How Long Do Medrol Side Effects Last(Methylprednisolone)?

By
Aanchal Rao
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Methylprednisolone- DATOS
Corticosteroid medication or drug concept photo. On doctor table lies open packaging labeled "Corticosteroid medication" and fell out of blisters with pills treatment

Medrol (methylprednisolone) is a type of medicine called a corticosteroid, and it is used for different purposes. The Medrol Dose Pak is a common prescription for methylprednisolone anxiety. It’s a 6-day treatment that includes 21 tablets. It’s mainly used to reduce inflammation and help with breathing problems caused by bacterial or viral infections.

It is also often used after asthma attacks

However, corticosteroids, such as methylprednisolone anxiety, can cause various side effects. Many of these side effects happen when you first start taking the medicine, but they can also occur if you suddenly stop taking it. Some of these side effects include:

  • Gastrointestinal upset
  • Short-term spike in blood sugar (i.e. hyperglycemia)
  • Weight gain/Increased appetite
  • Insomnia
  • Mood changes
  • Anxiety

The side effects of the Medrol dose pack duration usually go away by themselves and usually don’t last more than 3 to 7 days after you stop taking the medicine.

You mentioned feeling anxious and having trouble sleeping after you stopped taking it. For most people, these symptoms should go away in a few days. If they don’t get better during this time, you should talk to your doctor.

If you have been taking methylprednisolone for a long time, like more than 3 weeks, it may take a longer time for the side effects to go away.

For instance, certain changes in your blood sugar levels and other lab results caused by the medicine, like changes in osteocalcin levels, can take up to 30 days to get back to normal, according to studies.

Reducing Side Effects

How long do Medrol side effects last? It’s not easy to completely avoid side effects when you start taking the Medrol dose pack. However, there are ways to make them less severe.

One way is to take each dose with food. The most common side effects affect the stomach and intestines (like cramps, feeling sick, or having gas). Eating food while taking the medicine can help decrease these effects.

Furthermore, if you can, try to spread out your required doses throughout the day as instructed on the medicine’s packaging. Taking all the doses at once increases the chances of experiencing side effects compared to dividing them throughout the day.

If you are going to take methylprednisolone for a long time (meaning multiple packs or staying on high doses), it’s generally advised to gradually reduce your dose over a longer period. This not only helps prevent side effects but also lowers the risk of the condition you’re treating coming back in a worse way.

Some sources suggest gradually reducing the dose of methylprednisolone, regardless of how much you’ve been taking or for how long. However, the need to taper off steroids after short courses hasn’t been thoroughly studied.

Read More: How Long Do Medrol Side Effects Last(Methylprednisolone)?

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