Prescription medication · Corticosteroid
methylprednisolone
Also sold as Medrol. This medicine can treat many conditions.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 131,747
- FDA reportsHeavily reported
- 29
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
methylprednisolone (Medrol) is a prescription Corticosteroid, more reported than roughly 9 in 10 tracked drugs (131,747 FDA reports), with 29 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
methylprednisolone (Medrol) is a prescription Corticosteroid. This medicine can treat many conditions.
Methylprednisolone (Medrol) is a corticosteroid medicine. It reduces inflammation and affects the immune system.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
methylprednisolone is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Eugia US LLC. Status: Unavailable.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$0.27/unit
Generic Price
$1.23/unit
Generic Available
Yes (19 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine can treat many conditions.
Common side effects
No common side effects listed.
Key warnings
This medicine is not for injection into the spine.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from methylprednisolone's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Methylprednisolone reduces inflammation in the body. It also changes how your immune system works. This can help control symptoms of different diseases.
How to Take It
Your doctor will inject this medicine into a muscle, joint, soft tissue, or lesion. Follow your doctor's instructions on how often to get the injection. The dose depends on your condition and how you respond to the treatment. Do not inject this medicine into a vein.
This is a plain-language summary of methylprednisolone's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medicine may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
This is a plain-language summary of methylprednisolone's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
Call your doctor right away if you miss a dose. They will tell you when to get your next injection.
This is a plain-language summary of methylprednisolone's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature, away from heat and light.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 131,747 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for methylprednisolone, by number of reports
- Feeling very tired
Feeling very tired
7,792 reports
- Aching or soreness
Aching or soreness
7,273 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
7,212 reports
- Pain in your head
Pain in your head
7,058 reports
- Fever
Fever
6,883 reports
- Lung infection
Lung infection
6,632 reports
- Joint pain
Joint pain
6,390 reports
- Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing
6,340 reports
- Loose stools
Loose stools
6,164 reports
- The illness has gotten worse
The illness has gotten worse
5,730 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for methylprednisolone each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where methylprednisolone sits
methylprednisolone has more FDA adverse-event reports than 90% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is methylprednisolone; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 131,747 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2000–2025.
Total Reports
131,747
Reports Mentioning Death
21,966
16.7% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
53,959
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | FATIGUE | 7,793 |
| 4 | PAIN | 7,274 |
| 5 | NAUSEA | 7,213 |
| 6 | HEADACHE | 7,058 |
| 7 | PYREXIA | 6,883 |
| 8 | PNEUMONIA | 6,632 |
| 9 | ARTHRALGIA | 6,389 |
| 10 | DYSPNOEA | 6,339 |
| 11 | DIARRHOEA | 6,165 |
| 12 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 5,730 |
| 13 | INFUSION RELATED REACTION | 5,565 |
| 15 | RASH | 5,337 |
| 16 | HYPERTENSION | 5,102 |
| 17 | VOMITING | 4,616 |
| 18 | RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS | 4,575 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
This medicine is not for injection into the spine. This can cause serious medical problems. Do not take this medicine if you have a fungal infection, unless it's a localized joint condition.
Known Drug Interactions
albuterol, systemic and inhaled mebendazole amoxicillin medroxyprogesterone ampicillin, with or without sulbactam methylprednisolone atenolol metronidazole azithromycin metoprolol caffeine, dietary ingestion nadolol cefaclor nifedipine co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) nizatidine diltiazem norfloxacin dirithromycin ofloxacin enflurane omeprazole famotidine prednisone, prednisolone felodipine ranitidine finasteride rifabutin hydrocortisone roxithromycin isoflurane Sorbitol (purgative doses do not inhibit theophylline absorption) isoniazid sucralfate isradipine terbutaline,...
Mechanism: Methylprednisolone can change the speed at which your body gets rid of theophylline. This can make the theophylline level in your blood unpredictable.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your theophylline dose when you start or stop taking this steroid. Make sure to attend all scheduled blood tests to check your medicine levels.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) : Concomitant use of aspirin (or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents) and corticosteroids increases the risk of gastrointestinal side effects. Aspirin should be used cautiously in conjunction with corticosteroids in hypoprothrombinemia.
Mechanism: Both of these medications can irritate the lining of the stomach and digestive tract. Taking them at the same time increases your risk of developing stomach pain or internal bleeding.
What to do: Use this combination with caution and tell your doctor if you notice any stomach pain. Your doctor should be extra careful if you have certain blood clotting problems.
Hepatic Enzyme Inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin and troleandomycin): Drugs which inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 have the potential to result in increased plasma concentrations of corticosteroids. Ketoconazole : Ketoconazole has been reported to significantly decrease the metabolism of certain corticosteroids by up to 60%, leading to an increased risk of corticosteroid side effects.
Mechanism: Ketoconazole blocks the enzymes that normally break down the steroid in your body. This causes the steroid levels to rise, which increases the risk of side effects.
What to do: Your doctor may need to lower your steroid dose while you are taking ketoconazole. Monitor yourself closely for any new or worsening steroid side effects.
Single 40 mg dose of aprepitant No dosage adjustment of oral dexamethasone needed Methylprednisolone Clinical Impact Increased methylprednisolone exposure [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. Intervention 3-day aprepitant regimen Reduce the dose of intravenous methylprednisolone by approximately 25% Reduce the dose of oral methylprednisolone by approximately 50% Single 40 mg dose of aprepitant No dosage adjustment of methylprednisolone needed Chemotherapeutic agents that are metabolized by CYP3A4 Clinical Impact Increased exposure of the chemotherapeutic agent may increase the risk of...
Mechanism: Aprepitant prevents the body from breaking down methylprednisolone, which leads to higher levels of the steroid in your system.
What to do: Your doctor should reduce your dose of methylprednisolone by 25% to 50% depending on how it is given.
Other Drugs Metabolized by CYP3A: Alfentanil Bromocriptine Cilostazol Methylprednisolone Vinblastine Phenobarbital St. John’s Wort Use With Caution There have been spontaneous or published reports of CYP3A based interactions of clarithromycin with alfentanil, methylprednisolone, cilostazol, bromocriptine, vinblastine, phenobarbital, and St.
Mechanism: Clarithromycin blocks the specific protein in your body that usually breaks down methylprednisolone, which can cause the steroid to build up to higher levels.
What to do: Use this combination with caution and talk to your doctor about watching for increased side effects from the steroid.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
What is methylprednisolone used for?
How is methylprednisolone given?
Can I use methylprednisolone if I am pregnant?
What should I do if I miss a dose?
How should I store methylprednisolone?
Can methylprednisolone be injected into the spine?
Can I use methylprednisolone if I have a fungal infection?
What should I tell my doctor before using methylprednisolone?
Are there any reasons I should not take methylprednisolone?
Will this medicine cure my condition?
Does methylprednisolone interact with other medications?
What drug class is methylprednisolone?
Is methylprednisolone safe during pregnancy?
Has methylprednisolone been recalled?
Is methylprednisolone currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
Labeling: Not Elsewhere Classified. Incorrect orientation of the blister foil applied to the blister cavities, which results in incorrect dosing information when following the directions on the foil.
Greenstone Llc
Failed Dissolution Specifications
Eugia US LLC
Labeling: Illegible label: Manufacturer received complaint of mis-alignment print of the printed dosing instructions on the blister card.
Asclemed USA Inc. dba Enovachem Pharmaceuticals
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for methylprednisolone
The FDA label for methylprednisolone (sold under brand names such as Medrol) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Corticosteroid class. This medicine can treat many conditions. Labeling covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements derived from clinical trials.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 131,747 voluntary reports. The database also lists 29 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.23 versus $0.27 for the brand.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 3 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: December 31, 2024
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages