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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Starting Prednisone and have a question..
        
(Message started by: JDJ2 on May 27^th, 2004, 12:00pm)

Title: Starting Prednisone and have a question..
Post by JDJ2 on May 27^th, 2004, 12:00pm

Hello everyone,
I went to Neuro, and he wants me to stop the verap as it was not working and he wants me to start Prednisone. I am to take it at 20 mg 3 times a day 60mg a day) for 7, then go down to 2 a day for 2 days then 1 a day for 2 days then 1/2 a day for 2 days. I am just waiting for the hospital to call as they are doing an MRI with contrast.
Anyway my question, I have heard Pred can lower your immune system, I was to start taken it today but I woke with a sore throat, cough and congestion. Should I start taken it or should I wait? I can't call the Neuro as he has left for vacation last night until Tuesday. Has anyone taken it while having a cold?
Also what side effects can I expect from it? Though I know everyone is different. It won't make me too mean to my kids will it? Anyway thank you in advance.. I hate calling the pharmacy as I never get an answer other then what is in the handouts. So I thought I would ask those whom have experienced using it themself. Thanks
Judy

Title: Re: Starting Prednisone and have a question..
Post by 9erfan on May 27^th, 2004, 7:24pm

Judy,

Everyone has a variety of side effects with Prednisone. As far as lowering your immune system, I've never heard that before but I would ask the pharmacist when you pick it up.

I personally hate pred and refuse to go on it ever again (I've had more than my share over the past 19 years). The side effects range from moodiness, increased appetite, increased thirst, moon face, sweatiness, acne breakouts on chest & back, etc. Long term effects can be loss of sight, diabetes, loss of bone density (it's not a nice drug). You will be on it for such a short time, you may not have any of the side effects. Everyone is different.
Please be aware though, it is very possible that pred will stop your current cycle...it's also possible that it will come back as soon as you're done with the pred (very common, sorry). I'm surprised the Dr would stop verap & replace it with pred as one is a preventative and the other is basically an abortive. You still need to be on a preventative for the long term.
Well, good luck. I hope that you experience NO side effects and it works for you the 1st time.
Virginia

Title: Re: Starting Prednisone and have a question..
Post by UN_SOLVED on May 27^th, 2004, 10:01pm

on 05/27/04 at 19:24:26, 9erfan wrote:

As far as lowering your immune system, I've never heard that before

YES. Prednisone WILL lower your immune system. You should avoid sick people, large crowds, and you should try to keep your hands as clean as possible.
As far as starting the drug with a little cold, I think you'll be fine. If it gets worse, contact a doctor.
DO NOT stop taking the Prednisone once you start without consulting a doctor. Your immune systme needs the tapering period time to recover and build back up.
Side effects can vary but include: weight gain, facial 'puffiness', heartburn / indegestion, feeling of euphoria.
You may want to consider something to protect your stomach (like Nexium or Prevacid). Again, ask a doctor if this may be necessary.

Best wishes
Unsolved

Title: Re: Starting Prednisone and have a question..
Post by pamstroud on May 28^th, 2004, 12:25am

on 05/27/04 at 12:00:44, JDJ2 wrote:

Maybe that will work, and I hope so. Prednisone was the one thing, pre-Imitrex that did stop the headaches for me, but also the one thing that I considered even more unendurable than the headaches, if you can imagine that (my headaches all seem to be 10s, or else I am just a huge weenie). My experience: I had to take 100 mg to stop the headaches; if I dropped down even to 80mg. the headaches broke through; I developed a moon shaped face; I grew a beard; my periods stopped; and I went insane. The episode lasted longer than usual, too. Not everyone has such a horrible experience. I *would* try it again, but only as a transitional thing, to briefly suppress the headaches while something else less toxic was kicking in. But everyone is different and it's worth a try -- if it starts going south for you at leas there are alternatives for you now, as there were not for me back then in the Olden Dayes.

Title: Re: Starting Prednisone and have a question..
Post by Dave_W on May 28^th, 2004, 5:08pm

Hi Judy,

There's good advice above. I had a bad year once where pred was the only answer and the doc let me continue it for several bursts, then a month at 80 mg until my cycle broke. I didn't get sick but I was advised about the lowered immune system response. What I did get was about 60 new pounds. I ate everything that couldn't outrun me (the stuff they sell at the Taco Bell, by the way, is very easy prey). It wasn't just fat either -- five years later I'm slim and trim but I wear a 48 coat instead of 44 like I used to. 17-1/2 shirts instead of 16. I'm a bigger guy, but we're not supposed to have growth spurts in our 40's, are we?

Tapering off is very, very important. Not tapering can be very painful in my experience. Like, every muscle and piece of connective tissue in my body was inflamed. I had to jump back on the medicine and wean.

Hope it helps you out!

Pain free days,

Old Dave

Title: Re: Starting Prednisone and have a question..
Post by don on Jun 6^th, 2004, 7:31pm

I will use prednisone each and every cycle. Stops em dead. BUT. If I dont have a good preventative working at the same time the cycle continues when I get to the lower doses of the pred. Without a preventative I wouldn't even bother.

Title: Re: Starting Prednisone and have a question..
Post by Gator on Jun 10^th, 2004, 3:11pm

I agree with the above. I can see pulling the verap if it wasn't working, but why didn't he move on to a different prevent? The pred can stop the pain temporarily, but is supposed to be a stopgap measure until the new preventative has time to kick in.

For me, I had constant shadows (level 2 or 3) 24/7 and was getting attacked 5 or more times a day. The pred knocked out the background stuff and now I only get hit 3 - 5 times a day. Verapamil did nothing for me that I could tell. I took 240mg SR and then 480mg. The neuro decided I should stop taking it all together since there was no noticeable change in the headache behavior. I go back on 6/24 for him to try something else on me.

Gator
Human Guinea Pig

Title: Re: Starting Prednisone and have a question..
Post by TxBasslady on Jun 11^th, 2004, 1:17am

Hi Judy,

I went on a Prednisone taper, and it stopped my CH the first day.

I was on 60 a day, like you. My taper was 12 days.

I had no side effects while taking the Prednisone, but did have an effect when the taper ended. Kinda like a panic attack....or anxiety attack. However, this only lasted a few hours.

Went 197 days total PF. Day 198, the CH did come back.....not bad hits....maybe a 6 or 7 on the Kip scale. I started on the Melatonin.....been PF ever since.

Unfortunately, CH affects us differently. The meds taken by one does not work for another (in alot of folks).

You're taking a 13 day taper. Hopefully, you won't suffer any side effects.

Let us know how things work out for you.

PF vibes,

Jean