Methylprednisolone
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Methylprednisolone during a consultation by Dr Noor. Methylprednisolone for pets in Perth.”
Methylprednisolone for pets
(meth-ill-pred-niss-oh-lone)
Description:
This medicine is a type of “steroid” medicine.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Medrol®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals:
- tablets taken by mouth: 4 mg.
- For people:
- tablets taken by mouth: 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg, and 32 mg.
- There are also injectable versions (both ones that act for a short time and ones that act for a long time).
This handout does not include every detail that exists about this medicine. It is meant to help with common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you need more details or have questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- Give mouth (oral) forms together with food.
- Try to use the smallest amount that still works, and give it for the briefest time possible.
- This medicine can cause many unwanted effects, especially if it is used for a long time. After starting treatment, the effects most often noticed are increased hunger, increased drinking, and needing to urinate more.
- In dogs, sores in the stomach or intestines can happen, and in some cases this can lead to a hole (perforation) or bleeding. This risk is higher if this medicine is given at the same time as medicines such as aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (for example, carprofen), or other steroid-type medicines (for example, prednisone). If your animal will not eat, gets a fever, has black, tar-like stool, or vomits blood (which may look like coffee grounds), contact your veterinarian right away.
- Do not end treatment unless your veterinarian tells you how to do so, because stopping can lead to serious problems.
How is this medication useful?
In animals, methylprednisolone may be used to reduce swelling and irritation, to lower immune system activity, as part of cancer treatment, and to manage certain hormone-related problems (for example, hypoadrenocorticism). Some methylprednisolone products are approved for use in dogs, cats, and horses. Veterinarians may prescribe and use products containing this drug in other species and for other medical problems. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the following so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines can react with this one, including NSAIDs and aspirin. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including medicines, vitamins, supplements, or herbal products, and also tell them the dose and the timing for each.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had treatment before for the same problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past medicine reactions or side effects your animal has had (including allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss).
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
You may notice your animal feels better about 1 to 2 hours after a dose. Signs of illness should start improving after that. This medicine has effects that last a moderate amount of time, which means the effects may continue for a few days. The helpful effects may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working as well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns for your animal.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in patients:
If your animal has any of the issues listed below, discuss the possible risks and benefits with your veterinarian.
- Animals that are taking other medicines that can cause stomach sores, including aspirin or NSAIDs (for example, carprofen, deracoxib, flunixin, meloxicam).
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine or to similar medicines (for example, prednisone, dexamethasone).
- Animals that have diabetes.
- Animals that already have stomach or intestinal sores.
- Animals with hormone problems that are not being treated (for example, hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus).
- Animals that are healing after surgery, or when surgery is expected soon.
- Animals with fungal infections.
- Animals with heart disease or kidney disease.
- Animals that are pregnant.
- Animals that have an infection.
- Animals that are young and still growing. If used for a long time, methylprednisolone can slow growth.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
If you notice the signs below, you usually do not need to panic unless they are strong, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
Increased hunger, increased drinking, and urinating more.
Vomiting or diarrhea.
Small changes in behavior.
Dogs may pant more than usual.
If the medicine has been used for several weeks or longer:
- increased drinking
- increased urination
- increased hunger
- weight gain
- a round “pot belly”
- changes in skin or coat
- hair loss
- weakness.
These can mean the dose is too high.
Not wanting to eat, a high fever, black tar-like stool, or vomiting blood (which may look like coffee grounds). These can be signs that a stomach or intestinal sore is forming.
Losing weight even though the animal is extremely hungry may be a sign that diabetes mellitus has developed, which can occur with long-term use of this medicine.
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Aggressive or threatening behavior.
Infection. At high doses, methylprednisolone can slow wound healing and can increase the chance of infections. Because this medicine lowers immune system activity, a serious infection may not cause a fever. The only signs may be poor appetite, low energy, or a wound that does not heal.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
If you see an overdose happen, or you think it may have happened, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center right away for instructions.
How should this medication be given?
To get the expected effect, give this medicine exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed it. Always read the prescription label so you are sure you are giving it correctly.
- Give mouth (oral) forms with food. This can reduce vomiting after a dose and may help lower the chance of stomach sores.
- If it is given once per day, it is commonly given in the morning for dogs and horses, and in the evening for cats, to better match their natural hormone timing.
- Your veterinarian may instruct you to “taper” the dose. This means starting with a higher amount and then slowly lowering the amount over time. If you are unsure about the amount or schedule, ask your veterinarian or pharmacist.
- If a custom-made (compounded) liquid is used, measure it with care. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special spoons or syringes for measuring.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ways to make dosing easier and less stressful.
- This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it. You may need refills before treatment is finished. Before you stop giving it, speak with your veterinarian, because there may be important reasons to continue.
- If your animal has been taking this medicine for a period of time, it is very important not to stop it suddenly; serious problems can occur.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, do not give the missed one; instead, give the next dose at the normal time. Then continue with the usual schedule. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in another approved container used for organizing doses (such as a pill minder). Store it at room temperature and keep it away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a custom-made (compounded) version for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine. Wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet or pour it into a sink drain.
- If there is a local medicine “take-back” program, use that.
- If there is no take-back option:
- combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter (so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching trash).
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks, and place it in the household trash.
- Do not keep extra medicine for later use and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Your veterinarian will need to recheck your animal from time to time and may do blood tests to confirm your animal is handling the medicine well and to adjust the dose if needed.
- Some animals may receive a long-acting injection form of methylprednisolone at the clinic every few weeks instead of taking pills by mouth.
- If your animal is receiving high doses of methylprednisolone or other medicines that lower immune system activity, vaccines may not work well. Talk with your veterinarian about vaccines while your animal is on this medicine.
- If you visit a different veterinarian than usual, tell them your dog is taking this medicine. Dogs that need surgery, or dogs under stress from injury or illness, may need changes to the dose. Also, methylprednisolone can change the results of some lab tests.
- This medicine may not be permitted in some animal competitions. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while this medicine is being given.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”