Methylprednisolone is a potent anti-inflammatory steroid with greater anti-inflammatory potency than prednisolone and even less tendency than prednisolone to induce sodium and water retention.

Methylprednisolone sodium succinate has the same metabolic and anti-inflammatory actions as methylprednisolone. When given parenterally and in equimolar quantities, the two compounds are equivalent in biologic activity. The relative potency of SOLUMEDROL Sterile Powder and hydrocortisone sodium succinate, as indicated by depression of eosinophil count, following intravenous administration, is at least four to one. This is in good agreement with the relative oral potency of methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone.

Indications and Usage
When oral therapy is not feasible, and the strength, dosage form and route of administration of the drug reasonably lend the preparation to the treatment of the condition, SOLU-MEDROL Sterile Powder is indicated for intravenous or intramuscular use in the following conditions:

1. Endocrine Disorders
Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the drug of choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy, mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance)
Acute adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the drug of choice; mineralocorticoid supplementation may be necessary, particularly when synthetic analogs are used)
Preoperatively and in the event of serious trauma or illness, in patients with known adrenal insufficiency or when adrenocortical reserve is doubtful
Shock unresponsive to conventional therapy if adrenocortical insufficiency exists or is suspected
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Nonsuppurative thyroiditis
Hypercalcemia associated with cancer

2. Rheumatic Disorders
As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in:
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis Epicondylitis
Synovitis of osteoarthritis Acute nonspecific tenosynovitis
Rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile Acute gouty arthritis rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may Psoriatic arthritis require low-dose maintenance therapy) Ankylosing spondylitis
Acute and subacute bursitis

3. Collagen Diseases
During an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of:
Systemic lupus erythematosus Acute rheumatic carditis
Systemic dermatomyositis (polymyositis)

4. Dermatologic Diseases
Pemphigus Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis
Severe erythema multiforme (Stevens- Severe seborrheic dermatitis
Johnson syndrome) Severe psoriasis
Exfoliative dermatitis Mycosis fungoides

5. Allergic States
Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in:
Bronchial asthma Drug hypersensitivity reactions
Contact dermatitis Urticarial transfusion reactions
Atopic dermatitis Acute noninfectious laryngeal
Serum sickness edema (epinephrine is the drug
Seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis of first choice)

6. Ophthalmic Diseases
Severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye, such as: