Methylprednisolone vs Hydrocortisone: side effects in FDA adverse event reports
At a glance
| Methylprednisolone | Hydrocortisone | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Corticosteroid | Corticosteroid |
| Brand names | – | – |
| FAERS reports | 137,404 | 88,710 |
| Serious | 90% | 82% |
| Death outcome | 23,035 | 11,614 |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
Signals both drugs share
| Reaction | Methylprednisolone | Hydrocortisone | Label screen (A / B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary immunodeficiency | 274 · PRR 45.3 | 223 · PRR 54.2 | Labeled (related wording) / Labeled (related wording) |
| Rheumatic fever | 965 · PRR 43.1 | 1,890 · PRR 181.2 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Facet joint syndrome | 793 · PRR 51.2 | 1,230 · PRR 151.7 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Peripheral venous disease | 726 · PRR 33.8 | 895 · PRR 68.2 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Dislocation of vertebra | 440 · PRR 37.5 | 728 · PRR 115.1 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Adjustment disorder with depressed mood | 368 · PRR 33.9 | 757 · PRR 142.6 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Lupus vulgaris | 331 · PRR 58.7 | 553 · PRR 206.4 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Retinitis | 375 · PRR 44.1 | 427 · PRR 81.2 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Seronegative arthritis | 245 · PRR 42.5 | 194 · PRR 49.3 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Mycobacterium chelonae infection | 215 · PRR 62.8 | 154 · PRR 62.4 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Subcutaneous drug absorption impaired | 140 · PRR 52.6 | 187 · PRR 123.7 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Vaginal flatulence | 134 · PRR 119.3 | 191 · PRR 399.5 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
Labeled signals distinctive to Methylprednisolone
- Graft versus host disease in gastrointestinal tract — n=419, PRR 37.3 Labeled (related wording)
- Steroid diabetes — n=320, PRR 42.7 Labeled (related wording)
Labeled signals distinctive to Hydrocortisone
- Duodenal ulcer perforation — n=2,466, PRR 119.8 Labeled (related wording)
- Steroid withdrawal syndrome — n=250, PRR 76.9 Labeled (related wording)
- Adrenal suppression — n=148, PRR 50.2 Labeled (related wording)
- Topical steroid withdrawal reaction — n=146, PRR 145.5 Labeled (related wording)
Common questions
Which has more reported side effects, Methylprednisolone or Hydrocortisone?
Methylprednisolone has 137,404 FAERS reports and Hydrocortisone 88,710. More reports does not mean more dangerous: volume follows how widely and how long a drug has been used, prescription vs over-the-counter status, and publicity. The seriousness share (90% vs 82%) is a better like-for-like signal of the kind of problems reported.
Which side effects do Methylprednisolone and Hydrocortisone share?
Both drugs carry disproportionality signals for secondary immunodeficiency, rheumatic fever, facet joint syndrome, peripheral venous disease, dislocation of vertebra. Shared signals often reflect a shared drug class or the condition both are used for.
Is Methylprednisolone or Hydrocortisone safer?
FAERS cannot answer that: it has no denominator and no comparator. Use this page to see which risks are already on each label and which signals are unlabeled, then check the prescribing information and your clinician for your situation.
Sources: openFDA FAERS pair statistics (OpenPV build 2026-09-14), FDA labels via openFDA, openFDA count queries for seriousness and deaths. Pair chosen because it is a commonly searched comparison. Generated 2026-10-08.