SOLU-MEDROL ® is a drug based on Methylprednisolone sodium succinate
THERAPEUTIC GROUP: Unassociated corticosteroids
Indications SOLU-MEDROL ® Methylprednisolone
SOLU-MEDROL ® is used in the treatment of inflammatory and allergic conditions for which corticosteroid therapy is indicated.
This medicine can also be used as hormone replacement therapy in case of acute adrenocortical insufficiency even in conjunction with mineralocorticoids.
Mechanism of action SOLU-MEDROL ® Methylprednisolone
The therapeutic importance of SOLU-MEDROL ® is due to its active ingredient methylprednisolone, a synthetic corticosteroid with strong anti-inflammatory activities, which administered intravenously or intramuscularly can perform its therapeutic capabilities in a very short time, considering the achievement of the maximum blood peak in just 20 minutes.
Bound to plasma proteins and distributed to various cells, especially endothelial, methylprednisone is able to induce the expression of lipocortin, an enzyme capable of inhibiting phospholipase A2 and reducing the availability of arachidonic acid, the starting substrate for high-powered mediators inflammatory such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes and prostacyclines.
The extinction of the inflammatory process upstream therefore guarantees a lower recruitment of inflammatory cells, safeguarding the tissue in question from the induced damage and protecting the organism from excessive response.
Although methylprednisolone has a decidedly more intense anti-inflammatory activity than prednisolone, the mineralocorticoid activity decreases significantly, thus reducing the risk of potential side effects associated with cortisone therapy.
Studies carried out and clinical efficacy
1. CORTICOSTEROIDS AND ACUTE POLOMITIS
J Infect Chemother. 2010 Aug; 16: 266-71. Epub 2010 Apr 9.
Efficacy of steroid therapy on adult patients with severe pneumonia.
Kiyokawa K, Kawai S.
Optimal management of severe pneumonia is as important a question as possible for the development of the best possible prognosis. Immediate steroid therapy in the initial phase of the disease seems to be able to guarantee adequate control of the symptoms, avoiding serious repercussions.
2. METHYLPREDNSIOLONE IN THE TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD SPASMS
J Child Neurol. 2010 Aug; 25: 948-53. Epub 2010 Feb 8.
Outcomes in treatment of infantile spasms with pulse methylprednisolone.
Mytinger JR, Quigg M, Taft WC, Buck ML, Rust RS.
The treatment of infantile spasms with methylprednisolone has proved particularly effective, guaranteeing the remission of the disease in 83% of patients treated within a few days from the start of treatment, without serious side effects.
3. METHYLPREDNISOLONE AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Mult Scler. 2010 Apr; 16: 500-2. Epub 2010 Jan 19.
Suppressive effect of glucocorticoids on TNF-alpha production is associated with their clinical effect in multiple sclerosis.
van Winsen LM, Polman CH, Dijkstra CD, Tilders FJ, Uitdehaag BM.
The therapeutic efficacy of methylprednisolone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis appears to be associated with the ability of this drug to significantly reduce the concentrations of TNF alpha, a cytokine with strong pro-inflammatory activities. On the contrary, patients resistant to intravenous methylprednisolone therapy do not manifest the same effect.
Method of use and dosage
SOLU-MEDROL ® powder and solvent for solution for injection, double-chamber bottles of 40mg of methylprednisolone per ml and of 125 mg / 2ml or freeze-dried bottles of 500mg / 8ml, 1000mg / 16ml and 2000mg / 32ml.
The particular formulation of methylprednisolone in SOLU-MEDROL ® makes the formulation of the correct dosage quite specialized.
The therapeutic range in fact varies considerably according to the pathology, the clinical picture of the patient, the therapeutic objective and above all the acute or chronic use of this medicine.
Medical supervision is therefore essential both in the initial stages to set the correct dosage, and throughout the therapeutic process to evaluate its effectiveness and possibly correct the dose.
SOLU-MEDROL ® Methylprednisolone warnings
Therapy with corticosteroid hormones requires medical supervision both in the initial phase, useful to define the appropriate dosage, and during the entire treatment period to evaluate the adequacy of the therapy and the possible presence of side effects.
The suspension of the therapy or the adjustment of the dosage could in fact become necessary in case of strong stress, recurrent infections, liver, kidney and cardiovascular diseases or in the absence of an anti-inflammatory effect capable of relieving the symptoms.
It is useful to remember that the administration of SOLU-MEDROL ® as well as that of other corticosteroid drugs, could aggravate the clinical picture of patients with diabetes, neurological and psychiatric pathologies, compromise the normal development of the skeletal and muscular system and make strategies ineffective. immunizing.
The "nervous" side effects of methylprednisolone could also make the use of machinery, driving cars or all those activities that require perceptual and intellectual commitment dangerous.
PREGNANCY AND BREASTFEEDING
The absence of adequate clinical trials does not currently allow to define the safety profile for the health of the fetus of methylprednisolone when taken during pregnancy.
In fact, the ability of this active principle to pass the placental barrier and to be secreted into breast milk exposes the fetus and infant to potential dangers, the first of which is hypoadrenalism.
Therefore the assumption of SOLU-MEDROL ® during pregnancy should be carried out only in cases of real necessity and under close specialist medical supervision.
Interactions
The biological and therapeutic efficacy of methylprednisolone may be partially compromised by the concomitant intake of rifampicin, antiepileptics and barbiturates and enhanced by erythromycin, ketoconazole and troleandromycin.
On the contrary, methylprednisolone can reduce the therapeutic activity of oral anticoagulants, salicylates, hypoglycemic drugs, psychotropic drugs such as anxiolytics and sympathetic mimetics, thus requiring a further adjustment of the dosage.
Contraindications SOLU-MEDROL ® Methylprednisolone
SOLU-MEDROL ® is contraindicated in case of systemic fungal infections and in case of hypersensitivity to its active ingredient and related excipients.
The administration of corticosteroids could aggravate the clinical picture of diabetic, hypertensive and neurological and psychiatric patients.
Undesirable Effects - Side Effects
Cortisone therapy conducted for prolonged periods of time exposes the patient to important risks for their health, such as to seriously compromise the functionality of entire organs and systems.
Among the most common adverse reactions it is possible to remember those affecting the osteo-muscular system, characterized by spontaneous fractures, myopathies and osteoporosis; gastrointestinal, with increased risk of peptic ulcers; neurological with dizziness, headache, behavioral alterations and manifestations depressive; cardiovascular with the onset of hypertension and congestive heart failure; endocrine-metabolic dangerous especially during the growth phases due to the negativization of the nitrogen balance, due to the alterations in glucose metabolism and hydro-electrolyte balance.
Note
SOLU-MEDROL ® can only be sold under medical prescription.
The use of SOLU-MEDROL ® without therapeutic need during sports competitions constitutes doping.
The information on SOLU-MEDROL ® Methylprednisolone published on this page may be out of date or incomplete. For a correct use of this information, see the Disclaimer and useful information page.
