Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I being given DEPO-MEDROL?
DEPO-MEDROL contains the active ingredient Methylprednisolone. DEPO-MEDROL is used
to treat disorders of many organ systems such as skin, lung, eye, gastrointestinal
tract, nervous system, joints and blood.
For more information, see Section
1. Why am I being given DEPO-MEDROL? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before receiving DEPO-MEDROL?
Do not receive DEPO-MEDROL if you have ever had an allergic reaction to DEPO-MEDROL
or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI, or if you have a severe fungal
infection or if you have been given a live vaccine.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
For more information, see Section
2. What should I know before receiving DEPO-MEDROL? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with DEPO-MEDROL and affect how it works. Tell your doctor
or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins
or supplements that you buy with or without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket
or health food shop.
A list of these medicines is in Section
3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.
4. How is DEPO-MEDROL given?
This medicine will be administered under medical supervision. It may be given into
a muscle, or into a joint, or into a lesion. Due to the risk of serious side effects,
it must not be injected into the spinal cord or into a vein.
More instructions can be found in Section
4. How is DEPO-MEDROL given? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while receiving DEPO-MEDROL?
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Things you should do
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Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are receiving DEPO-MEDROL.
Tell your doctor that you are being treated with DEPO-MEDROL:
before having any skin tests
before having any kind of surgery
if you get a serious injury or infection.
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Driving or using machines
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DEPO-MEDROL may cause tiredness, dizziness or slow reflexes in some people.
Do not dive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous if you
feel tired, or if you feel that DEPO-MEDROL has affected your co-ordination in any
way.
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Looking after your medicine
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DEPO-MEDROL will normally be stored in a hospital or doctor's surgery. It should be
stored in its original packaging in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays
below 30°C. It must not be frozen.
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6. Are there any side effects?
Side effects include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, dizziness, mood changes,
muscle weakness, pain, rash, injection site pain, fragile skin, acne, slow growth,
sleeplessness, weight gain, increased sweating, bone weakness or pain, wounds that
will not heal, loss in control in your diabetes, changes in menstruation, red, purple
or brown patches on your skin, dilated pupils and blurred vision, fever, sore throat,
mouth ulcers, itching, wheezing, drowsiness, double vision, anxiety, chest pain, severe
chills, severe stomach pain, convulsions, breathlessness, increased thirst. For more
information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section
6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
Active ingredient(s):
methylprednisolone acetate
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about DEPO-MEDROL.
You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about DEPO-MEDROL.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I being given DEPO-MEDROL?
DEPO-MEDROL contains the active ingredient methylprednisolone.
DEPO-MEDROL is used to treat disorders of many organ systems such as skin, lung, eye,
gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, joints and blood. DEPO-MEDROL works by reducing
inflammation and changing the body's natural ability to respond when the immune response
is not working properly. It is also used in certain conditions where the adrenal gland
doesn't function correctly.
Your doctor may have prescribed DEPO-MEDROL for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why DEPO-MEDROL has been prescribed
for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
2. What should I know before receiving DEPO-MEDROL?
Warnings
DEPO-MEDROL must not be used:
If you are allergic to methylprednisolone acetate or any of the ingredients listed
at the end of this leaflet
If you have a severe fungal infection
It must not be injected into the spinal cord (intrathecal or epidural) or into a vein
(intravenous)
It must not be given by any other unapproved route of administration
If you have been given a live vaccine
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
Check with your doctor if you have or have had any other medical conditions, especially
the following:
tuberculosis
underactive thyroid gland
kidney or liver disease
herpes in the eye
hypoprothrombinaemia (a blood clotting disorder)
disease of the bowel, e.g., ulcerative colitis or diverticulitis
stomach ulcers
diabetes
emotional problems or mental disorder
any pus-producing infection
problems with your heart, including high blood pressure or congestive heart failure
Cushing's disease (a hormone disorder)
seizure disorders e.g. epilepsy
myasthenia gravis (ongoing muscle weakness and chronic fatigue)
muscle pain, tenderness or weakness from other medicines, especially those used to
treat high cholesterol or triglycerides
thin or weak bones, or bones that tend to break easily (osteoporosis)
recent head injuries
blood clots
systemic sclerosis
a solid cancer or cancer of the blood because you may be at risk of a very rare, potentially
life-threatening condition resulting from a sudden breakdown of tumour cells.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
Children
Long term treatment with corticosteroids can affect growth and development in children.
It can also increase the risk of high pressure in the brain. Your doctor will monitor
your child closely if your child needs long term treatment with DEPO-MEDROL.
Elderly
If you are over 65 years old, you may have an increased chance of side effects such
as bone weakness possibly leading to fractures. You may also experience fluid retention
which may lead to increased blood pressure.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines or food and DEPO-MEDROL may interfere with each other. Some of these
medicines and food include:
cyclosporin, cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus (medicines used to suppress the immune system
e.g. after a transplant)
isoniazid (a medicine to treat tuberculosis)
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAID] such as salicylates or aspirin (medicines
used to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation including arthritis)
some antifungals e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole
some antibiotics e.g. rifampicin, erythromycin, clarithromycin
phenobarbitone, phenytoin, carbamazepine (medicines used to treat epilepsy, convulsions)
anticoagulants (medicines used to prevent blood clots) e.g. warfarin, heparin
some immunisations, inoculations or vaccinations
some diuretics e.g. frusemide, a medicine to help kidneys get rid of salt and water
by increasing the amount of urine (wee) produced
neuromuscular blocking drugs (medicines that block nerve and muscle action) e.g. pancuronium
medicines used to treat myasthenia gravis (ongoing muscle weakness and chronic fatigue),
glaucoma, Alzheimer's disease
medicines used to treat psychiatric disorders
medicines used to treat anxiety
bronchodilators (a type of medicine that opens up the airways in the lungs) used to
treat asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases, e.g., salbutamol
medicines used to treat diabetes e.g. insulin, glibenclamide and metformin
anti-nausea medicines e.g. aprepitant, fosaprepitant
medicines to treat HIV e.g. indinavir, ritonavir
some medicines to treat blood pressure, heart conditions and stroke, e.g., digoxin
and diltiazem
oral contraceptives e.g. ethinylestradiol, norethisterone
grapefruit juice
medicines used to treat breast cancer and hormone disorders.
These medicines and food may be affected by DEPO-MEDROL or may affect how well it
works. You may need different amounts of your medicine or you may need to take different
medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.
They also have a more complete list of medicines to be careful with or avoid while
being treated with DEPO-MEDROL.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect DEPO-MEDROL.
4. How is DEPO-MEDROL given?
How much to use
This medicine will be administered under medical supervision.
It may be given into a muscle (intramuscularly) or into a joint (intra-articularly)
or into a lesion (intralesional). Due to the risk of serious side effects, it must
not be injected into the spinal cord (intrathecally or epidural) or into a vein (intravenously).
How and where DEPO-MEDROL is injected and the dose given will depend on the nature
and the severity of your condition. You will be given a different dosage depending
on your condition and how you react to the medicine.
If you are given too much (overdose)
Overdose is unlikely with DEPO-MEDROL. However, repeated frequent doses over a long
period of time may cause an increase in side effects.
If you think that you or anyone else may have been given too much DEPO-MEDROL, you
should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling
13 11 26), or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
5. What should I know while receiving DEPO-MEDROL?
Things you must do
If you become pregnant while you are being treated with DEPO-MEDROL, tell your doctor.
If you are about to start taking any new medicines, tell your doctor and pharmacist
that you are being treated with DEPO-MEDROL.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are being
treated with DEPO-MEDROL.
Tell your doctor that you are being treated with DEPO-MEDROL:
before having any skin tests
before having any kind of surgery
if you get a serious injury or infection.
Medicines such as DEPO-MEDROL can increase the risk of infection and mask symptoms
of infection.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:
fever
tiredness
sore or swollen joints.
Your doctor may request you follow a low-salt diet and/or take potassium supplements.
If you are a diabetic, your need for insulin or glucose lowering medicines may increase
while being treated with DEPO-MEDROL.
For patients having this medicine injected into their joints:
be careful not to put too much stress onto that joint for a while
ask your doctor how much you can move this joint while it is healing.
Your doctor may reduce the dose of DEPO-MEDROL gradually if you have been on long-term
treatment.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how DEPO-MEDROL
affects you.
DEPO-MEDROL may cause tiredness, dizziness or slow reflexes in some people.
Do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous if you
feel tired, or if you feel that DEPO-MEDROL has affected your co-ordination in any
way.
Drinking alcohol
No information available.
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Looking after your medicine
DEPO-MEDROL will normally be stored in a hospital or doctor's surgery. It should be
stored in its original packaging in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays
below 30°C. It must not be frozen.
Disposal
Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will dispose of any left-over medicine.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Side effects
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What to do
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Gastrointestinal (stomach-related)
nausea (feeling sick)
vomiting
diarrhoea or constipation
heartburn
increased appetite
loss of appetite or weight loss
persistent hiccups
Head and mind related
tiredness
headache or dizziness
lightheadedness
forgetfulness
sleeplessness
mood changes e.g. over-excitement, depression, suicidal thoughts, hallucinations,
anxiety
changes to menstrual periods
Body (skin, bone and muscle) related
fluid retention
muscle weakness, pain or loss of muscle mass
problems with your joints, including pain
problems with your growth
increased sweating
thin fragile skin or bruising
itchy or peeling skin
facial flushing/redness, heat
rashes, acne, hives
Injection site related
changes to skin at the injection site
injection site pain
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Speak to your doctor if you have any of these side effects and they worry you.
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bone weakness (can lead to fractures)
wounds that will not heal
loss in the control of your diabetes
red, purple or brown patches on your skin
problems with your back, including pain or weakness
loss of sensation or problems with your reflexes (slow or too fast)
bouts of anxiety and headaches, sweating, palpitations, dizziness, a feeling of weakness,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dilated pupils and blurring vision, stomach pains, and
raised blood pressure. These could be symptoms of a rare tumour of the adrenal gland,
which sits near the kidney.
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Call your doctor straight away
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signs of increased pressure in the skull, including drowsiness, vomiting, headache,
weakness, numbness and /or eye problems such as double vision
allergic type reactions e.g. skin rash, itching and difficulty breathing, wheezing
or coughing, chest pain (anaphylactic reaction)
signs of infection such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
severe stomach pains
blurred or distorted vision or loss of vision, eye infections
breathlessness, fatigue and swelling (heart failure)
convulsions or fits
passing large amounts of urine (wee), increased thirst and appetite
muscle pain or weakness often with passing of dark red or brown urine (wee), or only
passing small amounts of wee
pain and tenderness in the leg, pain on extending the foot, swelling of the lower
leg, ankle and foot
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Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital
if you notice any of these symptoms
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DEPO-MEDROL can also cause chemical imbalances in the blood, swelling of the pancreas
(pancreatitis), masking of infections, increased risk of infection, hormone changes,
metabolic changes and changes in liver enzymes, increased blood pressure, increased
number of white blood cells (leucocytosis), or cataracts. Some of these side effects
can only be found when your doctor does tests to check on your progress.
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Some people may get other
side effects while being treated with DEPO-MEDROL.
It is very important to tell your doctor if you notice any side effects while being
treated with DEPO-MEDROL.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any
of them.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/safety/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What DEPO-MEDROL contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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methylprednisolone acetate
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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Macrogol 3350
Sodium chloride
Miripirium chloride
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What DEPO-MEDROL looks like
DEPO-MEDROL (AUST R 12299) is a suspension for injection packaged in a glass vial.
It is supplied in cartons of 5 x 1 mL or 1 x 1 mL vials.
Who distributes DEPO-MEDROL
DEPO-MEDROL is supplied in Australia by:
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
Sydney NSW
Toll free number: 1800 675 229
This leaflet was prepared in March 2025