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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Fresh Research - pred/pred as a preventative
        
(Message started by: floridian on Jan 13^th, 2004, 4:35pm)

Title: Fresh Research - pred/pred as a preventative
Post by floridian on Jan 13^th, 2004, 4:35pm

My take - The experimental treatment consisted of large injected doses of methylprednisolone on 3 consecutive days, followed by tablets of a different (but related) steroid at a lower dose with a taper down (decreasing dose of the oral steroid) 4 weeks total. The researchers claim this treatment is better than "the usual prophylactic treatments for episodic cluster headache" - but atleast in the abstract, they didn't say how effective it was, or what it was compared to.

Quote:

Neurol Sci. ; 24(5): 318-21.
Prophylactic treatment of episodic cluster headache with intravenous bolus of methylprednisolone. Mir P, Alberca R, Navarro A, Montes E, Martinez E, Franco E, Cayuela A, Lozano P.

We evaluated the efficacy of intravenous boluses of methylprednisolone followed by prednisone as a prophylactic treatment for episodic cluster headache. Fourteen male patients (mean age, 42.54 years) with episodic cluster headache were treated with 250-mg boluses of methylprednisolone on 3 consecutive days, followed by prednisone (90 mg/day orally) with gradual tapering in four weeks. Headache parameters of the active phases treated with methylprednisolone were compared with those of previous active phases in the same patients treated with other prophylactic medications. The primary efficacy criterion was decrease in the frequency of attacks during the first month of treatment. The statistical differences were calculated using Wilcoxon's test. The attacks were significantly less frequent in the active phases treated with methylprednisolone boluses than those treated with other medications ( p<0.05). This treatment seems to be more effective than the usual prophylactic treatments for episodic cluster headache.

Title: Re: Fresh Research - prednisone as a preventative
Post by CJohnson on Jan 13^th, 2004, 4:42pm

When was this published?

PFDANs
-Curtis

Title: Re: Fresh Research - prednisone as a preventative
Post by floridian on Jan 13^th, 2004, 4:43pm

Neurol Sci. 2003 Dec; 24(5): 318-21.

Sorry, the list of abstracts had the date, but the Pubmed abstract itself has a typo.

Title: Re: Fresh Research - pred/pred as a preventative
Post by CJohnson on Jan 13^th, 2004, 4:58pm

Fresh out of the oven... I wonder if the 3 days of intravenous methylprednisolone consisted of an out-patient "flu-shot" type procedure or an in-patient IV type thing.

PFDANs
-Curtis

Title: Re: Fresh Research - pred/pred as a preventative
Post by Pinkfloyd on Jan 15^th, 2004, 2:11pm

I have no doubt that this would show a marked decrease in cluster activity in the first month of treatment, since it was a 4 week taper beginning at a very high dose of prednisone. Nothing new about prednisone decreasing cluster activity.

If you're going to use this treatment for every cycle, I'd suggest beginning to also look up some abstracts on AVN. You'll probably want to have some basic information on it before you go in for your hip replacements. :-/

Not knocking the messenger. Glad you posted the info, JMHO.

PF

Title: Re: Fresh Research - pred/pred as a preventative
Post by CJohnson on Jan 15^th, 2004, 2:29pm

AVN - Avascular necrosis - Bone Death

Avascular necrosis is a disease resultingfrom the temporary or permanent loss of the blood supply to the bones.

Prolonged use of high doses of prednisone has been linked to AVN.

A google search using the words prednisone and avascular necrosis will yield many results. Then again, prolonged use of high doses of imitrex has been linked to heart problems. A google search will yield many results. There seem to be not very many effective CH treatments that are without potententially harmful effects to our bodies.

There might be one or two though...

PFDANs
-Curtis

Title: Re: Fresh Research - pred/pred as a preventative
Post by floridian on Jan 15^th, 2004, 4:12pm

Quote:

Not knocking the messenger. Glad you posted the info, JMHO.

Yup, I just post it with my impressions and a translation closer to everday English. I'm not recommending everything (or anything) in the "Fresh Research" posts - just letting people know what research is being done.

AVN - just heard about that related to SARS. In China, massive doses of steroids were given, and AVN followed in its wake. No AVN in Canada, as the steroids were more moderately administered. Then there's avian flu popping up in Vietnam. Spooky. Not directly relevant, but one good source of info if you are interested in SARS is: http://discuss.agonist.org/yabbse/index.php?board=6