What is better - "Prednisolone" or "Metipred"? What are the differences?

The correct choice of the drug is the basis for rapid and successful therapy. In the pharmaceutical market there is a large number of analogs and generics, so a person far from the world of medicine, make a choice in the pharmacy can be quite difficult.

In this case, the main factor in buying a drug is its price. However, even the identical principle of drug action and composition does not always guarantee the same effect from therapy. When it comes to drugs that can cause serious side effects, the choice of medication should be particularly careful. It is necessary to listen to the recommendation of doctors, to independently understand the issue of differences between two similar formulations of drugs.

Indications

Before to understand the question of what is better: "Prednisolone" or "Metipred", it is necessary to understand what these preparations are for. The composition of both drugs is aimed at suppressing the immune response of the body, that is, to minimize the immunity. Despite the fact that it may seem paradoxical, because the issue of increasing immunity is very popular and relevant, immunosuppressants are indispensable in the therapy of a number of diseases.

Autoimmune pathologies are the processes in which human immunity begins to attack its own cells. This is due to the fact that the infection penetrates into the cells, and it is impossible to destroy it without destroying the cage. Once the cell is infected, the body begins to produce certain antibodies that circulate in the body and destroy its own cells.

It is noteworthy that antibodies can "make mistakes" and attack organs whose cells have a similar structure, for example, the heart and kidneys are often the target of immunoglobulins after a streptococcal angina.

Autoimmune diseases are incurable today, so even after the infection has already been destroyed, antibodies continue to be produced. At best, the disease goes into remission, but under the influence of any factor (emotional shock, cold, climate change, pregnancy), it can return. If the disease does not enter the sleep regime and actively destroys the tissues of the organs, it is necessary to introduce it into remission artificially, "resetting" the immunity.

"Prednisolone" or "Metipred" reduces the activity of the immune system to a minimum, ensuring that antibodies cease to be produced. After the course, which lasts an average of two to six months, the dosage of the drug starts to slowly decrease, evoking its own immune response. If the treatment is successful, the immune system will work properly until the next exacerbation. However, it is not unusual for remission after treatment with glucocorticosteroids to last a lifetime.

Side effects

Considering the question of what is better - "Prednisolone" or "Metipred", rarely imply immediate effectiveness, since the intensity of the effect depends on the individual characteristics of the organism, and not on the difference between the two compounds.

Patients undergoing treatment with immunosuppressants are interested in the possibility of avoiding the side effects, which are in large numbers, and that and the other drug.

Weight gain

The main side effect that the overwhelming majority of people undergoing long-term treatment with glucocorticosteroids face is weight gain. Metabolism during hormone therapy really decreases, and appetite, on the contrary, increases. But the main reason for the set of body weight is the fluid retention in the body. If you carefully monitor diuresis and the amount of sodium consumed, then weight gain can be avoided, and only the pastosity of the person provoked by the developing person with Cushing's syndrome will be indicative of taking medications. As the dosage is reduced, the problem will disappear itself.

Diabetes

The second common problem faced by patients taking immunosuppressants is steroid diabetes. For patients of young age, whose genetics is not burdened by endocrine diseases, diabetes does not pose a great danger, after the withdrawal of the intake, the level of glucose and insulin stabilizes.

Stomach ulcer

And, finally, the third most common side effect is gastric ulcer. Modern medicine almost completely eliminated the urgency of this problem with the help of a special diet and drugs that protect the gastric mucosa during the course of treatment. In the event that the patient carefully treats all the recommendations of the doctor, the acquired pathologies of the digestive tract can be avoided.

There are also known side effects, such as the violation of the cycle of menstruation, the development of hypertension and osteoporosis. Many patients face increased irritability, insomnia.

Can I avoid side effects?

The list of side effects when taking glucocorticosteroids is quite impressive in terms of the number of possible consequences, and in their severity. Unfortunately, there are no methods that allow to eliminate them completely, but to minimize them is quite realistic. It is in connection with this that the question arises, what is better: "Prednisolone" or "Metipred"?

Both drugs have the same composition and similar mechanism of action. However, Metipred, in the language of pharmacists, is a more "pure" drug. That is, the components from which the medicine consists have undergone more complex and multistage purification than the analogue, which means that the toxic effect decreases during its administration and the side effects decrease.

If it is a question of short-term use of glucocorticosteroids, for example, with an allergic reaction, to think about: "Prednisolone" or "Metipred" - which one is better to choose is irrelevant. Any drug will be effective, and the very fact of its short-term use will not allow neither the listed side effects to appear, nor to have a toxic effect on the body. But if the course of therapy is calculated in months, the "clean" drug will be much safer.

There is an opinion that less severity of side effects can be achieved if glukortikosteroids are primed early in the morning.

When prescribing "Prednisolone" or "Metipred" during pregnancy, doctors often make a choice in favor of the latter, since in this case it is not only a question of the effectiveness of therapy for the patient, but also safety for the fetus.

Mineralocorticoid effect

Analyzing the question of what is better - "Prednisolone" or "Metipred", it is important to consider such phenomenon as mineralocorticoid effect. This definition refers to the phenomenon associated with sodium retention in the body. This leads to edema, increased blood pressure, characteristic of hormones, a round face.

The composition of Metipred allows sodium not to linger in the body, due to which the problem of "cushingoid face" in patients undergoing therapy with this drug is less expressed than in people taking Prednisolone.

Expression of effect

Studies that study the difference in the therapeutic effect of the two drugs did not reveal a fundamental difference. The result of therapy is based on individual characteristics of a person, a particular disease, concomitant diseases.

Available at various resources about drugs such as Prednisolone or Meti-Pre, reviews often indicate the effectiveness of the former. Remission from "Prednisolone" arose faster and, on average, lasted longer.

Substitution of drugs

In order to find out, in a particular case, "Prednisolone" or "Metipred" - which is better, you can try both drugs and compare the effect. Starting therapy "Prednisolone", you can go to "Metipred", without changing the dosage. Thus, 1 mg of Prednisolone and 1 mg of Metipred are completely identical.

However, the replacement of the drug is necessary under the supervision of the attending physician.

Immunosuppressants and diseases

Selecting a specific drug for treatment, many patients are interested in the effectiveness of the drug in a particular disease. That is, the question of whether Prednisolone or Metipred is better for arthritis, glomerulonephritis or other pathology is very relevant.

Given the identical composition and indications in use, it can be argued that there is no fundamental difference in the appointment of immunosuppressants. When choosing a drug, the doctor relies on his own experience and analytical data, which medicine in a patient with a similar disease, age, sex, was tolerated more easily, did not entail complications, and showed the best effect.

Cost of drugs

Considering the question of whether Prednisolon or Metipred is better, it is impossible to avoid the question of the cost of the drugs. "Metipred" is a more expensive medicine. Its price on average in Russia is 200 rubles, while the cost of "Prednisolon" varies from 50 to 70 rubles. The cost of Russian drugs is traditionally lower, but reviews of domestic immunosuppressants are on average worse than imported ones.

Given the fact that the use of glucocorticosteroids in autoimmune diseases lasts from six months to life-long admission, it is obvious that for many patients it is more important to choose the remedy for treatment that will most successfully fit into the monthly budget. Of no less importance is the dosage prescribed for the administration of Prednisolone or Metipred, since a higher concentration of the active substance is reasonably more expensive.

Thus, the answer to the question of whether Prednisolone or Metipred is: what is best is individual. When choosing a drug, it is important to take into account the entire clinical picture of the patient, consult a doctor and select medication and dosage for them so that the effect is pronounced, and side effects do not significantly affect the patient's quality of life and do not carry a threat to his health.