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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Predinsone/Methergine
        
(Message started by: Chronic on Jul 12^th, 2004, 4:18pm)

Title: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by Chronic on Jul 12^th, 2004, 4:18pm

I know I shouldn't bitch cause at least it's finally working, but I F'ing hate Prednisone.

1. My face is as round as the earth.
2. My back is all broken out
3. I haven't been able to crap in three weeks
4. I sweat constantly and have hot flashes
5. I'm always hungry

Now that I'm finished. Thank God for Prednisone. Without it I would have no life. [smiley=laugh.gif]

By the way, how long has been the longest anyone has stayed on high doses. I have another Neuro appointment in a week and Ihaven't been able to drop the dose. If I go below 40 mgs, the beast roars back with a vengance.

By the way, as another note, my old Neuro just placed me on Methergine if anyone wants to mention it to their Doctor. It had limited benefit for me, but it may have warded off an attack or two for the week i used it. I was in a hard core spate of attacks and it just wasn't strong enough. I was told it works very similarly to Sandsert. That med never had much effect on me either.

GL to all and PF days.

Chronic

Title: Re: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by kissmyglass on Jul 12^th, 2004, 4:27pm

As you know..you should NOT be on it long term. Try to find something else that will work for you...Lithium, Verap maybe??

Title: Re: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by don on Jul 12^th, 2004, 4:33pm

You need to be on a theraputic dose of a preventative while you drop your prednisone dosage.

Methergine is used as a preventative but you need to find the theraputic dose that is effective for you.

Title: Re: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by UN_SOLVED on Jul 12^th, 2004, 5:54pm

I know about all the side effects and dangers of steriods...yet I use them often. I only stay off of them for a few weeks and then I'm ready for more or i'm ready for a hospital stay with DHE IV. I try to alteranate between the steriods, the DHE, and the TREX.

Unsolved
Gain weight ... lose weight ... gain weight .... lose weight .... etc.

Title: Re: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by Joshman420 on Jul 13^th, 2004, 2:51pm

I am also on prednisone along with Verapamil

this how my neuro set prescribed them to me;

1st week 20mg prednisone & 120mg Verap
2nd week 60mg prednisone & 360mg Verap
3rd week 60mg prednisone & 360mg Verap
4th week 50mg prednisone & 360mg Verap
5th week 40mg prednisone & 360mg Verap
6th week 30mg prednisone & 360mg Verap
7th week 20mg prednisone & 360mg Verap
8th week 10mg prednisone & 360mg Verap
then ... 360mg Verapamil only. for a while, as he put it.

I am in my 6th week ... and I can say that the prescriptions have helped - I am episodic , I get a cycle for 2 months every summer. Compared to last summer, my HA are less sever, but more frequent. I dont know is this is from the meds, or this is how this cycle is acting.

The side effects of this prednisone, are wierd ... I am feeling it too ... Whats up with the round face?? wierd stuff -

Does the prednisone take the clusters away completely for you guys?

PFDAN To all ...

Joshman

JOSHMAN

Title: Re: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by UN_SOLVED on Jul 13^th, 2004, 4:02pm

Joshman,

WOW...that's a long time to be on a Prednisone taper. I can almost guarantee that you 'puff up' from the side effects. (it's common from that much steriods) My neuro's called it "moon face". (LOL)

Steriods will stop my clusters in their tracks if i'm on a big enough dose (80mg ... sometimes 60mg ie. Prednisone)

PS...Chronic ... plz get a laxative soon !! ;;D
Hope all goes well

PF Wishes to you both...
Unsolved

Title: Re: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by don on Jul 13^th, 2004, 4:06pm

I'll say it's a long time.

The thousand or so tapers I've done have been no longer than three weeks.

This last one stopped the cycle dead along with 480 mg of verapamil per day. Been PF since the end of the taper, about 2 weeks now.

Title: Re: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by CarrieBethRN on Jul 13^th, 2004, 4:26pm

Hey Unsolved,

Even the drug books use the term "moon face". ;;D

I did a 6 day taper and I had 8 days CH-free, even though it didn't help my other headache any. Started getting slammed again last night. I guess I shouldn't complain since I had the 8 days off but damn...

Ah well..

CHit happens (whoever has that in their profile thing!)

I used to be on methergine. Took it for 1 year (with a break after the first 6 months). The first time I took it, it appeared to help. When I tapered off it, my continuous headache got very bad and then when I went back on it, it stayed bad. Didn't seem to have any effect on CH for me, but I've heard it can for some people!

Carrie :)

Title: Re: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by Bob P on Jul 13^th, 2004, 4:46pm

Goadsby et al suggest:

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.

Title: Re: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by babycakes on Jul 14^th, 2004, 12:34pm

Prednisone put me in the hospital. I had to stop immediately.
BUT...now I have Replak (sp?) and I sleep great.
Lithium and Verapimil take care of daytime hours...Replak for night.

Brian

Title: Re: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by Joshman420 on Jul 14^th, 2004, 1:41pm

Prednisone put you in the hospital?

Can you share the details ?

Title: Re: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by CarrieBethRN on Jul 14^th, 2004, 5:41pm

on 07/14/04 at 12:34:24, babycakes wrote:

Prednisone put me in the hospital. I had to stop immediately.
BUT...now I have Replak (sp?) and I sleep great.
Lithium and Verapimil take care of daytime hours...Replak for night.

Brian

Brian,

Do you mean Relpax?

Carrie

Title: Re: Predinsone/Methergine
Post by pam s on Jul 18^th, 2004, 12:58am

on 07/12/04 at 16:18:38, Chronic wrote:

By the way, how long has been the longest anyone has stayed on high doses. I have another Neuro appointment in a week and Ihaven't been able to drop the dose. If I go below 40 mgs, the beast roars back with a vengance.

In 3 weeks Prednisone gave me moon face and a beard, stopped my periods, and made me insane. Took a long time to recover. This was pre-Imitrex, and it was the only thing that had ever stopped the CHs -- but only above 90mg. It was the first thing that prolonged my cycle, too. I decided then that the only thing worse than having a cycle was aborting it with prednisone.

Pam