methylprednisolone
Brand names: Medrol
Methylprednisolone (Medrol) is a corticosteroid medicine. It reduces inflammation and affects the immune system.
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.
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.
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.
Missed Dose
Call your doctor right away if you miss a dose. They will tell you when to get your next injection.
Storage
Store at room temperature, away from heat and light.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 92,020 FDA adverse event reports.
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
Death-Related Reports
21,966
Hospitalization Reports
53,959
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OFF LABEL USE | 20,939 |
| 2 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 15,502 |
| 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 |
| 14 | PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION | 5,509 |
| 15 | RASH | 5,337 |
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, s...
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 adve...
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.
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
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 92,020 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 2 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.
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