Prednisone vs methylprednisolone (Medrol): compared
Prednisone and methylprednisolone (Medrol) are corticosteroids that reduce inflammation and calm the immune system. They work the same way; the main differences are strength per milligram, the familiar six-day Medrol Dosepak, and the forms each comes in.
Updated October 4, 2026
At a glance
- Strength
- Prednisone
- 5 mg is about equal to 4 mg of methylprednisolone
- Methylprednisolone
- Slightly stronger per milligram
- Common pack
- Prednisone
- Tablets, often with a written taper
- Methylprednisolone
- Medrol Dosepak: a six-day tapering pack
- Other forms
- Prednisone
- Tablets and liquid
- Methylprednisolone
- Tablets and injections
- Salt and fluid retention
- Prednisone
- Somewhat more
- Methylprednisolone
- Somewhat less
- Generic
- Prednisone
- Yes
- Methylprednisolone
- Yes
Prednisone | Methylprednisolone Medrol | |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 5 mg is about equal to 4 mg of methylprednisolone | Slightly stronger per milligram |
| Common pack | Tablets, often with a written taper | Medrol Dosepak: a six-day tapering pack |
| Other forms | Tablets and liquid | Tablets and injections |
| Salt and fluid retention | Somewhat more | Somewhat less |
| Generic | Yes | Yes |
Same medicine family, different packaging
Both are used for flares of asthma, allergies, arthritis, skin conditions and many inflammatory diseases. At equivalent doses they work about the same, so the choice often comes down to the course your prescriber wants: the Medrol Dosepak is a convenient pre-printed six-day taper, while prednisone courses are written to the length and dose needed.
Side effects
Short courses commonly cause trouble sleeping, increased appetite, mood changes and higher blood sugar. Longer use adds risks of weight gain, high blood pressure, thinning bones, cataracts and infections. Taking a once-daily dose in the morning with food helps with sleep and the stomach.
Stopping
After more than a few weeks, neither should be stopped suddenly, because the body’s own steroid production needs time to recover; the dose is tapered. Short courses of a week or less are usually stopped as prescribed without a long taper.
Cost
Both are inexpensive generics. A generic methylprednisolone dose pack is the same medicine as the Medrol Dosepak.
Who needs extra care
People with diabetes may see high blood sugar readings during a course and may need their medicines adjusted, and people with high blood pressure, glaucoma, stomach ulcers or a history of mood problems should tell their prescriber. Live vaccines are avoided during higher-dose treatment, and anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen raise the risk of stomach ulcers when combined with a steroid.
Questions for your prescriber
- How long will I take it, and do I need a taper?
- Will it affect my blood sugar or blood pressure?
- What should I do if I miss a dose in the pack?
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Sources
Written by the Script Unlock editorial team from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for you or your pet; your prescriber decides which medicine is right.
Script Unlock is a marketplace that lets licensed pharmacies quote a cash price on your prescription. It does not prescribe, dispense or sell medication, does not process patient payments, and does not give medical advice. Always follow the instructions of your prescriber and pharmacist and read the medication guide supplied with your medicine.