Key takeaways
The standard methylprednisolone dosage for corticosteroid-responsive conditions in adults is 4–48 mg per day.
The maximum dose of methylprednisolone depends on the condition being treated.
Methylprednisolone is available as tablets or injections.
The best time to take methylprednisolone is in the morning or four times daily.
Do not take methylprednisolone if you have had an allergic reaction to the drug or have an active internal fungal infection.
Methylprednisolone is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid similar to prednisone. The FDA has approved it as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, asthma exacerbations, severe dermatitis, nervous system conditions, blood disorders, flare-ups of immune system disorders, leukemia, and lymphoma. Methylprednisolone dosages depend on the medical condition and can range from low doses (4 mg) to very high doses (1,000 mg) taken daily.
Methylprednisolone forms and strengths
Although healthcare professionals can administer methylprednisolone injections, patients can take only one dosage form:
Oral tablet: 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg, 32 mg
Check our best Methylprednisolone prices
Methylprednisolone dosage chart |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Indication | Starting dosage | Standard dosage | Maximum dosage |
| Corticosteroid-responsive conditions | 4–48 mg per day | 4–48 mg per day | 4–48 mg per day |
| Asthma | 7.5–60 mg taken 1-4 times daily | 7.5–60 mg taken 1-4 times daily | 7.5–60 mg taken 1-4 times daily |
| Gout | 24 mg per day | 4 mg per day | 24 mg per day |
| Multiple sclerosis | 500–1,000 mg per day | 500–1,000 mg per day | 1,000 mg per day |
Methylprednisolone dosage chart for children |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Indication | Age | Standard dosage | Maximum dosage |
| Corticosteroid-responsive conditions | 2 years and older | 0.5–1.7 mg/kg per day taken every 6-12 hours with food | 24 mg per day taken with food |
| Asthma (severe & persistent) | 2 years and older | 0.25–2 mg/kg per day taken with food 1–4 times daily | 60 mg per day taken with food |
Personalized dosing considerations
Methylprednisolone requires no dosage adjustments for people with kidney problems or liver disease. People with thyroid problems or liver cirrhosis may need dosage adjustments.
Pediatric doses are lower than adult doses and are based on body weight.
Methylprednisolone safety info
Methylprednisolone is a powerful drug that affects organs and tissues throughout the body. Side effects and drug interactions are common. Serious adverse events are possible, particularly for people with pre-existing medical problems.
Contraindications include any internal (systemic) fungal infection or a known hypersensitivity to the drug.
Corticosteroid therapy can significantly worsen some medical conditions or cause serious adverse reactions in people with these conditions. Clinicians use methylprednisolone cautiously in these cases and may modify the dosage:
Infections, particularly herpes infections of the eyes
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Glaucoma
Peptic ulcers
Gastrointestinal disease
Liver disease or cirrhosis
Osteoporosis
Recent heart attack
Diabetes (steroids increase blood sugar levels)
Caution is advised for pregnant women
, especially during the first trimester. Methylprednisolone may be safe while nursing, but get medical advice from the prescriber.
Immediately tell the prescriber if you are exposed to chickenpox or measles.
Because of adrenal suppression, withdrawal from glucocorticoids can be severe and last for weeks to months. When it’s time to stop methylprednisolone therapy, doctors will prescribe a gradually decreasing dose to prevent withdrawal effects of methylprednisolone.
The tapering schedule depends on the dosage used and the duration of treatment and can range from a few days to a few months. Higher doses and longer treatment durations require longer taper periods. The doctor may need to stop or slow the taper if withdrawal problems surface.
A methylprednisolone dose pack, such as brand-name Medrol Dosepak, is a one-time methylprednisolone treatment with a built-in tapering schedule. The first day’s dose is the largest, and it is tapered over the next five days.
Standard methylprednisolone dose pack tapering schedule |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 |
| 24 mg | 20 mg | 16 mg | 12 mg | 8 mg | 4 mg |
How to take methylprednisolone
Methylprednisolone is taken as a tablet. Healthcare professionals administer methylprednisolone injections.
Follow the dosing instructions carefully. Methylprednisolone is sometimes taken every other day.
Follow the blister pack schedule when using a methylprednisolone dose pack.
If only one dose is taken daily, take that dose in the morning.
Take methylprednisolone with food unless told otherwise by a doctor.
Swallow the tablet with a drink of water.
Never stop using methylprednisolone suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.
Store methylprednisolone tablets at room temperature.
Methylprednisolone dosage FAQs
How long does it take methylprednisolone to work?
Methylprednisolone has a rapid onset and reaches its peak effect within one to two hours after an oral dose.
How long does methylprednisolone stay in your system?
The half-life of methylprednisolone is 18 to 36 hours, which means it may take two to seven days to fully eliminate the drug from the body.
What happens if I miss a dose of methylprednisolone?
If you miss a dose of methylprednisolone, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time to take your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next scheduled dose at its normal time. Do not take two doses to make up for a missed dose unless the prescriber instructs otherwise.
How long can you take methylprednisolone?
Methylprednisolone is safe to take short-term and long-term. Side effects, including withdrawal problems, are more common with long-term use.
How do I stop taking methylprednisolone?
Do not stop taking methylprednisolone doses until talking to the prescriber. Stopping the drug without gradually decreasing the dosage can bring on withdrawal symptoms, including drowsiness, pain, weight loss, confusion, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
What is the maximum dosage for methylprednisolone?
The maximum dosage of methylprednisolone will depend on the patient's age and the specific medical condition being treated. See the dosage table for maximum dosages by condition.
Can you overdose on methylprednisolone?
Yes. Taking too much methylprednisolone can cause serious problems, including high blood pressure, fluid retention, low potassium levels, weakness, tiredness, muscle cramps, and other symptoms. Chronic overdosing can cause Cushing’s syndrome. If too much methylprednisolone is taken, call a poison helpline or get immediate medical attention.
What interacts with methylprednisolone?
Methylprednisolone has a large number of significant drug interactions, so tell the prescriber about all the prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements that are regularly taken.
Because corticosteroids are immunosuppressive, live vaccines should never be used in anyone taking methylprednisolone. They could cause serious or life-threatening infections. Other immunizations are permissible, but they may not work.
Other contraindicated medications include desmopressin, metyrapone, mifepristone, and penicillamine. Because certain radiopaque agents are contraindicated with corticosteroids, make sure healthcare providers know about methylprednisolone before any spinal X-ray.
Make sure the doctor knows if you’re taking other immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine.
What is the dosage of methylprednisolone for dogs/cats?
Veterinarians may treat dogs and cats with methylprednisolone for inflammatory conditions, immune-mediated diseases, and adrenal gland disease. The exact dose will vary based on the animal’s body weight, health, and veterinary condition being treated.
Sources
Depo-Medrol methylprednisolone acetate injection prescribing drug information
, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)Medrol drug summary
, Prescriber’s Digital Reference (PDR)Medrol methylprednisolone tablet prescribing drug information
, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed.
Solu-Medrol methylprednisolone acetate injection prescribing drug information
, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)
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