methylprednisolone acetate at a glance
Medicine class
Synthetic glucocorticoid corticosteroid
Form
A depot suspension for injection, administered by a healthcare professional
Licensed routes
Into a muscle, joint, bursa, tendon sheath, around a joint or directly into a skin lesion
Important route restriction
It must not be injected into a vein or spinal fluid and is not licensed for epidural administration
What is methylprednisolone acetate used for?
The selected product is licensed for local or systemic corticosteroid treatment, particularly when oral treatment is not feasible.
Intramuscular treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, severe erythema multiforme, asthma, serious allergic reactions, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Intramuscular adjunctive treatment of fulminant or disseminated tuberculosis and tuberculous meningitis alongside appropriate anti-tuberculosis treatment, and treatment following aspiration of gastric contents.
Injection into an inflamed joint for rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis with an inflammatory component.
Local soft-tissue treatment of non-infective synovitis, epicondylitis, tenosynovitis, plantar fasciitis and bursitis.
Injection into selected lesions including keloids, localised lichen planus or lichen simplex, granuloma annulare, discoid lupus erythematosus and alopecia areata.
How does methylprednisolone acetate work?
Methylprednisolone acetate acts like naturally occurring adrenal corticosteroid hormones, reducing the production and activity of inflammatory and immune signals. Its low solubility creates a depot from which active corticosteroid is absorbed more slowly, allowing local or sustained systemic effects.
methylprednisolone acetate preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 40 mg/mL
How to take methylprednisolone acetate
This suspension must be prepared and injected by a healthcare professional using sterile technique. It must not be mixed with another fluid, and each vial is for single use. Tell the clinician beforehand about infections, recent or planned vaccination, diabetes, pregnancy, breastfeeding, allergies and all other medicines. Follow the clinician’s aftercare instructions and avoid overusing a treated joint simply because it feels better.
Do not attempt to inject this product yourself.
The permitted injection site depends on the condition being treated.
Seek advice if the site becomes increasingly hot, swollen or painful or if you become unwell.
If you have diabetes, follow the glucose-monitoring plan provided by your healthcare team.
methylprednisolone acetate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Temporary pain flare or soreness after a local injection
- Facial flushing
- Bruising or bleeding at the injection site
- Temporary rise in blood glucose, particularly in people with diabetes
- Skin thinning, dimpling or colour change around the injection site
- Irregular menstrual bleeding
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling and breathing difficulty
- Injection-site or joint infection
- Severe mood or behavioural change, suicidal thoughts, hallucinations or confusion
- Blurred vision or other significant visual disturbance
- Adrenal suppression after substantial systemic exposure
- Gastrointestinal ulceration, bleeding or perforation
- Tendon weakening or rupture
methylprednisolone acetate in pregnancy
Systemic corticosteroids can be used during pregnancy when recommended by a doctor, but methylprednisolone acetate requires an individual assessment of maternal benefit and fetal risk. Some studies have raised concerns about early-pregnancy exposure, although most exposed babies do not have a birth defect; repeated or prolonged systemic exposure may affect fetal growth. Do not stop necessary corticosteroid treatment without speaking to the prescriber.
methylprednisolone acetate while breastfeeding
Methylprednisolone is a preferred injected corticosteroid during breastfeeding because milk exposure is expected to be very small. Depot injections are unlikely to affect the infant, although an injection into a joint may temporarily reduce milk production. Specialist advice is appropriate for prolonged or substantial exposure, or when the infant is premature or unwell.
methylprednisolone acetate interactions
Tell the treating clinician about all prescribed, non-prescribed and herbal products. Important interactions include:
Live or live-attenuated vaccines
These are contraindicated during immunosuppressive corticosteroid exposure because infection may result.
Ritonavir, cobicistat and other strong CYP3A inhibitors
They can increase methylprednisolone exposure and systemic corticosteroid adverse effects.
Clarithromycin, erythromycin and azole antifungals
Reduced corticosteroid clearance may increase adverse effects.
Common questions about methylprednisolone acetate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is methylprednisolone acetate used for?
It is a depot corticosteroid injection used for selected inflammatory, allergic, rheumatic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, soft-tissue, joint and skin conditions.
Is methylprednisolone acetate the same as an anabolic steroid?
No. It is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation and immune activity, not an anabolic steroid used to increase muscle mass.
Can methylprednisolone acetate be injected into a vein or spine?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.