Methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) Nursing Considerations

Suppress inflammation and normal immune response
The adrenal glands excrete steroid hormones that play a role
- Increasing blood sugars
- immune suppression
- metabolism of fat, protein, and carbohydrates
- As well as decreasing bone formation

Therapeutic Class

Antiasthmatics
Corticosteroids

Pharmacologic Class

Corticosteroids

Nursing Considerations

Avoid in active untreated infections
May cause
- CNS alterations
- Peptic ulcers
- Cushingoid appearance (buffalo hump, moon face)
- Increased cholesterol and lipid values
Decrease wound healing
Depresses immune system
- Report signs of infection (sore throat)

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Okay, let’s take a look at methylprednisone, also known as Solumedrol. This is an oral medication, as you can see here, and it also comes in an injectable form. So the therapeutic class of methylprednisone is an antiasthmatic as well as a corticosteroid. And remember the therapeutic class is how the drug works in the body, the pharmacologic class, or the chemical effect of the drug is a corticosteroid. So methylprednisone works by suppressing inflammation in the normal immune response, methylprednisone mimics adrenal glands that do things like excrete hormones that play a role in increasing blood sugars, immune suppression metabolism, and decreasing bone formation. We use this medication for inflammation, allergy autoimmune disorders, and also are the prevention of organ rejection.

Some of the side effects that we see with steroids like methylprednisone are weight gain, osteoporosis, and an increase in blood sugar or hyperglycemia. A few of the nursing considerations for methyl prednisone avoid in active untreated infections. This drug may cause CNS alterations, peptic ulcers, and a cushingoid appearance like the moon face or the Buffalo hump. Methylprednisolone can cause some lab alteration, specifically elevated cholesterol, and lipid values. And remember those elevated blood sugars. Be sure to teach the patient signs of infection, even to something as simple as a sore throat, especially with patients who are on long-term steroid use, and also teach them to avoid grapefruit juice, because it can impact the metabolism of this medication. Guys, avoid subcutaneous administration of methylprednisone because of the chance of atrophy and also avoid IM Deloid injections for the same reason. That’s it for methylprednisone or Solumedrol. Now go out and be your best self today and as always happy nursing.

Methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) Nursing Considerations

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Generic Name

Trade/Brand Name

Indication

Action

Therapeutic Class

Pharmacologic Class

Nursing Considerations

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