Methylprednisolone Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Methylprednisolone Deck (38)
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1
Q

What are the trade names of Methylprednisolone?

A

Medrol, Solu-medrol, Depo-medrol, A-methapred

2
Q

What is the drug classification of methylprednisolone?

A

synthetic corticosteroid

3
Q

What are the general clinical uses of methylprednisolone?

A

-used as replacement therapy for deficiency states and to produce an intense glucocorticoid (anti-inflammatory) or immunosuppressant effect in disease states of hematologic, allergic, inflammatory, neoplastic, and autoimmune origins

4
Q

What are the specific uses of methylprednisolone?

A
  • secondary treatment in anaphylactic reactions when refractory bronchospasm or shock occurs
  • Preop administration to asthmatic patients that have had frequent recent attacks
  • peri-op replacement in patients with adrenal-cortical suppression
  • Improvement of the outcome after non-penetrating spinal cord injuries
  • Epidural steroid injections as an alternative to surgical treatment of lumbar disc disease
  • Immunosuppression in organ transplantation
  • treatment of aspiration pneumonitis (controversial!)
5
Q

What is the MOA of methylprednisolone?

A

Interacts with intracellular glucocorticoid receptors that belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily. The glucocorticoids enter the cell and bind to specific receptors in the cytoplasm. The glucocorticoid-receptor enters the nucleus and causes some type of DNA change, bind to glucocorticoid response elements in the promotors of target genes and bring about corresponding changes (induction or repression) in transcription.

6
Q

What are the physiologic effects of the MOA of methylprednisolone?

A
  • physiologic effects exerted include the modulation of carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism and maintenance of fluid and electrolyte homeostasis
  • Cardiovascular, immunologic, musculoskeletal, endocrine, and neurologic physiology are also influenced by the drug
7
Q

How does methylprednisolone decrease inflammation?

A

by suppressing the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and reversing increased capillary permeability

8
Q

What is the DOA of methylprednisolone?

A

6-36 hours

9
Q

What is the e1/2 life of methylprednisolone?

A

3-3.5 hours and is reduce in obese patients

10
Q

What is the e1/2 time of methylprednisolone?

A

2-4 hours

11
Q

Is methylprednisolone water soluble or lipid soluble? what about the formulation of methylprednisolone?

A

the drug itself is HIGHLY lipid soluble; however the formulation methylprednisolone succinate is highly soluble in water

12
Q

How is methylprednisolone metabolized?

A

Metabolized by the hepatic system and eliminated in the renal system

13
Q

What is the volume of distribution of methylprednisolone?

A

readily crosses the placenta?

14
Q

Is methylprednisolone protein bound?

A

some synthetic glucocorticoids may bind to corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), but many do not bind to it at all; however they do tend to bind to albumin
**binding to both renders the drug biologically inactive

15
Q

What are the fluid and electrolyte side effects of methylprednisolone?

A
disturbances:
Hyperglycemia
Na retention
Fluid retention
K loss
HTN
16
Q

What are the immunologic side effects of Methylprednisolone?

A

immunosuppression

delayed wound healing

17
Q

What are the metabolic effects of methylprednisolone?

A

negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism

18
Q

What are the Neurological effects of methylprednisolone?

A
Increased ICP with papilledma
Convulsions
Vertigo
Headache
Emotional Liability
Euphoria
Psychotic symptoms
19
Q

What are the musculoskeletal side effects of Methylprednisolone?

A
Osteoporosis
Muscle Weakness
Myopathies
Loss of Muscle Mass
Arthralgias
Compression fractures
Pathologic fractures of long bones
tendon ruptures
Buffalo Hump
20
Q

What are the GI side effects of methylprednisolone?

A
Peptic Ulcer
Pancreatitis
Abdominal distension
Ulcerative Esophagitis
Increased Liver enzymes
Increased Appetite
Obesity
21
Q

What are the dermatologic side effects of methylprednisolone?

A

fragile skin, petechiae, ecchymoses, facial erythema, increased sweating

22
Q

What are the ophthalmic side effects of methylprednisolone?

A

posterior subscapular cataracts, increased IOP, glaucoma, exopthalmos

23
Q

What are additional adverse reactions related to parenteral therapy of methylprednisolone?

A

include hper- hypo-pigmentation, urticaria, subq atrophy, abscess, N/V, cardiac arrhythmias, hypo/hypertension, cardiac arrest, and anaphylaxis

24
Q

What are the contraindications to Methylprednisolone?

A

Systemic fungal infections and known hypersensitivity to the drug or its constituents

25
Q

Which patients should you use caution with methyl prednisolone?

A

Diabetes

26
Q

What happens when methylprednisolone is administered with Cyclosporin? What 2 other drugs can cause this too?

A

there is mutual inhibition of metabolism of both drugs

-Troleandomycin and Ketoconazole may also inhibit methylprednisolone’s metabolism

27
Q

What drugs if administered with Methylprednisolone may increase its clearance?

A

Drugs that induce hepatic enzymes, such as:
Phenobarbitol
Phenytoin
Rifampin

28
Q

What drug can methylprednisolone increase the clearance time of?

A

chronic high dose aspirin

29
Q

What can methylprednisolone do to the effects of anticoagulants?

A

either enhance or diminish effects when given concurrently

30
Q

What drugs are a concern for potassium levels if given concurrently with methylprednisolone?

A

potassium-depleting diuretics due to the additive effects on lowering potassium

31
Q

What happens when methylprednisolone and ethanol are taken together?

A

gastric mucosal irritation is increased

32
Q

What OTC supplements may decrease methylprednisolone’s levels?

A

St. John’s wort, Cat’s claw, and Echinacea

Cat’s claw and Echinacea have immunostimulant properties

33
Q

What drug is contraindicated with administration with Methylprednisolone due to the risk of decreased response and increased potential infections?

A

Live or live attenuated vaccines

34
Q

What is the dosage for methylprednisolone?

A

Adults: 10-250mg IV q4-24 hours

35
Q

How does the dosage of methylprednisolone compare to hydrocortisone?

A

Methylprednisolone is 5x the potency of hydrocortisone

36
Q

What is the recommended IV dosing for acute spinal cord injury

A

30mg/kg given over 15 minutes; this would be followed in 45 minutes by a continuous infusion of 5.4mg/kg/hr for 23 hours

37
Q

Why should you be cautious with infants born of mothers with substantial doses of corticosteroids?

A

monitor for Hypoadrenalism

38
Q

Patients with either cirrhosis or hypothyroidism will have what effect of corticosteroids?

A

will have an ENHANCED effect of corticosteroids