http://www.nationalmssociety.org/methylprednisolone.asp

February 5, 2003

As you may be aware, there is a shortage of methylprednisolone, the drug most commonly used to treat MS exacerbations. Details concerning the shortage can be found at the website of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists:

http://www.ashp.org/shortage/methylprednisolone.cfm?cfid=15189173&CFToken=47322507

The two manufacturers, Abbott and Pharmacia, do not expect the problem to be resolved for several weeks.

For those who are unable to obtain methylprednisolone, our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Aaron Miller, is recommending dexamethasone as a substitute. Use the following information to help you determine the dosing regimen:

• The anti-inflammatory properties of dexamethasone are approximately 5-6 times greater than those of methylprednisolone; therefore, a dose of 150-200 mg is roughly equivalent to 1000 mg of methylprednisolone.
• The half-life of dexamethasone is about 2 times that of methylprednisolone (36-54 hours vs. 18-36 hours)

© 2003 The National Multiple Sclerosis Society