PwMS are often given steroids for symptom relief. The problem with taking steroids is that it floods the body with too much of something produced naturally. It supercharges you for the race. You get there faster and burn brighter, temporarily, It’s like burning a candle at both ends. Eventually your body will pay the price for the “fix”. Adrenaline is important for many reasons. It can give us enormous amount of strength in an emergency, but if we flooded our bodies with it continually, we would literally burn out. Our hearts wouldn’t be able to stand the constant high octane, so to speak.

Corticosteroids are naturally produced by the adrenal gland in the body. Corticosteroids influence the functioning of most of the body's systems (heart, immune, muscles and bones, endocrine and nervous system). They exert a wide array of effects including effects on the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and fats.

Some uses are :

• As an anti-inflammatory medication.


• To treat or prevent allergic reactions.


• As treatment of certain kinds of autoimmune diseases, skin conditions, asthma and other lung conditions.


• As treatment for a variety of cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.


• To treat nausea and vomiting associated with some chemotherapy drugs.


•  Used to stimulate appetite in cancer patients with severe appetite problems.


• Also used to replace steroids in conditions of adrenal insufficiency (low production of needed steroids produced by the adrenal glands).


• Used as prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Known side effects:

• agitation


• anxiety


• delirium


• irritability


• difficulty sleeping (insomnia)


• swelling in your ankles and feet (fluid retention)


• nausea, take with food


• heartburn


• headaches


• dizziness


• mood swings


• cataracts and bone thinning (with long-term use)


• muscle weakness


• impaired wound healing


• increased blood sugar levels(Persons with Diabetes may need to have blood sugar levels monitored more closely and possible adjustments to diabetes medications).


• Diarrhea


• facial redness


• flushing


• increased or decreased appetite


• increased sweating


• indigestion

Call the doctor if:

• Extreme fatigue (unable to carry on self-care activities)


• Any unusual bleeding or bruising


• Black or tarry stools, or blood in your stools or urine


• Nausea (interferes with ability to eat and unrelieved with prescribed medications)


• Vomiting (vomiting more than 4-5 times in a 24-hour period)


• Dizziness or lightheadedness, feeling faint.


• Persistent headache


• Severe hot flashes or mood swings


• Inability to sleep (insomnia)


• Severe skeletal (bone) pain


• Difficult or painful urination; increased urination, or severe thirst


• Metallic taste


• Changes in vision, blurred vision, eye pain, enlarged pupils, discharge


• Any new rashes or changes in your skin


• acne


• bloody or black, tarry stools


• eye pain or vision problems


• fever


• irregular heartbeat


• "moon face" (filling or rounding out of face)


• muscle cramps or pain


• muscle weakness


• seizures


• sensitivity of the eyes to light


• sores in the mouth


• symptoms of a yeast infection (e.g., thick, white vaginal discharge, itching or burning during urination)


• tearing of the eyes


• thin, shiny skin


• unusual bruising


• unusual increase in hair growth


• unusual tiredness or weakness


• weight gain that occurs quickly


• wounds that will not heal


• Swelling of the feet or ankles. Sudden weight gain (greater than 3 pounds a week)


• signs of gastrointestinal bleeding (e.g., black, tarry stools, vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds, rectal bleeding)


• signs of reduced ability for blood to clot (e.g., bloody nose, blood in urine, coughing blood, cuts that don't stop bleeding)


• signs of uncontrolled blood sugar (e.g., increased thirst, frequent urination, increased urination at night)


• skin rash


• unusual infections (symptoms may include fever or chills, severe diarrhea, shortness of breath, prolonged dizziness, headache, stiff neck, weight loss, or listlessness


• Swelling, redness and/or pain in one leg or arm and not the other


• Abdominal pain

• hypertension,


• suffocation feeling


• tachycardia


• tremor


• malaise


• shock


• blurred or reduced vision

• changes in menstrual periods


• confusion


• excitement


• hallucinations


• muscle weakness


• mood swings


• rapid or pounding heartbeat


• restlessness


• seizures


• shortness of breath


• signs of depression (e.g., poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, thoughts of suicide)

Forget the phone and go to the ER if you have any of the following:

• Fever of 100.5º F (38º C), chills (possible signs of infection)


• If you feel an irregular or fast heart beat, shortness of breath, or chest or jaw pain


• Rectal Hemorrhage


• If you become suddenly confused.

Possible long term and permanent effects are:

• Cataracts


• Damage to liver, pancreas, biliary system.


• Kidney failure


• pancreatitis


• neutropenia,


• hepatic lesion


• hypotension,


• speech disorder

A person should not use if he or she:

• is allergic to methylprednisolone or to any of the ingredients of the medication


• has chickenpox


• has Cushing's syndrome


• has herpes simplex keratitis


• has systemic (in the blood) fungal infections


• has tuberculosis


• has vaccinia (reaction to smallpox vaccine)

http://www.patientsville.com/medication/solu-medrol_side_effects.htm

http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/drug_info_details.asp?brand_name_id=1514

Other precautions or warnings for Solu-Medrol:

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Depression: Corticosteroids have been known to cause mood swings and symptoms of depression. People with depression or a history of depression should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed. If you experience symptoms of depression such as poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, or notice them in a family member who is taking this medication, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Diabetes: Methylprednisolone may cause a loss of control of diabetes by increasing blood glucose (sugar). People with diabetes should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed. You may need to check your blood glucose levels more often.

Fluid and electrolyte balance: This medication may cause electrolyte imbalances (changes in the levels of certain salts in the blood). If you notice dry mouth, thirst, weakness, fatigue, muscle pain and cramps, fast heartbeat, or decreased urination, see your doctor.

Glaucoma: Methylprednisolone may cause the pressure within the eye to increase. People with glaucoma should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Heart disease: Methylprednisolone may cause an elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and increased excretion of potassium. People with heart disease should be monitored by their doctor while taking this medication. People with heart disease should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Infections: Corticosteroids can reduce your body's ability to fight infections and may hide signs of infection that is developing. If you have had tuberculosis in the past, methylprednisolone may cause the infection to return. If you experience signs of infection such as sore throat, fever, sneezing, or coughing, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Kidney disease: Methylprednisolone may not clear from the body at the expected rate in cases where the kidney is not working properly. People with reduced kidney function or kidney disease should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: Methylprednisolone may not clear from the body at the expected rate in cases where the liver is not working properly. People with reduced liver function or liver disease should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Myasthenia gravis: Myasthenia gravis is a condition that causes specific muscle weakness. Methylprednisolone can cause muscle wasting, decreasing muscle. People with myasthenia gravis should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Ocular herpes simplex: People who have the herpes simplex virus affecting their eye should be monitored by their doctor while taking methylprednisolone, as the medication may cause damage to the cornea.

Osteoporosis (bone disease): Methylprednisolone causes the body to lose calcium and may cause osteoporosis to develop or worsen. People who have osteoporosis or those who are at risk of developing osteoporosis should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Skin test injection: Methylprednisolone, like other corticosteroids, can cause false negative test results (i.e., tuberculosis or allergy) by reducing the body's reaction to the test serum.

Stomach ulcer: Methylprednisolone may cause stomach ulcers to worsen or develop. People with stomach problems or a history of stomach problems, should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Stress: A dosage adjustment of methylprednisolone may be required for anyone subjected to unusual stress.

Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism): Methylprednisolone may not clear from the body at the expected rate when a person is hypothyroid. As a result, the effects of the medication may be increased. People with hypothyroidism should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Vaccines: People receiving immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids should not receive live or live-attenuated (modified) vaccines, as there is a risk of infection and poor immune response to the vaccine.

Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: This medication passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking methylprednisolone, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding

There may be an interaction between methylprednisolone and any of the following:

• aldesleukin


• amphotericin B


• antacids (aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide) with oral methylprednisolone only


• anti-HIV medications (e.g., delaviridine, lopinavir, ritonavir)


• antidiabetes medications (e.g., glyburide,insulin, metformin, repaglinide, rosiglitazone)


• antihypertensive medications (e.g., metoprolol)


• aprepitant


• ASA (acetylsalicylic acid)


• azole antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)


• birth control pills calcitriol


• cholestyramine (with oral methylprednisolone only)


• colestipol (with oral methylprednisolone only)


• cyclosporine


• digoxin


• diltiazem


• diuretics (water pills; e.g., furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide


• donepezil


• echinacea


• estrogens


• imatinib


• isoniazid


• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)


• mitotane


• muscle relaxants (e.g., atracurium, pancuronium, rocuronium)


• nefazodone


• neostigmine


• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs; e.g., celecoxib, ibuprofen, naproxen)


• pancuronium


• phenobarbital


• phenytoin


• pimecrolimus


• pyridostigmine


• quetiapine


• quinidine


• quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, norfloxacin)


• rifabutin


• rifampin


• salbutamol


• tacrolimus (topical)


• tuberculosis vaccine (BCG)


• vaccines (e.g., vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella)


• verapamil


• warfarin