Methylprednisolone for Skin Rashes & Inflammation FAQs
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Methylprednisolone provides relief for inflamed areas of the body. It is used to treat a number of different conditions, including skin conditions with rashes and inflammation. Methylprednisolone is a corticosteroid (cortisone-like medicine or steroid). It works on the immune system to help relieve swelling, heat, redness, itching and allergic reactions.1
It is similar to a natural hormone produced by your adrenal glands and is often used to replace this chemical when your body does not make enough of it.
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Methylprednisolone 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 methylprednisolone 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 methylprednisolone 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 may 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.
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Methylprednisolone works quickly. It reaches its peak effect in about two hours.2
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The dose of methylprednisolone will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.3
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Methylprednisolone is available through a prescription4 and can be purchased online. Start an online consult for skin rash and inflammation with RedBox Rx to see if methylprednisolone could be right for you.
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With RedBox Rx, methylprednisolone is just $25, one of the lowest prices available. No insurance required.
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Before taking methylprednisolone:
Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to methylprednisolone, 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) or vitamins.
If you have a fungal infection (other than on your skin), do not take methylprednisolone 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 breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking methylprednisolone, call your doctor.
If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking methylprednisolone.
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. Methylprednisolone 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.
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Your doctor may instruct you to follow a low-sodium, low-salt, potassium-rich or high-protein diet. Follow your doctor’s directions.
Methylprednisolone may cause an upset stomach. Take methylprednisolone with food or milk.
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When you start to take methylprednisolone, ask your doctor what to do if you forget a dose. Write down these instructions so you can refer to them later.
If you take methylprednisolone once a day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
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Methylprednisolone may cause side effects, including:
Upset stomach.
Stomach irritation.
Vomiting.
Headache.
Dizziness.
Insomnia.
Restlessness.
Depression.
Anxiety.
Acne.
Increased hair growth.
Easy bruising.
Irregular or absent menstrual periods.
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away.
Methylprednisolone may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
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Keep this medication in the container it comes in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up, and out of their sight and reach.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community.
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In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
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Keep all appointments with your doctor. If your condition worsens, call your doctor. Your dose may need to be adjusted.
This drug makes you more susceptible to illnesses. If you are exposed to chicken pox, measles or tuberculosis (TB) while taking methylprednisolone, call your doctor. Do not have a vaccination, other immunization or any skin test while you are taking methylprednisolone unless your doctor tells you that you may.
Report any injuries or signs of infection (fever, sore throat, pain during urination or 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, methylprednisolone 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.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all the prescription and nonprescription (over the counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
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