Doses - METHYLPREDNISOLONE, METHYLPREDNISOLONE ACETATE, METHYLPREDNISOLONE SODIUM SUCCINATE

Dogs:

As an antiinflammatory agent:
a) Initially 1 - 2 mg/kg/day divided bid-tid for 5 to 10 days. After clinical signs are suppressed, consolidate dose (1 - 2 mg/kg/day) and give at 7-10 AM once a day for 1 week.
Then reduce dose to 0.5 - 1 mg/kg/day for 5-7 days. Convert to alternate day dosing bygiving 1 -2 mg/kg on alternate mornings. Reduce dosage by 1/2 each week until aminimally effective dose is reached. (Kemppainen 1986)
b) Methylprednisolone: 1 mg/kg PO q8h; methylprednisolone acetate: 1 mg/kg IM every14 days. (Jenkins 1985)
c) Methylprednisolone acetate: 1.1 mg/kg SQ or IM; effects (for dermatologic indications)generally last for 1-3 weeks. (Scott 1982)
d) For labeled uses:
Oral:
Dogs weighing 5 -15 lbs: 2 mg
Dogs weighing 15 - 40 lbs: 2 - 4 mg
Dogs weighing 40 - 80 lbs: 4 - 8 mg;
These total daily doses should be divided and given 6 - 10 hours apart.
Intramuscularly: 2 - 120 mg IM (average 20 mg); depending on breed (size), severity ofcondition, and response. May repeat at weekly intervals or in accordance with theseverity of the condition and the response. (Package insert; Depo-Medrol®¯Upjohn)
The manufacturer has specific directions for use of the drug intrasynovially. It is recommended to refer directly to the package insert for more information.
As an immunosuppressant:
a) Pulse therapy to induce remission or control of autoimmune skin diseases:
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate 11 mg/kg in 250 ml D5W infused IV over 1hour for 3 consecutive days. Cimetidine 4 mg/kg PO q8h may also be given to reduce
GI implications. After day 3, begin oral prednisone maintenance at 1.1 mg/kg q24-48h.
Azathioprine can also be added during maintenance phase. (White, Stewart, and Bernstein 1987)
For adjunctive medical therapy of spinal cord trauma:
a) Methylprednisolone sodium succinate: Initially, 30 mg/kg IV; 2 hours later give 15mg/kg IV. Then give 10 mg/kg IV or SQ 4 times a day for 24-36 hours. Reduce dosagegradually over next 7 days. Cimetidine may be helpful in preventing hemorrhagicgastroenteritis associated with high dose glucocorticoids. (Schunk 1988a)
For adjunctive therapy for various forms of shock:
a) Methylprednisolone sodium succinate: 30 - 35 mg/kg IV (Kemppainen 1986)
For intralesional (sub-lesional) use:
a) A sufficient volume of 20 mg/ml methylprednisolone acetate is used to undermine thelesion (10-40 mg total dose). (Scott 1982)

Cats:

As an antiinflammatory agent:
a) Methylprednisolone acetate: 5.5 mg/kg SQ or IM (average sized cat = 20 mg); effects(for dermatologic indications) generally last for 1 week to 6 months. (Scott 1982)
b) For labeled uses:
Oral:
Cats weighing 5 -15 lbs: 2 mg
Cats weighing >15 lbs: 2 - 4 mg
These total daily doses should be divided and given 6 - 10 hours apart.
Intramuscularly: up to 20 mg (average 10 mg) IM; depending on breed (size), severityof condition, and response. May repeat at weekly intervals or in accordance with theseverity of the condition and the response. (Package insert; Depo-Medrol®¯Upjohn)
For eosinophilic ulcer:
a) Methylprednisolone acetate 20 mg SQ every 2 weeks for 2-3 doses. If chronic case, maintenance therapy may be required at 20 mg SQ prn. May also consider addingmegestrol acetate. (DeNovo, Potter, and Woolfson 1988)
As alternate adjunctive therapy for feline plasma cell gingivitis-pharyngitis:
a) Methylprednisolone acetate 10 - 20 mg SQ prn. May also consider adding megestrolacetate. (DeNovo, Potter, and Woolfson 1988)
As an antiinflammatory for the adjunctive treatment of feline asthma:
a) Methylprednisolone acetate: 2 mg/kg (dosage interval or route not specified) (Papich1986)
b) Methylprednisolone acetate: 1 - 2 mg/kg IM (dosage interval not specified) (Noone1986)
For adjunctive therapy of flea allergy:
a) Methylprednisolone acetate: 5 mg/kg SQ; generally will keep animal comfortable for 3-6 weeks. Do not use more often than every 2 months. (Kwochka 1986)
For adjunctive treatment of idiopathic feline miliary dermatoses:
a) Methylprednisolone acetate: 5 mg/kg SQ; if favorable response is noted, may repeatsame dosage two times at 2-3 week intervals. Thereafter, do not use more often thanevery 2 months. (Kwochka 1986)
For adjunctive treatment of pulmonary edema secondary to blood transfusion reactions:
a) 30 mg/kg repeated every 6 hours (route not specified) (Auer and Bell 1986)
For intralesional (sub-lesional) use:
a) A sufficient volume of 20 mg/ml methylprednisolone acetate is used to undermine thelesion (10-40 mg total dose). (Scott 1982)

Horses:

As an antiinflammatory (glucocorticoid effects):
a) Methylprednisolone: 0.5 mg/kg PO; Methylprednisolone sodium succinate: 0.5 mg/kg IV or IM (Robinson 1987)
b) For labeled uses: Methylprednisolone acetate 200 mg IM repeated as necessary (Package insert; Depo-Medrol®¯Upjohn) The manufacturer has specific directions for use of the drug intrasynovially. It is recommended to refer directly to the package insert for more information.
For shock:
a) Methylprednisolone sodium succinate: 10 - 20 mg/kg IV (Robinson 1987)
Dosage Forms/Preparations/Approval Status/Withdrawal Times - Veterinary-Approved Products: A 10 ppb tolerance has been established for methylprednisolone in milk.
Methylprednisolone Tablets 1 mg, 2 mg
Medrol® (Upjohn), generic; (Rx) Approved for use in dogs and cats.
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection 20 mg/ml, 40 mg/ml
Depo-Medrol® (Upjohn), generic; (Rx) Approved for use in dogs, cats and horses.

Human-Approved Products:

Methylprednisolone Tablets 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg, 24 mg, 32 mg; Medrol® (Upjohn), generic; (Rx)
Methylprednisolone Acetate for Injection 20 mg/ml, 40 mg/ml, 80 mg/ml in 1, 5 & 10 ml vials;
Depo-Medrol® (Upjohn) many other trade names and generically-labeled products areavailable; (Rx)
Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate Powder for Injection: 40 mg/vial; 125 mg/vial; 500mg/vial; 1000 mg/vial (62.5 mg/ml after reconstitution), 2000 mg/vial; Solu-Medrol® (Upjohn),
A-methaPred® (Abbott), generic; (Rx)4-Methylpyrazole¯see Fomepizole