Methylprednisolone
Methylprednisolone is a synthetic glucocorticoid or corticosteroid drug. It is marketed in the USA and Canada under the brand names Medrol and Solu-Medrol.
It is a variant of prednisolone, methylated at carbon 6 of the B ring.
Indications
Like most adrenocortical steroids, methylprednisolone is typically used for its anti-inflammatory effects.
However, glucocorticoids have a wide range of effects, including changes to metabolism and immune responses. The list of medical conditions for which methylprednisolone is prescribed is rather long, and is similar to other corticosteroids such as prednisolone. Common uses include arthritis therapy and short-term treatment of bronchial inflammation or acute bronchitis due to various respiratory diseases. It is used both in the treatment of acute periods and long-term management of autoimmune diseases, most notably systemic lupus erythematosus. It is also used as a treatment for multiple sclerosis.
High-dose methylprednisolone is associated with increased mortality and is contraindicated for severe traumatic brain injury 1).
It is also used for vestibular neuritis.
After egg retrieval for a cycle of in vitro fertilization, methylprednisolone may be prescribed to prevent the body from rejecting the embryos being transferred, up to the time of implantation.
Methylprednisolone may also be beneficial in the treatment of patients in cardiac arrest.