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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Steroids for clusters
        
(Message started by: jcm on Apr 28^th, 2003, 2:19pm)

Title: Steroids for clusters
Post by jcm on Apr 28^th, 2003, 2:19pm

Has anyone tried steroids and if so any luck?

???

Title: Re: Steroids for clusters
Post by CJohnson on Apr 28^th, 2003, 2:24pm

Isn't Prednisone a kind of steroid?
-Curtis

Title: Re: Steroids for clusters
Post by cathy on Apr 28^th, 2003, 2:26pm

Hi JCM welcome to the board...I think if you go to the links to the left you will find a wealth of information, sorry I can't be any more helpful. Good luck.

Cathy :)

Title: Re: Steroids for clusters
Post by jcm on Apr 28^th, 2003, 2:28pm

Yes that is the one I am currently using. I started having the clusters about a week ago. I started the predisone Thursday. I was headache free Saturday but the returned Sunday with level 10 pain for about 3 hours. So far so good today although I feel the dull headache that is waiting to errupt with any wrong move.

Title: Re: Steroids for clusters
Post by arby on Apr 28^th, 2003, 11:17pm

Welcome jcm

The prednisone usually will stop the beast but only while you are taking it - won't stop the cycle. You should try some other form of preventive (lithium and/or verapamil are possibly most common) and some abortive for the attacks (like O2 or a triptan). Lots of info at the buttons at the left. Hope something works for you.

PFDAN
Ross

Title: Re: Steroids for clusters
Post by jmorgan52 on Apr 29^th, 2003, 8:17am

My experience with Prednisone over the past 10 years or so is that it reduces or stops the CH, but only for about 5 days, giving you a short "holiday" from the pain. Then whether you continue with the Pred or not it makes no difference. The pain comes back with a vengeance. Another course of Pred a few weeks later has the same effect - about 5 days relief and then wham, they are back.

I have decided to not bother with them if (when !) I get another episode as I think it may actually increase the length of the episode.

John

Title: Re: Steroids for clusters
Post by Major_Headcase on Apr 30^th, 2003, 9:33am

Use the "Search" tool at the top of the page, and search on Prednisone. Several threads with good info.

Results seem to vary ... like all CH treatments, it depends on the individual. And what works one cycle may or may not work again. I'm episodic, and my doc put me on Prednisone and Verapamil at the start of my last cycle. I got good results from a high initial dose of Prednisone (70mg/day for a week), but we lowered the dosage too quick ... after 70-80mg/day for a week or so, I tried tapering off at the rate of 10mg every 4 days; at the same time upped my Verapamil dose to 720mg/day until the cycle passed (2 months or so). I then tapered the Verapamil down slowly after that.

The Prednisone was almost worse than the cure for me, I had some nasty side effects but given the alternative, it was worth it. I don't think the Prednisone alone will stop the cycle, it needs to be combined with another preventative like Verapamil. My 2 cents ... I can't say it will work for you, but it worked for me "this time." ;D

Title: Re: Steroids for clusters
Post by Mark C on Apr 30^th, 2003, 6:39pm

A Medrol Dospack (http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS-%20Monographs/CPS-%20(General%20Monographs-%20M)/MEDROL.html) has delayed many cycles for me in the past. The tapering dose works well at first, but like most, for me, tends to be less effective over time.

I took about 10 times that amount for a case of Shingles (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/shingles_doc.htm) not too long ago. I turned into the Incrediable Hulk....I was one ill-tempered son-of a bitch....crazy.

'Roids have been discussed many times on this board, check the archives.

PFDAN's
Mark

Title: Re: Steroids for clusters
Post by Frank on Apr 30^th, 2003, 8:07pm

At the end of my last clcle (in October 2000) I dis predinisone for about ten days. It wasn't a dosepack... just pills. Something like 60, 60, 50, 50, 40, 40 ,30, 30 ,20, 10mg. I'm not sure if it was a coincidence or not, but no more cluster attacks for two years following that.

When I did prednisone again this cycle (in March) ... it seemed to have no effect at all. I didn't even get one day off. ???

Title: Re: Steroids for clusters
Post by Marc on Apr 30^th, 2003, 10:22pm

Hey Frank,

That's weird - I know Verapamil failed you this time - I didn't realize that Pred failed you too!

How high of a Pred dose did you try this time?

Marc

Title: Re: Steroids for clusters
Post by brewcrew on May 1^st, 2003, 1:40pm

I've noticed a few people on the board lately talking about meds that used to work but have since become ineffective. I'm in that boat with the prednisone/verapamil combination right now, although they're not completely ineffective. Where the combo used to knock them out completely, now it seems to keep the bad ones manageable and the manageable ones away.

My neuro wants to put me in the hospital for three days for the IV DHE-45 treatment. I'm thinking that this might be a little drastic, but his nurse has told me that the IV treatment will make meds that are losing their effectiveness become effective again in about 75% of patients. Has anyone else had this experience? I'm wondering if three days in the hospital is going to be worth it when my current situation is pretty manageable.

I'd love to get off the 60mg of prednisone per day....

Title: Re: Steroids for clusters
Post by Frank on May 1^st, 2003, 3:55pm

on 04/30/03 at 22:22:50, Marc wrote:

Hey Frank,

That's weird - I know Verapamil failed you this time - I didn't realize that Pred failed you too!

How high of a Pred dose did you try this time?

Marc

I'm not sure of the dosage this time. It was one of those dosepack boxes I got from a new neurologist. 4mg per tablet, but I forget the number per day, how many days.

Title: Re: Steroids for clusters
Post by Marc on May 1^st, 2003, 8:32pm

Frank - sounds like my trusty old Medrol Dose Pak, always works for me - until it's gone...... The reason I asked was that I've always gotten at least a short break using Pred until the last 6 months.

Brew - Seems like that to me too - lots of folks complaining that their regular meds are failing.....

I've been chronic for about 5 years, but since November I've been getting worse than ever - even after bumping Verapamil up and trying a Medrol dose pak - weird.......