Methylprednisolone oral tablet side effects: A detailed guide

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved methylprednisolone oral tablet to treat the following conditions:

• rheumatic disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis
• skin diseases, such as psoriasis or dermatitis
• collagen diseases, such as lupus or dermatomyositis
• endocrine disorders, such as primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency
• stomach or intestinal problems, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
• severe allergies (when other treatments don’t work), such as seasonal allergies or atopic dermatitis (eczema)
• eye problems, such as allergic conjunctivitis
• multiple sclerosis flare-ups
• respiratory problems, including those caused by sarcoidosis)

This list does not include all FDA-approved uses for methylprednisolone oral tablet. Ask your doctor about other conditions it may treat.

This article describes possible side effects of methylprednisolone oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for methylprednisolone.

Methylprednisolone oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Medrol. Methylprednisolone also comes in injectable forms, but these forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about them, talk with your doctor.

You can explore this overview article to learn more about methylprednisolone oral tablet, including its uses and doses, ways to save on cost, and more.

More common side effects of methylprednisolone

Methylprednisolone oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of methylprednisolone oral tablet include:

• headache
• abdominal bloating
• fluid retention (swelling)
• vertigo (feeling as though your surroundings are spinning)
• changes in emotions or mood*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of methylprednisolone in detail” section below.

Mild side effects of methylprednisolone

Methylprednisolone may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of methylprednisolone oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• thinning of the skin
• increased sweating
• fluid retention (swelling)
• muscle weakness
• headache
• vertigo (feeling as though your surroundings are spinning)
• abdominal bloating
• high blood pressure
• irregular periods
• mild allergic reaction*

Methylprednisolone oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of methylprednisolone in detail” section below.

Serious side effects of methylprednisolone

Methylprednisolone may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from methylprednisolone oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911, or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the FDA approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with methylprednisolone oral tablet.

Serious side effects of methylprednisolone oral tablet that have been reported include:

• changes in emotions or mood*
• eye problems, such as glaucoma or cataracts
• increased risk of infection*
• wounds that won’t heal
• electrolyte imbalance
• seizures
• pancreatitis (swelling of your pancreas)
• peptic ulcer
• osteoporosis (bone weakness)
• congestive heart failure
• severe allergic reaction*

This list does not include all possible serious side effects of methylprednisolone. Talk with your doctor about more possible side effects.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of methylprednisolone in detail” section below.

Side effects of methylprednisolone in children

Doctors may prescribe methylprednisolone to reduce inflammation or the immune response in certain conditions in children.

Side effects for children are likely similar to those listed above for adults. Children should be monitored closely for proper growth and development while taking methylprednisolone.

Children taking methylprednisolone also have a higher risk of infections than other children. For example, chickenpox and measles may be serious infections in children taking methylprednisolone. Try to reduce your child’s exposure to these and other infections if they are taking this medication.

If you’d like to know more about side effects in children taking methylprednisolone oral tablet, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Common questions about side effects of methylprednisolone

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of methylprednisolone oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does methylprednisolone 4 mg cause fewer side effects than the drug’s other strengths?

Lower doses of methylprednisolone, such as 4 milligrams (mg), may cause fewer side effects than higher doses. However, some people are more sensitive to certain medications than others. Side effects are still possible taking the 4-mg-dose pack. Talk with your doctor to see if your risk of side effects increases with higher doses of methylprednisolone.

Will I experience certain side effects when stopping methylprednisolone?

Withdrawal side effects haven’t been reported after stopping methylprednisolone. Still, it’s important that you don’t stop taking methylprednisolone without talking with your doctor first. If they tell you it’s safe to stop the drug, they may slowly decrease your methylprednisolone dosage over time. Doing so will lower the risk of possible side effects after stopping treatment.

To learn more about what to expect when stopping methylprednisolone, talk with your doctor.

Can methylprednisolone be used for cough? If so, will taking the drug for this use cause certain side effects?

Methylprednisolone isn’t approved specifically to treat cough. But the drug may be prescribed to decrease inflammation in conditions with cough symptoms such as sarcoidosis. By reducing inflammation in these conditions, methylprednisolone may help ease cough as a symptom.

Talk with your doctor to see if methylprednisolone may be used for a cough and what side effects it may cause.

Are methylprednisolone oral tablet’s side effects different than those seen with the IV form of the drug?

Intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone and methylprednisolone oral tablet can cause similar side effects. In addition, the IV form of the drug may cause side effects at the injection site, such as redness, pain, or swelling.

If you have other questions about how the side effects of methylprednisolone oral tablet compare with those of the IV form, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does methylprednisolone cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases methylprednisolone oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time or can last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects include:

• glaucoma
• cataracts
• slowed growth and development in children
• electrolyte imbalance
• osteoporosis (bone weakness)
• wounds that won’t heal

Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to best manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of methylprednisolone may last.

Coupon for methylprednisolone

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Side effects of methylprednisolone in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of methylprednisolone oral tablet.

Infection

Taking methylprednisolone oral tablet may increase your risk of certain infections. For example, children and adults who are not vaccinated against measles or chickenpox may have a higher risk of these infections. This is because methylprednisolone weakens your immune system. This side effect may be serious.

In addition to causing a higher risk of infections, methylprednisolone may also mask the signs of an infection. This means you may not know you have an infection until it’s serious.

Infection wasn’t specifically reported in studies of methylprednisolone oral tablet, but it is a known risk of corticosteroids. (Methylprednisolone is a corticosteroid.)

Symptoms of an infection may include:

• fever
• weakness
• fatigue (low energy)
• body aches
• sore throat
• sneezing
• coughing

Ways to manage

If you experience symptoms of an infection, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend the best way to treat the infection and let you know whether it’s safe for you to keep taking methylprednisolone.

Changes in emotions or mood

Taking methylprednisolone oral tablet may cause changes in emotions or mood. Changes in emotions or mood weren’t specifically reported in studies of methylprednisolone oral tablet. But they are known side effects of corticosteroids. (Methylprednisolone is a corticosteroid.)

Symptoms may include:

• having stronger or different emotions than usual
• feeling excited, restless, or anxious
• insomnia
• personality changes
• feeling agitated or angry
• feeling extremely sad
• changes in energy
• depression

Ways to manage

If you have concerns about changes in your emotions or mood, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend the best treatment and whether it’s safe for you to keep taking methylprednisolone.

Allergic reaction

For some people, methylprednisolone oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.

Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:

• itchiness
• skin rash
• swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know if you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to methylprednisolone oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for methylprednisolone

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking methylprednisolone oral tablet.

Warnings

It may not be safe for you to take methylprednisolone oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether methylprednisolone oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking methylprednisolone oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

• other medications, vitamins, and herbs you take
• grapefruit products
• live vaccines
• diabetes
• eye problems, such as glaucoma or herpes of the eye
• ulcers
• heart disease
• infections
• liver problems
• hypothyroidism
• systemic sclerosis
• past allergic reaction to methylprednisolone

Methylprednisolone and pregnancy

It’s not known whether methylprednisolone oral tablet can be safely taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Methylprednisolone and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether methylprednisolone oral tablet can be safely taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Methylprednisolone and alcohol

Methylprednisolone oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol. However, drinking alcohol while taking methylprednisolone can make some side effects of the drug or the condition you’re treating worse. Methylprednisolone and alcohol both suppress your immune system, which may increase your risk for infections or other side effects.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with methylprednisolone oral tablet.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of methylprednisolone oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Do I have a higher risk of side effects if I use methylprednisolone for a long time?
• Do higher doses of methylprednisolone cause more severe side effects?
• Do I have any health conditions that increase my risk of side effects from methylprednisolone?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.