Do You Take Medrol Dose Pack Pills All At Once?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses how to properly take your Medrol Dose Pack (methylprednisolone).
Do you take each day of Medrol Dose Pack Pills one time or do I need to split them up?
Feb 09, 2022- You should take your Medrol Dose Pack tablets in divided doses throughout the day rather than all at once, as taking them together can increase side effects like nausea, stomach cramps, and insomnia.
- The dose pack is designed to be taken over 6 days with a decreasing number of tablets each day, starting with 6 tablets on day 1 and ending with 1 tablet on day 6.
- If you receive your prescription late in the day, it's acceptable to take all of day 1's tablets as a single dose with food, then divide the remaining doses starting on day 2.
Hi there and thanks for your question!
The Medrol Dose Pack is a 6-day tapering dose of methylprednisolone, which is typically used for the treatment of allergic reactions, cough/cold symptoms and asthma exacerbations.
Medrol Dose Pack Dosing
The Medrol Dose Pack contains 21 tablets, with each tablet containing 4mg of methylprednisolone, intended to be taken over 6 days as follows:
- Day 1: 6 Tablets
- Day 2: 5 Tablets
- Day 3: 4 Tablets
- Day 4: 3 Tablets
- Day 5: 2 Tablets
- Day 6: 1 Tablet
While you can take each day's tablets all at once, it isn't recommended since methylprednisolone can cause nausea, stomach cramps, and insomnia. Taking the entire days' worth of tablets at one time can increase the risk of these side effects.
It is generally prudent to take your total daily amount in divided doses, as directed on the package.
The one caveat is that oftentimes, individuals get their Medrol Dose Pack prescription later in the day, and you should start as soon as possible. This makes it difficult or impossible to divide the first days' tablets. In this case, it makes sense to take all of the day 1 tablets at once, which will help to alleviate your symptoms quickly, and then begin dividing the doses starting with day 2.
Below, is the most commonly recommended way to take your Medrol Dose Pack:
Day 1
- 8 mg (2 tablets) before breakfast
- 4 mg (1 tablet) after lunch
- 4 mg (1 tablet) after supper
- 8 mg (2 tablets) at bedtime
- Total of 6 tablets
If you get your prescription late in the day, you may take 24 mg (6 tablets) as a single dose. If you take all the tablets at one time, be sure to take the dose with food to minimize nausea.
Day 2
- 4 mg (1 tablet) before breakfast
- 4 mg (1 tablet) after lunch
- 4 mg (1 tablet) after supper
- 8mg (2 tablets) at bedtime
- Total of 5 tablets
Day 3
- 4 mg (1 tablet) before breakfast
- 4 mg (1 tablet) after lunch
- 4 mg (1 tablet) after supper
- 4 mg (1 tablet) at bedtime
- Total of 4 tablets
Day 4
- 4 mg (1 tablet) before breakfast
- 4 mg (1 tablet) after lunch
- 4 mg (1 tablet) at bedtime
- Total of 3 tablets
Day 5
- 4 mg (1 tablet) before breakfast
- 4 mg (1 tablet) at bedtime
- Total of 2 tablets
Day 6
- 4 mg (1 tablet) before breakfast
- Total of 1 tablet
Final Words
Thanks again for your question and feel free to reach out to us again with any additional questions!
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Methylprednisolone
- A corticosteroid medication that reduces inflammation and suppresses the immune system to treat allergic reactions and inflammatory conditions.
- Tapering dose
- A dosing schedule where the amount of medication is gradually decreased over time rather than stopped suddenly.
- Allergic reactions
- Immune system responses to a foreign substance that the body perceives as harmful, causing symptoms like rash, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
- Asthma exacerbations
- Sudden worsening of asthma symptoms, such as increased wheezing, shortness of breath, or coughing.
- Side effects
- Undesirable or unwanted effects that occur in addition to the intended therapeutic effects of a medication.
- Divided doses
- Taking a medication in smaller amounts throughout the day rather than taking the entire daily amount at one time.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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