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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Prednisone
        
(Message started by: BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Sep 9^th, 2005, 10:59pm)

Title: Prednisone
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Sep 9^th, 2005, 10:59pm

How do yous take prednisone?
I was at my neuro and he said he would give me the pred, and then as soon as a cycle starts, take it for about 2 weeks and it should break the cycle right there.
Is that what yous guys do?
Yous like that more than the verapimil?
PF wishes
BMonee

Title: Re: Prednisone
Post by LasVegas on Sep 10^th, 2005, 2:21am

Prednisone is to be tapered starting at a high dose such as 80mg and then tapered down over a week or two while the "main prevanative" is in the process of working into your bloodstream. Look around on this site, there are alot of helpful links & some good info on Prednisone, Verapamil and other preventatives for CH's. Good luck!

Title: Re: Prednisone
Post by LeLimey on Sep 10^th, 2005, 6:16am

Hi BMonnee
The idea of a pred taper is to give you a pain break whilst giving other meds (such as verap for instance) the time to kick in. As you know verap takes a couple of weeks to build up in your system and start working well so the pred taper basically covers your back in the meantime.
Read up on Pred, be aware of the side effects, I'm not trying to put you off the idea, more to make you aware of what can happen while you are taking it and the long term potential consequences. As with everything, there are trade offs to be made - PF time V long term potential side effects.. its your choice. I know when I'm gagging in pain I'd take anything but you need to be aware.
Some people here in the UK have also used a steroid break to try and ensure PF time for specific events such as holidays or family weddings. They have all been taking other prevents in the background though.
The danger of doing a steroid taper without the backup is IF - and its a strong IF - the cycle returns as the taper ends you are left with nothing and have to go through the whole building up procedure bare knuckle.

Hope this helps with your decisions
Helen

Title: Re: Prednisone
Post by jmc1106 on Sep 10^th, 2005, 5:15pm

My husband had gone to the doctor and got on Verapamil, 120 mg. A week later we tried another doctor because the first hadn't been very helpful. She told us to double the Verapamil to 240 mg, and we discussed starting Prednisone. We decided maybe the Verapamil would kick in soon, so we didn't bother. A few days later the CHs got much more severe, and so he went ahead and started on Prednisone. I think it was 6 mg for two days, 4 mg for two days, and on down the road. It didn't stop the clusters completely, but I think it did help until the Verapamil finally kicked in. No headaches the last two nights! However, he doesn't sleep very well on the Prednisone, so it is a bit of a tradeoff.

Jan

Title: Re: Prednisone
Post by E-Double on Sep 10^th, 2005, 7:03pm

Jan probably meant 60, 40 etc.

Title: Re: Prednisone
Post by jmc1106 on Sep 11^th, 2005, 8:20pm

Yes, you are right. 60 mg, not 6!!!

Jan