{"id":59861,"date":"2023-08-11T09:24:28","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T13:24:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=59861"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:34:28","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:34:28","slug":"methylprednisolone-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/methylprednisolone-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Methylprednisolone (Medrol) alternatives: What can I take instead of methylprednisolone?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Methylprednisolone<\/span><\/a> and its fellow <\/span>corticosteroids<\/span> have a ton of therapeutic uses. As effective <\/span>anti-inflammatories<\/span>, <\/span>methylprednisolone,<\/span> and its drug classmates can be used for various <\/span>autoimmune<\/span><\/a>, allergic, and other <\/span>inflammatory <\/span><\/a>conditions. It can also replace deficient <\/span>glucocorticoid<\/span> levels in <\/span>adrenal<\/span> insufficiency. You may be more familiar with its <\/span>brand name<\/span>, oral tablet version, <\/span>Medrol<\/span>, or its <\/span>intravenous<\/span> version, <\/span>Solu-Medrol<\/span>. Whatever your use of it may be, <\/span>methylprednisolone<\/span> has a laundry list of <\/span>adverse effects<\/span> to give you pause when taking it. It is perfectly reasonable to ask your medical provider what alternatives exist for the drug. We will cover the options here to best prepare you for a conversion with your <\/span>healthcare<\/span> provider.<\/span><\/p>\n

What can I take in place of <\/span>methylprednisolone<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

To start with, you should know that there are other <\/span>corticosteroids<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Corticosteroids<\/span>, also known as <\/span>glucocorticoids<\/span>, differ from the anabolic <\/span>steroids<\/span> used and abused to pursue bigger muscles. <\/span>Glucocorticoid<\/span> names include <\/span>prednisone<\/span>, <\/span>prednisolone<\/span>, triamcinolone, and <\/span>dexamethasone<\/span>. These medications all tell immune system cells to produce more <\/span>anti-inflammatory<\/span> mediators and less inflammatory products. While they all substantially reduce inflammation, they also have similar <\/span>side effects<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Nonsteroidal <\/span>anti-inflammatories<\/span> (<\/span>NSAIDs<\/span><\/a>), such as <\/span>meloxicam<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Motrin<\/span><\/a>, can be considered alternatives for some but not all uses of <\/span>methylprednisolone<\/span>. Through a different mechanism, they can reduce inflammation effectively, particularly for musculoskeletal conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Food and Drug Administration (<\/span>FDA<\/span>) has an extensive <\/span>list of indications<\/span><\/a> for <\/span>methylprednisolone<\/span>, including well-known conditions like <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>gout<\/span><\/a>, lupus, <\/span>multiple sclerosis<\/span> (MS), <\/span>psoriasis<\/span><\/a>, contact <\/span>dermatitis<\/span>, <\/span>allergic reactions<\/span>, and <\/span>inflammatory bowel disease<\/span><\/a>. These are referred to as glucocorticoid-responsive<\/span> conditions. Within specific disease treatment roles for <\/span>methylprednisolone<\/span>, there are medications that can serve as appropriate alternatives for some diseases but not others. For instance, biologic agents, such as Enbrel and Humira, may have <\/span>FDA<\/span> indications for only a few of the uses of <\/span>methylprednisolone<\/span>. It is best to dig into the details of the options to see which ones might apply to you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Compare Medrol (methylprednisolone) alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Drug name<\/b><\/td>\nUses<\/b><\/td>\nDosage<\/b><\/td>\nSavings options<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Medrol<\/span> (<\/span>methylprednisolone<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nGlucocorticoid<\/span> responsive conditions, acute asthma, acute <\/span>exacerbation<\/span> of MS, acute gout<\/span><\/td>\nOral dosing varies widely (4 to 1000 mg) depending on the condition<\/span><\/td>\nMedrol<\/span> coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Solu-Medrol<\/span> (<\/span>methylprednisolone<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nGlucocorticoid<\/span> responsive conditions, acute asthma, acute <\/span>exacerbation<\/span> of MS, lupus nephritis, acute <\/span>adrenal<\/span> insufficiency, aplastic anemia, spinal cord injury<\/span><\/td>\nIntravenous<\/span> dosing varies widely depending on the condition<\/span><\/td>\nSolu-Medrol<\/span> coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Prednisone<\/span><\/td>\nGlucocorticoid<\/span> responsive conditions, acute asthma, acute <\/span>exacerbation<\/span> of MS, acute gout, severe persistent asthma, <\/span>adrenal<\/span> insufficiency<\/span><\/td>\n5 to 60 mg per day depending on condition, up to 1250 mg per day for MS<\/span><\/td>\nPrednisone<\/span> coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Naprosyn (naproxen)<\/span><\/td>\nOsteoarthritis, <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span>, ankylosing spondylitis, acute gout, mild to moderate pain<\/span><\/td>\n250 to 500 mg twice daily<\/span><\/td>\nNaprosyn coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Celebrex (celecoxib)<\/span><\/td>\nAcute pain, osteoarthritis, <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span>, ankylosing spondylitis, dysmenorrhea<\/span><\/td>\n100 to 200 mg once or twice daily<\/span><\/td>\nCelebrex coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Humira (adalimumab)<\/span><\/td>\nCrohn’s disease, moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, moderate to severe <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span>, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, moderate to severe chronic plaque <\/span>psoriasis<\/span>, moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa, uveitis<\/span><\/td>\n40 mg injected <\/span>subcutaneously<\/span> (SC) every 2 weeks<\/span><\/td>\nHumira coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Enbrel (etanercept)<\/span><\/td>\nModerate to severe <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span>, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, moderate to severe chronic plaque <\/span>psoriasis<\/span><\/td>\n50 mg SC weekly<\/span><\/td>\nEnbrel coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Simponi (golimumab)<\/span><\/td>\nModerate to severe ulcerative colitis, moderate to severe <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span>, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis<\/span><\/td>\n50 or 100 mg SC every 4 weeks <\/span><\/td>\nSimponi coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cimzia (certolizumab)<\/span><\/td>\nModerate to severe Crohn’s disease, moderate to severe <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span>, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, severe chronic plaque <\/span>psoriasis<\/span><\/td>\n200 or 400 mg SC every 2 or 4 weeks<\/span><\/td>\nCimzia coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stelara (ustekinumab)<\/span><\/td>\nModerate to severe Crohn’s disease, moderate to severe <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span>, psoriatic arthritis, severe chronic plaque <\/span>psoriasis<\/span><\/td>\n45 or 90 mg SC every 8 or 12 weeks, dependent on weight and diagnosis<\/span><\/td>\nStelara coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cosentyx (secukinumab)<\/span><\/td>\nAnkylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, severe chronic plaque <\/span>psoriasis<\/span><\/td>\n150 or 300 mg SC every 4 weeks<\/span><\/td>\nCosentyx coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tremfya (guselkumab)<\/span><\/td>\nPsoriatic arthritis, severe chronic plaque <\/span>psoriasis<\/span><\/td>\n100 mg SC every 8 weeks<\/span><\/td>\nTremfya coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Skyrizi (risankizumab)<\/span><\/td>\nModerate to severe Crohn’s disease, psoriatic arthritis, severe chronic plaque <\/span>psoriasis<\/span><\/td>\n150, 180, or 360 mg SC every 12 weeks<\/span><\/td>\nSkyrizi coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Orencia (abatacept)<\/span><\/td>\nModerate to severe <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span>, psoriatic arthritis<\/span><\/td>\n125 mg SC once weekly<\/span><\/td>\nOrencia coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Xeljanz XR (extended-release tofacitinib)<\/span><\/td>\nModerate to severe ulcerative colitis, moderate to severe <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span>, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis<\/span><\/td>\n11 mg orally once daily<\/span><\/td>\nXeljanz XR coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trexall (<\/span>methotrexate<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nRheumatoid arthritis<\/span>, severe <\/span>psoriasis<\/span><\/td>\n7.5 to 25 mg orally once a week<\/span><\/td>\nTrexall coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Arava (leflunomide)<\/span><\/td>\nModerate to severe <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span><\/td>\n10 to 20 mg orally once daily<\/span><\/td>\nArava coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Azulfidine (sulfasalazine)<\/span><\/td>\nMild to moderate ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease (<\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span> (off-label) <\/span><\/td>\n500 mg orally every 6 hours for ulcerative colitis<\/span><\/td>\nAzulfidine coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Other alternatives to <\/span>methylprednisolone<\/span><\/h3>\n