Depodrol 8 mg – Price, Uses, and Benefits for Bangladeshi Patients

Category	Details
Generic	Methylprednisolone
Company	Opsonin pharma ltd
Also available as	Depodrol 2 mg tablet Depodrol 4 mg tablet Depodrol 16 mg tablet

Title

Potent anti-inflammatory agent
Profoundly inhibits the immune system
Influences kidney and fluid & electrolyte balance
Affects lipid, protein, and carbohydrate metabolism
Impacts skeletal muscle, cardiovascular system, immune system, nervous system, and endocrine system
High absolute bioavailability (82%-89%) following oral administration
Rapidly absorbed with max plasma concentration achieved in 1.5-2.3 hours
Widely distributed into tissues with volume of distribution at 41-61.5 liters
Crosses the blood-brain barrier and placental barrier
Secreted in breast milk
Approximately 77% plasma protein binding in humans
Metabolized in the liver to inactive metabolites
Haemodializable

Usual range of 2-48 mg daily in divided doses
Initial dosage may vary from 4-48 mg per day depending on the specific disease entity being treated
Proper maintenance dosage determined by decreasing initial drug dosage
Treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis with daily doses of 160 mg for a week followed by 64 mg every other day for 1 month
Guideline for treating and controlling severe allergy and dermatitis using 4 mg tablets
Alternate-day therapy recommended for long-term pharmacologic dose treatment
Basic principles and indications for corticosteroid therapy should be applied

Erythromycin, Clarithromycin, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin, Rifampin, and Ketoconazole inhibit the metabolism of Depodrol
Estrogens, including birth control pills, can increase the effect of corticosteroids by 50%
Cyclosporin reduces the metabolism of Depodrol, while Depodrol reduces the metabolism of Cyclosporin
Depodrol may increase or decrease the effect of blood thinners

Short courses are usually well-tolerated with few, mild side effects
Long term, high doses may produce predictable and potentially serious side effects
Lowest effective doses should be used for the shortest length of time to minimize side effects
Depression, euphoria, insomnia, fluid retention, weight gain, high blood pressure, potassium loss, headache, muscle weakness, hair growth on the face, glaucoma, cataracts, peptic ulceration, growth retardation in children, convulsions, psychic disturbances
Prolonged use can depress the body's adrenal glands' ability to produce corticosteroids

Adrenocortical insufficiency may persist for months after discontinuation of therapy
Hormone therapy should be reinstituted in any situation of stress occurring during that period
Salt and/or a mineralocorticoid should be administered concurrently
Enhanced effect on patients with hypothyroidism and those with cirrhosis
Corticosteroids should be used cautiously in patients with ocular herpes simplex
Aspirin should be used cautiously in conjunction with corticosteroids in hypoprothrombinemia
Growth and development of infants and children on prolonged corticosteroid therapy should be carefully observed

Rare reports of acute toxicity and/or death following an overdose of glucocorticoid
No specific antidote available; treatment is supportive and symptomatic
Serum electrolytes should be monitored