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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> has prednisone ever not worked?
        
(Message started by: lana_banana on Sep 12^th, 2004, 9:46pm)

Title: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by lana_banana on Sep 12^th, 2004, 9:46pm

I have been taking 70 mils of prednisone for the last 5 days and will go down to 60 tomorrow and I haven't had any relief. I have been trying the melatonin too, but it doesn't seem to help. Just got lidocaine yesterday but haven't used it yet. Shouldn't the prednisone be helping already???

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by IndianaJohn on Sep 12^th, 2004, 9:54pm

Hi Lana,

I would think that you would be getting some kind of relief by now. However, the last time I took prednisone, I didn't get any relief until I dropped the dosage the first time. I though it was just some weird anamoly. Maybe tomorrow you'll get the same effect and finally get some relief.

Best Wishes,

John

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by lana_banana on Sep 12^th, 2004, 10:00pm

Well I hope you are right and I will get some relief soon. I had a really bad HA last night that lasted over 2 hours. I don't have oxygen b/c I don't have insurance right now. This is my first cycle without it since I first used 02. I don't have a local doctor either to help me out. I had to go back to Indiana from Milwaukee this weekend just to get some meds from my old family doc.

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by unsolved1 on Sep 13^th, 2004, 12:12am

70 mg of Prednisone for 5 days should've already been helping prevent CH attacks.

Most of the time that will help me, but a few times I had to go to even a higher dose (100mg/day)

Unsolved

PS. A shot of Decadron at the ER and a script for a DexPak may be helpful. As your neuro about it and he could set it up in advanced.

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by broomhilda on Sep 13^th, 2004, 2:23am

Pred has worked for so many but it did not for me, I am sorry but I had no success with it at all, this cycle :-/

Good luck, pf wishes

Andrea

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by clarence on Sep 13^th, 2004, 4:56am

First time I took the Pred it was very helpful. I think it shortened my cycle. This cycle, it didn't help at all. Although, I might have not started it in time or maybe my dosage is not quite right. The more I read on the boards, the more I think that I am on too low a dose.

I take 50mg on day 1, and decrease by 5mg each day for 10 days. It seems like others take the 50, or more, for a number of days before starting to taper off. Now that I think about it, any input on this would be helpful so I can speak with my doctor about it.

Lana, hope it helps you out soon.

Casey

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by unsolved1 on Sep 13^th, 2004, 8:14am

My 'normal' taper schedule looks like this:

60mg/day X 3 days
40mg/day X 3 days
20mg/day X 3 days
10mg/day X 3 days
Then discontinue

Starting off with an IM injection of steriods will increase the chances of pain free days. (Decadron 10 - 20mg or Solu Medrol 125 - 250mg)

Unsolved

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by jmorgan52 on Sep 13^th, 2004, 10:08am

The best Pred ever did for me was to give me a few days of PF time "the pred holiday". But it never broke my cycle and the HA's restarted in earnest after about 5 days max no matter how long I was on pred or the taper regime I used. I reckon they extend the cycle and I won't be using it again.

Having said that ,they may work well for some people, but not for me.

John

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by clarence on Sep 13^th, 2004, 10:50am

on 09/13/04 at 08:14:35, unsolved1 wrote:

Unsolved,

Thanks for the info. One more question - How long do you have to be done with the pred taper before beginning another one. I tried it at the beginning of this cycle, didn't help much, and am wondering if I should try it again. It has been about 4 weeks since I finished the taper, ha's continued full force after I finished it...just over 2 weeks ago I stopped getting woken up, and this last week has been a bit better during the day. But today I am getting hit hard like at the beginning of the cycle again. Not sure what to do...[smiley=huh.gif]

That said, for the past week the Neuro has had me on methysergide, worked up to 6 mg/day (2mg x 3 times). I don't really like the way it makes me feel. Probably can't take the pred with the methysergide. I don't know. I am tired of the docs throwing meds at me and not telling me how to use them. I ask questions, but it seems I always forget to ask something. And I just get confused when I have all these pills laying around and don't know when to use them.

Anyway, I digress. Thanks for the help, I appreciate it.
Casey

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by Giovanni on Sep 13^th, 2004, 11:50am

Taken it about 1/2 dozen times only worked once. I had many complications from zoids, including thrush, rapid weight gain, infections.

I'll never take it again.

John

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by eddie on Sep 13^th, 2004, 12:47pm

i have taken it off and on for about 17 yrs
if you go to your local wallmart or look up [ pill book]
what it is used for and adverse reactions
you might not take it again. but dont let me
discourage anybody. yes its bad for you
i have taken it 3 times this summer i have
enough of this stuff. it didnt break mine
sometimes you have to do what works
for you. but know what you are taking
read all you can about the meds you take.
PFDAN TO ALL Eddie

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by unsolved1 on Sep 13^th, 2004, 10:41pm

I agree that using steriods has it's consequences. Rapid weight gain, bloating, swelling, constipation, lowered immune system, etc ... can all be bothersome.

But sometimes, all that is better than having constant / severe CH attacks. Sometimes, we all need a break.

A 4 week wait in between tapers is plenty of time. You could safely start another taper with your docs advice. I've done many back to back tapers. Just remember that the more you do, the more likely you will get pain relief and side effects.

Prednisone can be used with methysergide...no contradictions there.

Unsolved

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by kissmyglass on Sep 13^th, 2004, 11:42pm

Yankees suck??? Just for that I won't tell you you can get welding oxygen cheaply.... :P

Kev

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by clarence on Sep 14^th, 2004, 4:46am

Thaks for the advice on the pred, I appreciate your help.

As for the Yanks, they did lose again last night...to Kansas City. Looking forward to the series in Boston!

Lana,
How is it coming along? I hope you are getting some relief by now. Let us know how its going.

Casey

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by mynm156 on Sep 14^th, 2004, 12:28pm

Hi!

It seemed to work for me for a very brief time. Then nothing. Hope some PF days are heaqding your way seen.

Good Vibes,

MYNM156

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by toolong on Sep 14^th, 2004, 1:18pm

Had 150 mg prednisone iv for 5 days all it did was wire me up so I couldn't sleep and along with that I put on 10 pounds.No more steriods for me.David [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: has prednisone ever not worked?
Post by lana_banana on Sep 18^th, 2004, 3:33pm

Well I've only had 2 HAs this week so that is good news. My doc has me on 70 migs/5 days, 60 migs/5 days, 50 migs/days.... you get the picture. But he doesn't have me taking anything else. I used to get the steroid shots when I was younger but they stopped working. Not even sure what they were exactly. That was when I went to the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago.

I guess I will just have to wait out this cycle andsee what happens. Someone mentioned something about where to get welder's 02 cheap. Can you share that info with me. Not having insurance right now sucks and 02 sure would help me out- it always does. Thanks guys for you thoughts!!

Lana