Posted by Dave W (12.10.85.65) on July 26, 1999 at 09:59:18:
In Reply to: RE: Another Fix posted by A Dame on July 26, 1999 at 09:45:53:
Dame,
My only prednisone side effect is hunger, and the associated weight gain. It's not too bad, though (my God I'm hungry) because I still have a pretty high metabolism. I've gained about 15 pounds in six weeks, making me about 205 (I'm 6'-3" so most people say I look healthier -- hah!).
My dosage has been 80 mg/day (I take half at night and half in the morning, both with food as if that would be a problem). I do the 80/day for two weeks, then 40/day for three days, then 20/day for three days, then off. Hasn't broken my cycle this year, but I'm on my third (and last) round and have started verapamil (480 mg/day) to see if it helps when the prednisone taper is done. Keep your fingers crossed for me, they've been worse this year. Good news is that the 80 mg/day dose produces pain free days!
Past successes have been Sansert 4 mg/day (worked three years in a row), lithium 1200 mg/day (worked two years, absolutely no side effects at that dose). The rest of my annual cycles have been battles, getting by with imitrex, oxygen, maxalt, zomig, midrin, and lots of scalding hot showers.
The weirdness is that the drug that prevented them last year probably won't do its job this year, but it might next year. It's an experiment each time the cycle starts. I'll always start with lithium since it's the least dangerous and most cost-effective, then go to sansert (no side effects but $$$), then prednisone/verapamil (verapamil hasn't worked for me yet but I'm hopeful this year).
I'm a 20-year veteran, by the way, and I have had my share of multiple-10 days. With all the work being started, maybe there will be a sure-thing cure before I can claim to be a 30-year veteran!!
Have a PFD for me!
Dave