Description

What is Depo-Medrol and how is it used?

Depo-Medrol (methylprednisolone acetate) is an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid used to treat pain and swelling that occurs with arthritis and other joint disorders. It may also be used to treat conditions such as blood disorders, severe allergic reactions, certain cancers, eye conditions, skin/intestinal/kidney/lung diseases, and immune system disorders. Depo-Medrol is available in generic form.

What are side effects of Depo-Medrol?
Common side effects of Depo-Medrol include:

nausea,
vomiting,
heartburn,
headache,
dizziness,
trouble sleeping,
appetite changes,
increased sweating,
acne, or
injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling).
Other side effects of Depo-Medrol include a rise in blood sugar, and a lowered ability to fight infections.

DESCRIPTION
DEPO-MEDROL is an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid for intramuscular, intra-articular, soft tissue, or intralesional injection. It is available in three strengths: 20 mg/mL, 40 mg/mL, 80 mg/mL.

Each mL of these preparations contains:

Methylprednisolone acetate 20 mg 40 mg 80 mg
Polyethylene glycol 3350 29.5 mg 29.1 mg 28.2 mg
Polysorbate 80 1.97 mg 1.94 mg 1.88 mg
Monobasic sodium phosphate 6.9 mg 6.8 mg 6.59 mg
Dibasic sodium phosphate USP 1.44 mg 1.42 mg 1.37 mg
Benzyl alcohol added as a preservative 9.3 mg 9.16 mg 8.88 mg
Sodium Chloride was added to adjust tonicity.

When necessary, pH was adjusted with sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid.

The pH of the finished product remains within the USP specified range (e.g., 3.5 to 7.0).

The chemical name for methylprednisolone acetate is pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, 21-(acetyloxy)- 11,17-dihydroxy-6-methyl-,(6α,11ß)- and the molecular weight is 416.51. The structural formula is represented below:

DEPO-MEDROL® (methylprednisolone acetate) Structural Formula Illustration
DEPO-MEDROL Sterile Aqueous Suspension contains methylprednisolone acetate which is the 6- methyl derivative of prednisolone. Methylprednisolone acetate is a white or practically white, odorless, crystalline powder which melts at about 215° with some decomposition. It is soluble in dioxane, sparingly soluble in acetone, alcohol, chloroform, and methanol, and slightly soluble in ether. It is practically insoluble in water.