the drug completely. Watch for these side effects if
you are gradually decreasing your dose and after you stop taking the tablets. If these
problems occur, call your doctor immediately. You may need to increase your dose of
tablets temporarily or start taking them again.
Before taking Medrol,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Medrol, aspirin, tartrazine (a
yellow dye in some processed foods and drugs), or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you
are taking, especially anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin),
arthritis medications, aspirin, azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin),
cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics ('water pills'),
erythromycin, estrogen (Premarin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), oral contraceptives,
phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin (Rifadin), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and
vitamins.
- if you have a fungal infection (other than on your skin), do not take Medrol without
talking to your doctor.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver, kidney, intestinal, or heart
disease; diabetes; an underactive thyroid gland; high blood pressure; mental illness;
myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection; seizures; tuberculosis (TB); or
ulcers.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If
you become pregnant while taking Medrol, call your doctor.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you
are taking Medrol.
- if you have a history of ulcers or take large doses of aspirin or other arthritis
medication, limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages while taking this drug. Medrol
makes your stomach and intestines more susceptible to the irritating effects of alcohol,
aspirin, and certain arthritis medications. This effect increases your risk of ulcers.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Your doctor may instruct you to follow a low-sodium, low-salt,
potassium-rich, or high-protein diet. Follow these directions.
Medrol may cause an upset stomach. Take Medrol with food or milk
What side effects can Medrol cause?
Although side effects from Medrol are not common, they can occur. Tell
your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- upset stomach
- stomach irritation
- vomiting
- headache
- dizziness
- insomnia
- restlessness
- depression
- anxiety
- acne
- increased hair growth
- easy bruising
- irregular or absent menstrual periods
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor
immediately:
- skin rash
- swollen face, lower legs, or ankles
- vision problems
- cold or infection that lasts a long time
- muscle weakness
- black or tarry stool
What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor
will order certain lab tests to check your response to Medrol. Checkups are especially
important for children because Medrol can slow bone growth.
If your condition worsens, call your doctor. Your dose may need to be
adjusted.
Carry an identification card that indicates that you may need to take
supplementary doses (write down the full dose you took before gradually decreasing it) of
Medrol during periods of stress (injuries, infections, and severe asthma attacks). Ask
your pharmacist or doctor how to obtain this card. List your name, medical problems, drugs
and dosages, and doctor's name and telephone number on the card.
This drug makes you more susceptible to illnesses. If you are exposed
to chicken pox, measles, or tuberculosis (TB) while taking Medrol, call your doctor. Do
not have a vaccination, other immunization, or any skin test while you are taking Medrol
unless your doctor tells you that you may.
Report any injuries or signs of infection (fever, sore throat, pain
during urination, and muscle aches) that occur during treatment.
Your doctor may instruct you to weigh yourself every day. Report any
unusual weight gain.
If your sputum (the matter you cough up during an asthma attack)
thickens or changes color from clear white to yellow, green, or gray, call your doctor;
these changes may be signs of an infection.
If you have diabetes, Medrol may increase your blood sugar level. If
you monitor your blood sugar (glucose) at home, test your blood or urine more frequently
than usual. Call your doctor if your blood sugar is high or if sugar is present in your
urine; your dose of diabetes medication and your diet may need to be changed.
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