Methylprednisolone and Prednisone are the two corticosteroid medicines used to treat several diseases and disorders and act similarly. It is used to relieve symptoms like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and eczema. The brand name of Methylprednisolone is Medrol, whereas the brand name of Prednisone is Rayos. Both of them are closely related to cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal gland in the body. Corticosteroids are also known as steroids.
The corticosteroids work through several pathways. This blocks some of the immune and inflammatory markers like leukotrienes, cytokines, prostaglandins, kinins, and histamines. It allows to treatment of certain respiratory diseases, autoimmune disorders, allergic reactions, and other inflammatory conditions. Here we’ll discuss Methylprednisolone vs Prednisone their side effects and their uses, so stay with us to know more about prednisone and methylprednisolone.
Comparison: Is Methylprednisolone the same as Prednisone
Methylprednisolone is a type of medicine used to treat certain conditions such as arthritis, cancer, lung disease, eye conditions, and other disorders. This decreases the response of the immune system. It belongs to the drug class corticosteroid.
Prednisone is a type of medicine used to treat low corticosteroid levels. It is also useful in the treatment of other diseases which include arthritis, allergies, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and many more. Multiple Sclerosis is a disease in which the nerve does not work properly in the body. It also belongs to the drug class corticosteroid.
Prednisone treats certain diseases that affect the thyroid, stomach, blood in kidneys, eyes, lungs, skin, and many other parts of the body. It is also used in the treatment of cancer, swelling, and redness.
Brand Name
The brand names of Methylprednisolone are Medrol, Medrol Dosepak, Depo Medrol, and Solu Medrol.
The brand names of Prednisone are Rayos, Sterapred, Cortan, Deltasone, Orasone, and Prednisone Intensol.
FDA approval
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Methylprednisolone in the year 1957, whereas Prednisone was approved in the year 1955.
Dosages
Prednisone comes in: Prednisone Intensol (solution concentrate)- 5 mg/5 mL and Generic prednisone tablets- 1 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 50 mg.
Methylprednisolone comes in: Generic methylprednisolone- 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg, 32 mg
Side-Effects
The symptoms that occur in patients when taking Methylprednisolone are as follows:
- Headache: It is a common symptom of methylprednisolone. The cause of the headache should be mild. This impacts the daily activities of a person. It can be avoided by some medicines such as Ibuprofen (Motrin) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol).
- Vomiting and Nausea: It mostly happens due to stomach flu, pregnancy, and concussions. This can only be possible by taking too much methylprednisolone which irritates the body of the person. It can be prevented by taking oral doses of methylprednisolone with 25 mg.
- Confusion, Restlessness, and Excitement: Taking too much of this medicine will cause confusion, restlessness, and excitement. The person does not get proper sleep due to this symptom.
- High Blood Pressure: It may create a risk of other health problems such as heart attack, heart disease, and stroke. This causes death in the person. The prevention of this symptom is by prioritizing regular exercises, eating healthy food, and low-salt diet.
- Infection: The cells in the body get damaged which causes illness in the person. It can often be avoided by washing the hands frequently.
- Depression: It changes behavior and feelings which impact the daily life of a person. It can be avoided by doing regular exercises.
- Muscle Weakness: It causes stroke, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other inflammatory conditions.
The symptoms that occur in patients when taking Prednisone are as follows:
- Feeling restless: This impacts the physical and mental health of the person. Kidney problems, hyperthyroidism, dementia, etc., are some of the common causes of feeling restless. The symptoms can be avoided by taking this medicine in the morning.
- Changes of mild mood: Taking too much prednisone impacts the mood of the person. This causes serious problems such as stress and exhaustion. If there is no help to avoid this symptom, then speak to the doctor or pharmacist.
- Indigestion: The person feels uncomfortable which irritates their body’s health. It can be avoided by taking this medicine with food. This reduces stomach pain.
- Weight gain: It may be a sign of underlying problems that cause stress and lack of proper sleep. It can be avoided by regular exercise and taking prednisolone for more than a few weeks.
- Sleeping Problem or insomnia: This may be a cause of stress and anxiety. The prevention of this symptom is to get rid of anxiety first and take the prednisone tablet in the morning or as per prescription.
Period of Typical Treatment
Methylprednisolone takes six days or longer, whereas Prednisone takes five days or longer for the typical diagnosis and treatment.
Costs
The cost of methylprednisolone is around $ 40 for twenty-one 4 mg tablets, whereas the cost of prednisone is around $12 for ten 20 mg tablets.
Uses
Both these medicines are typically used in the treatment of adults, infants, and children. Both medications are recommended for short-term use. Methylprednisolone comes in both form oral tablets and as an intravenous solution while prednisone comes in only oral tablet form.
Conclusion
Methylprednisolone and Prednisone are helpful for the treatment of lung and heart diseases, stomach pain, skin disease, liver cancer, etc. It may also have common side effects such as depression, vomiting, and many more. Both of these medicines may impact the body and reduce inflammation. Methylprednisolone can only be given orally or through injection, whereas prednisone is administered as an oral treatment. Doctors recommend the best medicine in each situation for the health conditions. So hope this article helped you to know the difference between Methylprednisolone vs Prednisone and their side effects and uses.