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Title: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by TxBasslady on Sep 10th, 2003, 5:15pm Went to my gp yesterday, and talked to him about a Prednisone Taper, (this is what my "angel" suggested) in hopes that it might stop this cycle. I have had ch every day since Aug 11 and have had 12 in the last 8 days. My attacks are always in the early a.m. (2:30 - 3:30) . Thankfully, I have not suffered any in the day time. He gave me 20mg. Prednisone, and said for me to take 3 a day for 4 days then reduce for 4 days, etc. I did take the 3 yesterday, and am happy to report that I had no visit from the beast last night for the first time since Aug 11. That was an absolute blessing, considering that in the last 4 or 5 days I had had only about 4 or 5 hours sleep. However, I have a question..those of you who have done the Prednisone Taper, how did your dr instruct you to do this? I have like 50 pills. On day 9 I am to take only 1 pill. Normally, is that it? Or do you continue to take 1 pill a day till the script is used up? I called the dr, but have not received a return call. But was wondering if someone might give me a clue as to how this works. I know that it is not safe to use on an ongoing basis. But any info as to how your dr's have directed you to take it would be appreciated. Also, did you get the jitters after the dosage? I do, but after a while it seems to wear off. Will take the jitters any day, over the pain of the CH. Thank you....all of you for being here. Best wishes from Texas for pfdan for all |
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Title: Re: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by UnsolvedEquation on Sep 10th, 2003, 5:21pm try and taper off the Prednisone like the doc says. When you are done (The 9th day, I think you said), discontinue use. You do not need to finish the script. Tapering down off of Prednisone is very important. If you stop abruptly, you can become ill and catch many different sickness'. Prednisone suppresses your immune system so try not to be around any sick people while on the meds. |
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Title: Re: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by UnsolvedEquation on Sep 10th, 2003, 5:25pm By the way....Usually when I'm on the stuff...it's something like this: 60 mg / day X 1 week 50 mg / day X 1 week 40 mg / day X 1 week 30 mg / day X 1 week 20 mg / day X 1 week 10 mg / day X 1 week But you may not need to be on it for this long. Just make sure you taper down. |
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Title: Re: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by surfshi on Sep 11th, 2003, 3:09am WOA...Ive used prednisone for several years... can't stress enough to take only as your doc prescribes them...Surf |
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Title: Re: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by Bob P on Sep 11th, 2003, 8:53am From Doc Goadsby: "Steroids Corticosteroids are highly efficacious and the most rapid-acting of the preventative agents. But caution must be exercised in using them because of the potential for serious side-effects. Treatment should be limited to a short intensive course of two to three weeks of tapering doses. We start patients on oral prednisolone 1mg/kg to a maximum of 60mg once daily for five days, then decrease the dose by 10mg every three days. Unfortunately, relapse almost invariably occurs because the dose is tapered. For this reason, steroids are used as an initial therapy in conjunction with preventatives, until the latter are effective." |
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Title: Re: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by Dave_Emond on Sep 11th, 2003, 12:11pm Just got back minutes ago from talking to my doc about the prednisone I'm on now. I'm taking 80 mg per day right now, not for CH, (as I tried it before and now it doesn't touch CH) but I'm using it to try to lessen this strange severe nerve pains that sieze my body up, espicially while under attacks. It has toned down those pains, and I don't feel anything but the CH attacks now. Predinsone, being a steroid, is not something to play with. I was told this morning, if I use it for 5 days at this high dosage, I can stop right away. One single day longer and the doctor MUST be the one to decide the taper off method. The longer the use of steroid medications, the more likely serious side effects will arise. The descriptions given me this morning were quite horrifying. Do exactly as your doctor tells you too. If you have the slightest area you are unclear about, call your Doc and get specifics. Do not use my treatment or anyone elses methods but your own doctor. He/She is the ONLY one who should advise you on this. Take care, Dave |
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Title: Re: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by stuey on Sep 11th, 2003, 2:19pm I tapered 80 mg four days, 60 mg four days, 50 mg four days, 40 mg 3 days, 30 mgs 3 days, 20 mgs 2 days and 10 mgs one day. That's what my neuro had me do. Seems there are various ways to taper as long as you don't jump from 100 mg down to 10 mg in one day. I was just glad to be off them. They made me a liitle giddy and messed my stomach up hard. |
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Title: Re: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by ckelly181 on Sep 11th, 2003, 4:40pm on 09/10/03 at 17:25:52, UnsolvedEquation wrote:
How does it work for you? I'm going to try prednisone this time, and just wanted to hear from a "vet"... Chris |
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Title: Re: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by UnsolvedEquation on Sep 11th, 2003, 7:17pm Prednisone usually works for me and stops the CH in their tracks AS LONG AS I'M ON A HIGH DOSE. (60 mg a day). As soon as I start the tapering process, the CH comes back. I've done this several times and always got the same result. For some...it might break the cycle. That's what your doctor is intending .. (breaking the cycle). 80 mg a day is REALLY HUGE !! I also got lots of side effects while I was on Prednisone. I gained about 20 - 25 lbs and swelled up like a balloon. I had to stop taking it. Long use of Predisone may cause lots of serious damage to your body. You don't want to be on this for too long. It WILL supress your immune system...that's why you have to taper off ... to let your body's own immune system fire back up. Hope I helped in some way :) |
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Title: Re: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by TxBasslady on Sep 11th, 2003, 8:07pm :) Thanks for the info...after reading Unsolved's response yesterday, I decided to go back over to Dr. and get in his writing and his words how he wanted to taper. This is my 1st major cycle with CH. And yes, he is hoping that the Prednisone stops the CH in its tracks. And, his taper method was very much different from all of yours. I take 60mg for 3 days, 40 mg for 5 days, 20mg for 2 days, and 10mg for 5 days. Hopefully, by the time i am finished with the Prednisone, I will be in to see the neuro, and maybe, just maybe, I will be on a good regimine. And yes, the Prednisone stopped the beast...3 days now, totally pain free and no shadows. I have a bass tourney on Sat., and was afraid I wouldn't be able to make it, with all the suffering I was going thru. But have never missed a tourney in 13 years, so YEEHAW.........I am off to the lakehouse. Again, thanks to all of u....and most of all, thank you for being here. Jean :) |
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Title: Re: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by UnsolvedEquation on Sep 11th, 2003, 11:42pm Quote:
COOL :D |
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Title: Re: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by stuey on Sep 12th, 2003, 10:32am I must add about prednisdone after reading : 60 mg and 80 mgs are not LARGE nor HUGE dosages. Prednisone is dosed as needed and for what works. Sometimes prednisone is given up to 180 mg., it depends on what specifically you are taking it for. There are long terms effects, but 60 and 80 mg are neither large nor huge doses of prednisone. |
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Title: Re: Prednisone Taper-Is There a Standard? Post by ebk3 on Sep 24th, 2003, 8:36pm after 15 yrs of episodic chs I was finally prescribed my first pred taper/ 60 mg per day for first week then 10 mg less per day for 5 days or so. ended cycle didn't come back!! Gene |
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