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Methylprednisolone vs Prednisone - How do they compare?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 19, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Both methylprednisolone and prednisone belong to the class of medicines called corticosteroids.

The main difference between them is that methylprednisolone is available in an injectable form which makes it useful if a person’s inflammation is severe and requires reducing quickly. Injectable forms allow larger dosages to be given quickly. Some forms of methylprednisolone can also be directly injected into a joint to provide localized, relief of pain and inflammation within 24 to 36 hours.

The main difference between oral methylprednisolone and oral prednisone is that methylprednisolone is slightly stronger than prednisone, so a lower dosage is used (4mg of methylprednisolone is equivalent to approximately 5mg of prednisone). Oral prednisone is also available as a liquid, so it is more likely to be prescribed to children than oral methylprednisolone.

Other differences include:

Because they are both corticosteroids, there are several similarities between them, for example:

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