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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
        
(Message started by: katdoo on Jul 26^th, 2006, 6:27pm)

Title: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by katdoo on Jul 26^th, 2006, 6:27pm

hello all, seen a neuro today, and he gave me four choices, oxygen, injection, spray, and prediizone which i choose. i am on disability here in canada, and some of the other options are unrealistic, unaffordable for me, and the injections are not my cup of tea, and he said the spray is pretty much usless. so. he gave me a script for a tapering 12 when the cluster hits, then 11 next day, then 10, and all the way down to zero. any info is welcomed.

also i used to be a welder, and i might have bits of metal floating around my noggin, and possibly eyes, so i was wondering if anyone else also had this problem. i cant handle the pain. but if i have to rock back and forth screaming inside, i wonder if the prednizone is worth the risk if any. thank you all for helping a noob out. many thanks.

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by ShaneM on Jul 26^th, 2006, 6:41pm

Hang in there... Sounds like the Doc put you on a dose pack. I am on 60mg a day for a week the 40mg, then 20mg, then 10mg, then 5mg. It can take a couple of days for it to kick in, for me it works really well, and if I catch it at the start or near the end of a cycle it can sometimes stop it in its tracks. It is a pretty safe drug though. And the most complained about side effect that I have heard of and experienced is a generally bad attitude (putting it mildly). So, be nice :). Hope it works for you.

Shane

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by E-Double on Jul 26^th, 2006, 7:15pm

Did he make you choose or did he provide you with all as he should have?

The prednisone should be used as a transitional medication until a prophylactic medication can take a hold.

Oxygen is a good cheap and effective treatment!

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?outo
Post by katdoo on Jul 26^th, 2006, 7:54pm

he seemed eager about the oxygen, and injections also, the spray he didnt seem to happy about, and he said he'd take the steoids himself. so i figuered it would be the safest, but now i am debating the injections too. i will try the steroids first when a cluster hits me, but i been drinking cola like its going out of style for the caffine. and my eye hasnt teared up in a few days. caffine good!thanks for the help all.

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by TimJohnson on Jul 26^th, 2006, 8:37pm

The injections are a piece of cake. They come in a stat dose pack which is a very easy.

The predinose's main side effect (short term) is a false sense of well beng so I'm surprised that it put some people in a bad mood. But I guess it effects all people differently.

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by katdoo on Jul 26^th, 2006, 9:04pm

i was so nervous i forgot to ask what exactly is in the injection lol. i was just glad he understood the cluster headache pain. and he did tell me they will get worse over time. :(. but what the heck is the injection made of?, and thanks again all.

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by chewy on Jul 26^th, 2006, 9:18pm

Assuming the injection is imitrex then google sumatriptan.

The pred. will probably give you some relief but like E-Double said, its a transitional drug, Ask your Doc about a preventative med.

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by TimJohnson on Jul 26^th, 2006, 9:50pm

The injection is a small pen that you preload with the dose of sumatriptan that you will be taking. You press the injector and make sure everything is aligned. You then press the trigger and hold for five seconds. It wipes my headaches out in about three minutes.

Sumatriptan is a drug that will constrict the vessels so that they cannot expand. That is where our pain is coming from (the vessles expanding and rubbing against the trigeminal nerve - at least that is what I believe). Theories on long terms use are contradictary. I try to avoid it unless absolutely necessary. I use O2 whenever possible. I find that O2 will just put the headache off until later, but it does get me through.

As was said earlier, talk to your MD about a preventative drug - Verapamil, Topamax, etc. You can be direct but gentle. I find that having an educated discussion works much better with the docs but I have a background that lends itself to conversing with MD's.

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by katdoo on Jul 26^th, 2006, 10:02pm

so much to learn for so much pain, but not really you all are making me understand. i was just flustered i suppose when i seen the neuro. well now i can use google for something rather then finding pictures of large breasted women. heh, sorry i couldn't resist.

but seriously you are all a great help. i had my first major cluster attack two years ago. i thought it was an stroke or anyeurism (sp). i hit the floor like a ton of bricks and started grinding my knuckles into all the painful areas thinking oh my god how can this possibly hurt so badly. then last motnh i started having them when i was sleeping, almost every day for a what seemed like a week. i drank so much coffee when i found this site, it really helped me. the water drinking was so so. but caffine really keeps it numb. anyhow i am blabbing, thanks all. will goggle my sorry butt of tonight. tyvm. :D

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by Jonny on Jul 26^th, 2006, 10:08pm

on 07/26/06 at 18:27:13, katdoo wrote:

also i used to be a welder, and i might have bits of metal floating around my noggin, and possibly eyes, so i was wondering if anyone else also had this problem.

You have nothing to worry about, I have owned a welding company for 15 years. The only time you have to worry about metal in your eyes(unless it hurts like hell ;;D ) is when you have an MRI.......but, they always X-Ray your eyes if your in this line of work.

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by TxBasslady on Jul 26^th, 2006, 10:44pm

The Prednisone is good for breaking a cycle.

I've done 2 tapers of the Pred. First one gave me 197 pain free days...the 2nd only gave me 41.

You might ask about the 02. It seems to work for alot of us.

Good luck...

Jean

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by Weatherman on Jul 26^th, 2006, 11:58pm

I'm a prednisone success story. I've done a taper for each of my last two cycles and it's been wonderful!!
I just finished my last taper and by day 2, I was pain free. It's been 6 days since my last dose and still pain free....wonderful!!

Now I did have side effects. I was hungry all the time. I gained almost 10 pounds. I was edgy and cranky too. But I call it a fair trade to be pain free. I'm already back to my old self and have lost 5 of the pounds too.

Understand, I didn't just do the pred.. I also did 6 Nature's Way kudzu each day...2 500mg Taurine pills per day and 9mg of melatonin before bed each night. I'm still on all this stuff just in case but I'll probably taper off it all over the next few weeks.

I know everyone is different but it was a very successful cycle breaking plan for me and well worth a try.

All The Best!!!!
Doug

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by chewy on Jul 27^th, 2006, 7:27am

I've used pred every cycle for the last 5 or so years of cycles.

Quote:

Now I did have side effects. I was hungry all the time.

Oh yeah. That one. Profit margins for Burger King and Papa Ginos go way down when my cycle breaks.

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by chopmyheadoff on Jul 27^th, 2006, 8:02am

mate i would seriously consider getting the imitrex injections.
Its not at all as bad as you think.
its just a little pen thing, like diabetics use for insulin.

just put it against your leg and "click" you done.

when your rolling round on the floor one minute, quick injection and the headache dissolves completely in about 90 seconds for me. complete relief as if it was never there in the first place.

i like the imitrex because you only need take it when you get hit. im not a big fan of meds you have to take every day.

and as for the sprays, they are great. work every time for me, its the same stuff thats in the injection. the only difference is that it takes about 15-20 minutes to work.

pain free wishes my friend
chop

Title: Re: prednizone script given to me, is it safe?
Post by kevinpix on Jul 27^th, 2006, 10:41am

Prednizone is good, try oxygen, it's faster, easier, cheaper, and smells good, too. Just kidding, smells different, but works good to stop attacks.