Methylprednisolone dosage, forms, and strengths

Methylprednisolone (brand: Medrol) belongs to a group of anti-inflammatory agents called corticosteroids that are FDA-approved to reduce inflammation and treat rheumatic disorders, allergies, nervous system conditions, blood disorders, and other chronic diseases. It can even treat some cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. 

The exact amount of methylprednisolone patients need to take will vary based on their medical history and medical condition. Standard doses can range from 4 mg per day to up to 1,000 mg per day depending on the condition being treated.

Methylprednisolone forms and strengths

Methylprednisolone is a generic medication that’s sold under the brand names Medrol, Depo-Medrol, Solu-Medrol, and Medrol Dosepak. It’s only available to take as an oral tablet and comes in several different strengths: 

• Oral tablet: 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg, 32 mg 

Methylprednisolone dosage for adults

Because methylprednisolone is a corticosteroid, it’s mainly prescribed to treat inflammatory conditions like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and severe allergies. It can also treat endocrine disorders, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory skin diseases, eye problems, blood disorders, Crohn's disease, and other chronic diseases. 

Methylprednisolone is safe for most adults but isn’t right for everyone. Adults with kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, tuberculosis, seizures, ulcers, or intestinal diseases might not be able to undergo corticosteroid therapy and should consult with their doctor about these and other contraindications.

* Methylprednisolone should be taken by mouth with food, as directed by a medical professional.

Methylprednisolone dosage for corticosteroid-responsive conditions 

Corticosteroid-responsive conditions include allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, lupus erythematosus, osteoarthritis, Crohn’s disease, leukemia, lymphoma, and other chronic inflammatory conditions. The standard dosing for these types of conditions starts at 24 mg on day one and then is decreased by 4 mg each day for five days. The dosing is titrated in this way to avoid toxicity. 

• Standard dosage for corticosteroid-responsive conditions: 4-48 mg per day taken with food 

• Maximum dosage for corticosteroid-responsive conditions: 48 mg per day taken with food 

Immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids like methylprednisolone will vary based on the condition being treated, so it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional. 

Methylprednisolone dosage for asthma 

For adults with severe and persistent asthma, the daily dose of methylprednisolone will range from 7.5 to 60 mg per day depending on the individual, their medical history, the severity of their asthma, and their response to treatment. If high doses are given initially or methylprednisolone is prescribed for long-term use, then it’s recommended that doses are tapered gradually.

• Standard dosage for asthma: 7.5-60 mg per day taken with food 

• Maximum dosage for asthma: 60 mg per day taken with food 

Methylprednisolone dosage for gout 

For adults with acute gout, methylprednisolone is given as a starting dose of 24 mg on day one and then is decreased by 4 mg each day for five days. At the end of the sixth day, the drug is taken in low doses of 4 mg tablets for as long as it’s prescribed. 

• Standard dosage for gout: 4 mg per day taken with food 

• Maximum dosage for gout: 24 mg per day taken with food 

Methylprednisolone dosage for multiple sclerosis 

Methylprednisolone is given in higher doses to adults with multiple sclerosis. People with this condition will take anywhere from 500 to 1,000 mg per day depending on the severity of their symptoms. Oftentimes, methylprednisolone will only need to be taken for three to five days for acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis.

• Standard dosage for multiple sclerosis: 500-1,000 mg per day taken with food 

• Maximum dosage for multiple sclerosis: 1,000 mg per day taken with food 

Methylprednisolone dosage for children

Methylprednisolone is safe for children ages 2 years and older to take as long as it’s approved by a medical professional. For kids, methylprednisolone is prescribed based on weight. See the table below for more detail.

• Standard methylprednisolone dosage for children ages 2 years and older: 0.25-2 mg taken 1-4 times per day with food 

• Maximum methylprednisolone dosage for children ages 2 years and older: 60 mg per day taken with food 

Methylprednisolone dosage restrictions

People with certain medical conditions may need to take different doses of methylprednisolone compared to the average person because of the potential for adverse events. Methylprednisolone can weaken the immune system and make the body more susceptible to infections. People with one or more of the following should talk with their doctor because they may require an adjusted dose of methylprednisolone: 

• Muscle disorders

• Thyroid disorders

• Ulcers

• Peptic ulcer disease 

• Glaucoma

• Renal insufficiency 

• High intraocular pressure 

• Gastrointestinal disease 

• Liver disease or cirrhosis

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Osteoporosis

• Heart failure 

• Myasthenia gravis 

• Depression

• Herpes infection of the eyes 

People with systemic fungal infections should not take methylprednisolone at all. 

Caution is advised for pregnant women, especially during the first trimester. Limited data from clinical trials have found that methylprednisolone may be safe during lactation, but women should consider breastfeeding at least eight to 12 hours after taking methylprednisolone. Always talk to your healthcare provider before taking a new medication during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Methylprednisolone dosage for pets

Methylprednisolone is sometimes given to dogs, cats, and horses to treat adrenal gland disease, inflammatory conditions, and immune-mediated diseases. It can also be prescribed off-label to treat certain medical conditions if a vet thinks it’s necessary.

The exact dose of methylprednisolone that animals need will vary based on what kind of animal they are, their weight, overall health, and what kind of medical condition they have. For pets, methylprednisolone should be given with food and can be administered in tablet form or as a specially compounded liquid. In a veterinary hospital, it can be given as an injection.

How to take methylprednisolone

Methylprednisolone should be taken properly to ensure it works as effectively as possible. Taking it the right way will also reduce the potential of experiencing common side effects such as:

• Weight gain

• Fluid retention

• Muscle weakness

• Hyperglycemia

• Nausea

• Dizziness

• Cushing syndrome (with long-term use) 

• Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression (with long-term use) 

• Inhibition of bone growth among pediatric patients (with long-term use) 

Here’s how to take methylprednisolone: 

• Follow all of the directions on your prescription label unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

• Take methylprednisolone with food unless told otherwise by a doctor. 

• Methylprednisolone is sometimes taken every other day to minimize adrenal suppression. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very closely. 

• Your dosing needs may change if you have a serious illness, fever, infection, surgery, or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor if any of these apply to you. 

• This medicine can cause unusual results with certain medical tests, so be sure to tell any doctor who treats you that you are using methylprednisolone. 

• Never stop using methylprednisolone suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose. 

Methylprednisolone dosage FAQs

How long does it take methylprednisolone to work?

Methylprednisolone has a rapid onset and reaches its peak effect within one to two hours after an oral dose. 

The efficacy of methylprednisolone may be affected by a patient’s weight, level of physical activity, diet, and whether or not he or she is taking any other medications. The best way to know how well and quickly methylprednisolone will work for you is to talk with your doctor. 

How long does methylprednisolone stay in your system?

The half-life of methylprednisolone is 18 to 36 hours, which means it may take two to seven days to fully eliminate the drug from the body. 

What happens if I miss a dose of methylprednisolone?

If you miss a dose of methylprednisolone, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time to take your next dose when you remember you’ve missed a dose, then just take your next scheduled dose. It is usually not a good idea to take two doses at one time because this could cause an overdose. However, your prescriber may encourage you to take multiple doses of this medication at once in order to ensure a specific daily dose is taken each day. Some methylprednisolone instructions say to take multiple tablets at once, while others say to take it in divided doses. It is important to consult your prescriber or pharmacist when taking this medication if you are unsure about when to take each dose.

How long can you take methylprednisolone?

Methylprednisolone is safe to take short-term and long-term. The amount of time someone needs to be on the drug will depend on the severity of the medical condition being treated. 

How do I stop taking methylprednisolone?

Abruptly stopping methylprednisolone can cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms such as: 

• Confusion

• Drowsiness

• Headache

• Fever

• Loss of appetite

• Upset stomach 

• Vomiting

• Joint pain

• Muscle pain

• Weight loss

Methylprednisolone must be stopped properly in order for these side effects to be avoided. If the drug isn’t working for you or causing too many side effects, it may be time to talk with your doctor about safely tapering off the medication. Your doctor will likely taper you off methylprednisolone, which means you’ll take smaller doses every day or every week over a period of time. This will ensure your body doesn’t react negatively. 

If you do need to stop taking methylprednisolone, there may be a medication that works better for you. Talk to your doctor about glucocorticoid drug alternatives, such as Mobic (meloxicam), Rayos (prednisone), Cortef (hydrocortisone), and dexamethasone. 

What is the maximum dosage for methylprednisolone?

The maximum dosage for methylprednisolone will depend on the age of the person being treated and the specific medical condition he or she has. 

• Maximum methylprednisolone dosage for children ages 2 years and older: 60 mg per day taken with food

• Maximum dosage for adults with multiple sclerosis: 1,000 mg per day taken with food 

• Maximum dosage for adults with gout: 24 mg per day taken with food

• Maximum dosage for adults with asthma: 7.5-60 mg per day taken with food 

• Maximum dosage for adults with corticosteroid-responsive conditions: 4-48 mg per day taken with food 

Can you overdose on methylprednisolone?

It’s possible to overdose on methylprednisolone. Overdosing can cause high blood pressure, fluid retention, swelling of the arms, legs, and feet, low potassium levels, weakness, tiredness, muscle cramps, and other symptoms.

In the event of an overdose, seek medical advice right away and go to the emergency room or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. 

What interacts with methylprednisolone?

Some medications and vaccines shouldn’t be taken at the same time as methylprednisolone because of the potential for drug interactions that can cause adverse effects, including hypersensitivity to other drugs or life-threatening allergic reactions. You should talk with your doctor if you take or have recently received one or more of the following: 

• The live adenovirus vaccine 

• BCG live intravesical

• Live cholera vaccine

• Desmopressin

• Live influenza nasal vaccine

• Live measles/mumps/rubella vaccine

• Mifepristone

• Live rotavirus vaccine

• Smallpox vaccine

• Talimogene laherparepvec

• Live typhoid vaccine

• Live varicella vaccine

• Live yellow fever vaccine 

Related resources for methylprednisolone dosages:

• Medrol (methylprednisolone) drug information, FDA

• Adult dosing, Epocrates

• Pediatric dosing, Epocrates

• Patient education, Epocrates

• Methylprednisolone for pets, VCA Hospitals

• Pregnancy and lactation, Epocrates

• Drug interactions, Epocrates