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INTRODUCTION
DEPOTEX 40MG contains Methylprednisolone which belongs to the group of medicines called corticosteroids. It is used to treat various inflammatory and allergic conditions affecting the adrenal glands (e.g. adrenocortical insufficiency), bones and joints (e.g. arthritis), collagen (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus), skin (e.g. psoriasis and dermatitis), lungs (e.g. asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis), eyes (e.g. uveitis, keratitis, neuritis, iritis), blood and lymph (e.g. anemia, leukemias and lymphomas), bowel (e.g. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), brain (e.g. tuberculous meningitis) and muscle (e.g. dermatomyositis and polymyositis).
Corticosteroids are produced naturally in the body and are necessary for many body functions. Supplying your body with extra corticosteroid such as methylprednisolone can help your body in conditions associated with adrenal insufficiency. DEPOTEX 40MG acts by changing the expression of various genes and proinflammatory cytokines that results in inflammation. It also decreases the number of circulating lymphocytes and induces apoptosis in sensitive tumor cells.
Do not eat grapes or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine. Do not stop taking this medicine abruptly without consulting your doctor, as it may result in withdrawal symptoms. While taking this medicine, inform your doctor immediately if you experience any signs of mental problems such as depression, anxiety, difficulty in thinking, confusion, memory loss, hallucinations or suicidal thoughts. Your doctor might lower your dose or think of an alternative treatment.
DEPOTEX 40MG is contraindicated in patients having any serious fungal infection. Consult your doctor before taking. Before taking this medicine inform your doctor if you have any liver, kidney, heart or stomach problems. If you are pregnant, or think you may be pregnant or breastfeeding, please inform your doctor, because this medicine may affect the growth of the unborn baby and growing infants.
USES OF DEPOTEX 40MG
Treats various inflammatory and allergic conditions affecting the:
- adrenal glands (e.g. adrenocortical insufficiency, nonsuppurative thyroiditis, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and hypercalcemia associated with cancer)
- bones and joints (e.g. arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis)
- collagen (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic dermatomyositis, acute rheumatic carditis)
- skin (e.g. dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, mycosis fungoides, severe psoriasis)
- lungs (e.g. allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, sarcoidosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, aspiration pneumonitis)
- eyes (e.g. sympathetic ophthalmia, uveitis and ocular inflammatory)
- blood and lymph (e.g. autoimmune hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukemias and lymphomas)
- kidneys (e.g. remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome)
- GI tract (e.g. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
- brain (e.g. multiple sclerosis, cerebral edema associated with primary or metastatic brain tumor and tuberculous meningitis)
- muscle (e.g. dermatomyositis and polymyositis)
HOW DEPOTEX 40MG WORKS
Methylprednisolone binds to the specific glucocorticoid receptors and alters the expression of various genes and proinflammatory cytokines which produces inflammation. It also acts as an immunosuppressant by decreasing the number of circulating lymphocytes and by inducing apoptosis in sensitive tumor cells. It also regulates the functions of adrenal glands and can help your body in conditions associated with adrenal insufficiency.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
DEPOTEX 40MG will be given to you only by a doctor or nurse into the vein (intravenous infusion), or muscle (intramuscular). Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration of therapy for you depending upon your age, weight and health condition. Continue to take this medicine, as long as your doctor tells you to do so, to obtain better results. Do not eat grapes or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.
SIDE EFFECTS OF DEPOTEX 40MG
SERIOUS
- allergic reactions (such as skin rash, swelling of the face or difficulty in breathing)
- signs of pancreatitis (stomach pain spreading to your back, with vomiting, shock and loss of consciousness)
- signs of bleeding from ulcers (such as stomach pain, bleeding from the anus, black or bloodstained stools and/or vomiting of blood)
- signs of infections (such as fever, feeling unwell, coughing blood or chest pain)
- mental health problems (e.g., depression, mania, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, difficulty in thinking, confusion, memory loss, hallucinations)
- symptoms of raised pressure within the skull of children (such as headaches with vomiting, lack of energy and drowsiness)
- pulmonary embolus (blood clots in the lung)
- thrombophlebitis (blood clots in veins of leg)
COMMON
- high blood pressure
- headache
- swelling of the hands, feet and ankles
- stomach ulcers
- muscle weakness, cramps or spasms
- brittle bones
- visual disturbances cataract
- slowing of growth in infants and children
- Cushingoid facies (round or moon-shaped face)
- risk of infections, acne, bruising
- poor wound healing
- skin thinning
HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS
Muscle pain or weakness:
Try to rest and relax. Avoid walking, running or exercising, as it may aggravate the pain. Keeping a heat pad on the affected region may also help. If still pain persists, speak to your doctor.
Acne:
Avoid hot showers because hot water can irritate the skin. Do not rub or scratch the affected area. Use sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors. Regularly use moisturizers to soothe and hydrate the affected area. If it does not get better, speak to your doctor.
Headache:
Rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol.
WARNING & PRECAUTIONS
PREGNANCY
DEPOTEX 40MG should be used with caution in pregnant women. Consult your doctor before taking.
BREASTFEEDING
DEPOTEX 40MG should be used with caution in breastfeeding women. Consult your doctor before taking.
DRIVING AND USING MACHINES
Do not drive or operate any machines, because this medicine may cause such as dizziness, vertigo, visual disturbances or fatigue.
ALCOHOL
Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking this medicine.
KIDNEY
DEPOTEX 40MG should be taken with caution in patients with severe kidney disease. Consult your doctor for advice.
LIVER
DEPOTEX 40MG should be taken with caution in patients with severe liver disease. Consult your doctor for advice.
ALLERGY
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to methylprednisolone, cow’s milk or its components or other dairy products.
HEART DISEASE
DEPOTEX 40MG should be taken with caution in patients with severe heart disease such as heart attack or hypertension. Consult your doctor for advice.
OTHERS
Before taking DEPOTEX 40MG, inform your doctor if you:
- have any serious fungal infection
- have worm infestation (e.g. threadworm)
- have or had severe depression in the past
- are currently having diabetes or a family history of diabetes
- have fits or seizures
- have glaucoma or cataracts
- have viral infections
- have hypothyroidism (an under-active thyroid)
- have pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas)
- have peritonitis (inflammation of peritoneum)
- have Cushing’s disease (caused by an excess of cortisol hormone)
- have brain injury
- have unusual stress
- have recently had or going to have any vaccination
- have been in contact with someone who has chickenpox, measles or shingles
- are going to undergo any surgery or dental procedures
INTERACTIONS
Talk to your doctor, if you are taking,
- medicines used to thin blood (e.g. acenocoumarol, phenindione and warfarin)
- medicines used to treat myasthenia gravis (e.g. distigmine and neostigmine)
- medicines used to treat tuberculosis (e.g. isoniazid, rifampicin and rifabutin)
- medicines used to treat other bacterial infections (e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin and troleandomycin)
- medicines used to treat viral infections (e.g. ritonavir, indinavir)
- medicines used to treat diabetes (e.g. insulin, metformin)
- medicines used to treat mild to moderate pain (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen)
- medicines used to treat epilepsy (e.g. phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin and primidone)
- medicines used to treat heartburn and acid indigestion (e.g. carbenoxolone and cimetidine)
- medicines which causes depletion of potassium (such as diuretics, amphotericin B, xanthenes or salbutamol, terbutaline)
- medicines used to treat heart problems (e.g. digoxin, diltiazem or mibefradil)
- acetazolamide (used to treat glaucoma and epilepsy)
- oral contraceptives (e.g. ethinylestridiol and norethisterone)
- pharmacokinetic enhancers (e.g. cobicistat) used for HIV infections
- ketoconazole or itraconazole (used for fungal infections)
- neuromuscular blocking agents (used to prevent paralysis) e.g. pancuronium or vecuronium
- vaccinations
SYNOPSIS
| Drug | : | Methylprednisolone |
| Pharmacological Category | : | Corticosteroids |
| Therapeutic Indication | : | Allergic and inflammatory conditions, Cancer |
| Dosage Forms | : | Tablet, Injection |
MORE INFORMATION
Store below 20-25°C and keep out of reach of children.
FAQs ABOUT DEPOTEX 40MG
Can I stop taking DEPOTEX 40MG abruptly?
No. Do not stop taking this medicine abruptly without consulting your doctor, as it may result in withdrawal symptoms such as itchy skin, fever, muscle/joint pains, runny nose, sticky eyes, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache, tiredness, peeling skin and weight loss. Continue to take this medicine, as long as your doctor tells you to do so, to obtain better results.
Can DEPOTEX 40MG cause headache?
Yes. It may cause headache in some individuals. Rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your doctor to recommend a painkiller. If it does not gets better, contact your doctor.
Can DEPOTEX 40MG cause suicidal thoughts?
Yes. It may cause mental problems such as depression, anxiety, hallucinations or suicidal thoughts which could be serious. Contact your doctor immediately in such cases. Your doctor might lower your dose or think of an alternative treatment.
REFERENCES
1. KD. Tripathi. Corticosteroids. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Seventh edition. 2013. Page – 288-295.
2. Bernard P. Schimmer and John W. Funder. ACTH, Adrenal steroids and Pharmacology of adrenal glands. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological basics of Therapeutics. 12th Edition. New York McGraw Hill Medical 2011. Page – 1215-1233.
3. Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli. Evaluation of Efficacy and Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal Axis Suppression Due to Corticosteroids Intrabursal Injection (TPESP2011-12). NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine ClinicalTrials.gov. [Revised on September 2014] [Accessed 11th December 2020] https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01652495
4. Nathan Evaniew, Emilie P. Belley-Côté, Nader Fallah, Vanessa K. Noonan, Carly S. Rivers and Marcel F. Dvorak. Methylprednisolone for the Treatment of Patients with Acute Spinal Cord Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. NCBI; PMC US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health. March 2016. [Accessed 11th December 2020] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4779323/
5. Pharmacia NV/SA. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC); [Revised on January 2019] [Accessed 11th December 2020] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1550.pdf
6. Hikma Farmacêutica (Portugal), S.A. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC); [Revised on July 2019] [Accessed 11th December 2020] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.757.pdf
7. Biomendi, S.A. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC); [Revised on November 2016] [Accessed 11th December 2020] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.5993.pdf
8. Pfizer Inc. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. [Revised on October 2011] [Accessed 11th December 2020] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/011856s103s104lbl.pdf
USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
- Absolute Eosinophil Count
- Anti-Nuclear Antibody
- Anti-ds-DNA Antibody
- Anti-ds-DNA Antibody-IFA
- Complete Blood Count
- Peripheral Smear Examination
- Total IgE
PRODUCT DETAILS
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