DEPO MEDROL 80 mg. 2 ml. 1 vial

What is Depo-Medrol and what it is used
Depo-Medrol belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids or steroids.

Depot-Medrol may be used for treatment of:
Hormonal disorders: eg. If the adrenal glands are not working properly for some reason, so the body does not produce enough of its own hormones; in congenital excessive growth of the adrenal glands; with hypercalcemia (high calcium levels in the blood) in relation to cancer; certain type of inflammation of the thyroid (Hashimoto negnoen);
Rheumatic diseases: post-traumatic osteoarthritis (inflammation of the joint after trauma); epicondylitis (inflammation of the tendon in place of capture to the bone; synovitis in osteoarthritis (inflammation of the joints); acute nonspecific tenosynovitis (inflammation of the vagina muscle tendon) rheumatoid arthritis inflammation affecting the joints and / or other body parts in adults or children ; acute and subacute bursitis (inflammation of periarticular bag), acute gouty arthritis (inflammation of the joints in gout). If possible in these cases, the drug should be administered at the site of disease. it is also used as adjunctive therapy in ankylosing spondylitis (ligaments spine and pelvis ossification and coalesced together), psoriatic arthritis (joint inflammation in psoriasis);
Collagen: systemic lupus erythematosus (a type of autoimmune disease); inflammation of the muscles (such as dermatomyositis or polymyositis); acute rheumatic carditis (damage to heart muscle rheumatism);
Skin diseases: pemphigus vulgaris (blisters on the skin), other skin diseases (bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson), exfoliative dermatitis, mukozis fungoides, severe seborrheic dermatitis, severe psoriasis);
Allergic conditions: chronic disorders of breathing in asthma; severe forms of hay fever and other allergies, accompanied by fever; allergies to certain drugs (such as penicillin) and serum sickness (allergy vaccines produced from animal serum); cutaneous allergy due to contact with certain substances (contact dermatitis), laryngeal edema;
Eye diseases: iritis or iridocyclitis (inflammation of the front of the eye); posterior uveitis (inflammation of the back of the eye); optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve), inflammation of the anterior segment, allergic conjunctivitis or allergic corneal ulcers edge and other ocular diseases (herpes zoster ophthalmicus, chorioretinitis, keratitis);
Bowel disease: ulcerative colitis (inflammation and ulceration of the colon), incl. and in the form of an enema; chronic inflammation of the individual sections of the bowel (Crohn's disease);
Lung diseases: tuberculosis, which progresses rapidly or has spread to other areas (with anti-tuberculosis drugs); pulmonary sarcoidosis (inflammation of the tissues and the lymphatic glands of the lungs); inflammation caused by penetration of the gastric contents or vomit in the lungs during unconsciousness; and other pulmonary diseases (berylliosis and Loeffler's syndrome);
Blood diseases: secondary thrombocytopenia (low number of blood cells that help blood to clot) in adults; autoimmune hemolytic anemia (when the immune system attacks its own red blood cells) and other anemias (erythroblastopenia and congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia);
Malignancies: Leukemia (excessive formation of white blood cells in the bone marrow); cancer of the lymphatic system, which usually affects the lymph nodes (glands), and spleen;
Edematous conditions: to increase diuresis (urine excretion) with nephrotic syndrome (kidney disease);
Diseases of the nervous system, multiple sclerosis exacerbation (slowly progressive disease of the central nervous system, brain and spinal cord with nerve degeneration);
Other conditions: TB infection causing inflammation of the meninges (lining of the brain) - in these cases Depo-Medrol should be administered with anti-tuberculosis agents; trichinosis (a disease caused by ingestion of infected with trichinae meat (pork), which has not been cooked properly);
It can be applied directly to the damaged tissue in certain skin disorders (keloids, localized lesions in lichen planus, neurodermatitis, psoriasis plaques and granuloma annular, discoid lupus erythematosus, alopecia areata - localized loss of hair), cystic tumors aponeurosis or tendon (ganglion ).
Your doctor could apply Depo-Medrol to treat conditions other than those listed above. Ask your doctor if you are unsure of the reason why this medicine has been prescribed.

2. What you should know before using Depo-Medrol
Do not use Depo-Medrol:
if you have widespread (systemic) fungal infection;
if you are allergic to the active substance or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
This drug should not be given directly into a vein or into the cerebrospinal fluid.

Warnings and Precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Depo-Medrol.

Take special care with Depo-Medrol
If you are pregnant and this medicine your appointment, your baby is subject to additional tests shortly after birth to determine whether his adrenal glands are working properly;
If you are breastfeeding during treatment, your baby is subject to additional tests to find out if the medicinal product did not have any influence on it;
If you currently have any infections;
If you require vaccinations. Are you a recent vaccination? (Tell your doctor or nurse that you are taking Depo-Medrol if you are vaccination. During treatment with this medicine should not administer live vaccines and other vaccines may be less effective);
If you have tuberculosis. Have you ever suffered from tuberculosis in the past? Did you test positive for tuberculosis ?;
If you have a history of allergy to any drug;
If you or any member of your family have diabetes (problems with sugar balance) or glaucoma (increased eye pressure);
If you have or have ever had a severe mental illness (eg, emotional instability, depression, hallucinations). If you are being treated with steroids, caused Is it psychosis (mental illness, which is supposed to be conducted ambulatory or hospitalization) ?;
If you have an illness accompanied by convulsions;
If you have myasthenia gravis (when some or all of your muscles are affected by weakness or tire easily);
If you have ever had an eye infection caused by herpes simplex virus. Do you currently ocular herpes infection (ulcer on the eye that appeared long or inflammation of the eye) ?;
If you have heart failure. Do you have swollen ankles, shortness of breath and palpitations ?;
If you have high blood pressure;
If you have problems with the digestive tract, such as ulcers of the stomach or bowel, diverticulitis (inflamed "pockets" on the walls of the organs of the digestive tract, causing left-sided abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea) or ulcerative colitis (swelling and ulcers sections of the intestine). Although steroids are very effective for treating inflammation in ulcerative colitis, they can also increase the risk of bleeding or perforation (tearing) of ulcerating intestine. Are you soon stomach surgery, appendix, gall bladder, pancreas or small or large intestine ?;
If you had ever myopathy (muscle weakness or problems with pain, especially of the lower limbs and buttocks) when treated with steroids;
If you have osteoporosis (brittle bones);
If you have kidney problems (leading to increased or decreased urine output);
If you hypoprothrombinaemia (disease associated with decreased ability of blood to clot);
If you have pheochromocytoma (a type of tumor of the adrenal gland).
If you must do some research, warn the doctor that you are taking Depo-Medrol.

children
The growth and development of infants and children undergoing long-term treatment with corticosteroids should be monitored carefully. There is a risk of growth suppression in children receiving long-term corticosteroid therapy at a daily dose divided into several doses. The implementation of such a scheme should be limited to cases with the most severe indications.
Infants and children receiving prolonged treatment with corticosteroids, are under particular risk of increased intracranial pressure.
High doses of corticosteroids may lead to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) in children.

Other medicines and Depo-Medrol
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking, you have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the medicines listed below:
certain antibiotics (eg. troleandomycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, isoniazid), antifungal drugs (eg., itraconazole, ketoconazole), calcium channel blockers (used to treat hypertension or angina, e. diltiazem), certain anti-viral drugs (eg. as indinavir and ritonavir), antiemetics (drugs for the treatment of nausea and vomiting, e. aprepitant fosaprepitant), as well as birth control pills (eg. ethinyl estradiol / norethindrone) can reduce the release of methylprednisolone from your body, and therefore, require a carefully dose of Depo-Medrol;
some anticonvulsants (drugs for the treatment of epileptic seizures, e. carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin) or anti-tubercular drugs (eg. rifampicin) may increase the release of methylprednisolone from your body, and therefore be necessary to increase the dose of Depo-Medrol in order to achieve desired response;
anticoagulants (drugs that inhibit blood clotting): Co-administration of Depo-Medrol can both strengthen and weaken their anti-clotting effect, therefore it is necessary, your doctor carefully monitor your coagulation indicators;
neuromuscular blockers (medicines used to immobilize anesthesia): Co-administration of Depo-Medrol may affect their impact;
anticholinesterase inhibitors (drugs used to treat diseases, such as. myasthenia gravis or glaucoma), Depo-Medrol may weaken the effects of these drugs in myasthenia gravis;
antidiabetic drugs (to treat diabetes) Depo-Medrol may increase your blood sugar and therefore may need dose adjustment of antidiabetic medicines;
aromatase inhibitors (used to treat breast cancer and ovarian cancer in women after menopause, for example. aminoglutethimide) - your doctor will pay special attention if you are receiving prolonged treatment with Depo-Medrol;
aspirin and similar drugs called salicylates (used usually in pain and / or fever during inflammation) - Depo-Medrol strengthens broadcasting aspirin and salicylates from the body - if you stop using Depo-Medrol, their concentrations may suddenly rise and cause side effects such as tinnitus; if it hipotrombinemiya (increased bleeding), your doctor will be more cautious if they are to prescribe Depo-Medrol concurrently with aspirin or salicylates;
immunosuppressive agents (drugs to suppress the immune system in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, for example. cyclosporine, lymphoma, leukemia and breast cancer, eg. cyclophosphamide, or in patients who have been transplantation of organ or bone marrow, for example. tacrolimus) ;
products that reduce the amount of potassium in the blood (eg. diuretics): There is risk of hypokalemia (low blood potassium) when co-administered with Depo-Medrol, so your doctor will monitor you closely for the development of this condition.
Pregnancy and lactation
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, you have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Children born to mothers who received substantial doses of corticosteroids during pregnancy should be carefully observed and evaluated for signs of adrenal insufficiency (the adrenal glands do not produce enough own corticosteroids).
There have cataracts (visually impaired) in infants born to mothers who were continuously treated with corticosteroids during pregnancy. Corticosteroids are excreted in breast milk.
Due to lack of sufficient evidence for human safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding, this product should be used in pregnant and lactating mothers only judged necessary.

Driving and using machines
As possible dizziness, vertigo, visual disturbances and fatigue after treatment with corticosteroids should not drive or operate machinery if you are affected.

3. How to use Depo-Medrol
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. If you're not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor will decide which dose you should receive. The dose depends on your condition and its severity. Your doctor will always seek to apply the lowest possible dose that leads to a good result.
Your doctor may prescribe a higher dose for a few days to control your condition. If your condition is not controlled, it can change treatment. It is possible that your doctor makes frequent reviews to ensure that you feel better.
The initial dose chosen by your doctor will be continued until he decides that your condition has improved. If the doctor finds that your condition has improved, he will reduce the dosage gradually.
The medicinal product may be administered intra-articularly for some conditions. In chronic cases, the injections can be repeated at intervals of one to five or more weeks, depending on the degree of benefit obtained from the first injection. Suitable sites for intra-articular injection are the knee, ankle, wrist, elbow, shoulder, inter-phalangeal (finger) and hips.
Unsuitable for injection are joints that are anatomically inaccessible such as the spine, and those that are devoid of synovial space, such as the sacroiliac joints.
The medicinal product is administered at the site of disease and bursitis, ganglion, tendinitis, epicondylitis.
If the medicinal product is administered intra-articularly, you should avoid excessive load of this happening. Ignoring these measures can lead to deterioration of the joint, beyond the beneficial effects of corticosteroids. In some cases your doctor may order X-rays to track the status of the joint.
You should inform your doctor immediately if you experience a significant increase in pain accompanied by swelling in the joint, further limiting the movements of joints, fever and malaise.

Use in children
Depo-Medrol may be prescribed to children. Usually prescribed a lower dose than that of adults, but it depends on the severity of the condition and response to treatment.

If you use more than the amount of Depo-Medrol
As this medicine is given by injection under medical supervision, the ability to miss a dose or get a larger dose is unlikely. If in doubt, ask your doctor.

If you stop using Depo-Medrol
Your doctor will decide when the time is ripe for discontinuation.
If treatment with Depo-Medrol is not intra-articular, it should not be stopped abruptly, but with gradual dose reduction, as it will determine your doctor. This is because too rapid reduction of the dose of steroids can lead to acute adrenal insufficiency (the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroids own), very low blood pressure (causing dizziness and fainting) and potentially fatal. This is more likely to happen when they were received repeated doses of the drug.
If you think that your complaints are repaid until you reduce the dose of Depo-Medrol, report it to your doctor as soon as possible. If you get an infection, have an accident or need surgery, you may need to temporarily increase the dose. If you stop taking the drug recently prior to infection, injury or surgery, you may need to re-start to take it for a short time.
When changing dose remind your doctor about all other medicines you are taking, especially drugs such as aspirin. Remember also that you have to report every doctor who see you later that you have been given Depo-Medrol.