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Kim D

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Nashville, TN
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When prednisone stops working...
Apr 24^th, 2011 at 11:42pm

What does that mean? I started getting my headaches 9 days ago, first headache I took 80mg of prednisone and still on 80mg (2 days later) I had another headache. There has only been one day that I haven't had a headache and today (I'm down to 40mg a day) I've had two headaches.

And to think that prednisone used to keep them away, even at 10mg a day.

What does this mean? Why???? Sad

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Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1.

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Mike NZ CH.com Hall of Famer Offline Oxygen rocks! D3 too! Posts: 3785 Auckland, New Zealand Gender:	Re: When prednisone stops working... Reply #1 - Apr 25^th, 2011 at 12:32am How CHs impact us and what drugs are effective against them can change over time. Are you using another preventive, like verapamil, lithium or topomax? Normally the prednisione taper is used as a preventive whilst you build up to an effective dose on a longer term preventive.
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Bob Johnson CH.com Alumnus Offline "Only the educated are free." -Epictetus Posts: 5965 Kennett Square, PA (USA) Gender:	Re: When prednisone stops working... Reply #2 - Apr 25^th, 2011 at 7:08am Report this to your doc. Generally, the response is to start over again but at a higher starting dose, likely 100mg fo you.
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wimsey1 CH.com Alumnus Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 2457 MA Gender:	Re: When prednisone stops working... Reply #3 - Apr 25^th, 2011 at 7:42am I had the same experience with prednisone. Sad but true. Not sure how CHs develop a resistance to meds we take but it seems they can. I echo what Bob said above. Talk to your doc and see if you can start over again at a higher rate before you run this Rx out. Good luck and God bless. lance
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chrisw CH.com Old Timer Offline Posts: 315 x0\|turnersville\|NJ,USA Gender:	Re: When prednisone stops working... Reply #4 - Apr 25^th, 2011 at 1:15pm CH is like a snake that can find its way around anything you throw up as an obstacle. Its slithering around trying to find an opening, and eventually it does. something that stopped it in its tracks before wont work anymore etc. Nothing works forever, even if it worked great before! I know its depressing
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Kim D CH.com Junior Offline Posts: 77 Nashville, TN Gender:	Re: When prednisone stops working... Reply #5 - Apr 25^th, 2011 at 5:35pm I've tried combos of verapamil, depakote, lithium, topamax, etc. Nothing worked... My doctor prescribed me prednisone for temporary relief. Oh well. I'm going to try the D3 and Fish oil.
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Bob Johnson

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"Only the educated are
free." -Epictetus

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Kennett Square, PA (USA)
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Re: When prednisone stops working...
Reply #6 - Apr 26^th, 2011 at 8:03am

Kim: Please start over again. We don't have sufficient information to respond to your situation.

Read: Please tell us where you live. Follow the next line to a message which explains why knowing your location and history will help us to help you.

Cluster Headache Help and Support › Getting to Know Ya › Newbies, Help us...help you

You can add your location by editing your profile. CP Member --> profile

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Bob Johnson

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Joshl924

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Re: When prednisone stops working...
Reply #7 - Apr 30^th, 2011 at 3:02pm

prednisone wil take a few days to start working (I was told) taper or not... My first taper was a 10 day 100mg... Im now on my second one (a month or so later) and its less. You should have begun it with a preventative like verapmil which is something I didnt do my first time.

that being said... I hate that the only medicine that has really really helped is something very bad for me.

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Brew

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Re: When prednisone stops working...
Reply #8 - Apr 30^th, 2011 at 8:07pm

For most CH sufferers, prednisone (at a high enough dosage at the beginning of the taper) starts working within 6-12 hours. That dosage usually depends on your body weight.

When I used to do prednisone tapers, I'd start at 80mg for three days, then taper by 10mg per day. I'd start the verapamil/lithium combo at the same time as the prednisone.

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"I have been asked if I have changed in these past 25 years. No, I am the same. Only more so." --Ayn Rand

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Joshl924 CH.com Junior Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 84	Re: When prednisone stops working... Reply #9 - May 1^st, 2011 at 3:49pm so...... How long can we really take prednisone for... I know its way bad for you, but Im sort of at that point where I need to be ok until late July... then I can go off everything for a while
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Mike NZ CH.com Hall of Famer Offline Oxygen rocks! D3 too! Posts: 3785 Auckland, New Zealand Gender:	Re: When prednisone stops working... Reply #10 - May 2^nd, 2011 at 4:47am Almost four months is a long time to be on steroids. However this is something you need to discuss with your doctor and your pharmacist to balance the side effects with the benefits.
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