Prednisone, best thing since sliced bread or sex (well almost)

[Jack-of-all-trades]

Five days ago I was put a a long tapering does of Prednisone, a corticosteroid and not the muscle building kind, for treatment of Muscular Sclerosis starting at 200 mg a day for 5 days. First time in years some joint didn't hurt some where and it is glorious!! It took 3 days via p.o. route to fully kick in. -It really puts you in the mood to go outside and work and stuff. I fear it will all turn back into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight the day the steroid wears off. But i'm riding the wave as long as I can.

I think it would be supportive to put people on shoot courses of steroids for spine conditions from time to time, not 200 mg a day but something more like 60 mg tapered over a week to ten days. I know it isn't preferred long term due to stuff like asceptic necrosis of the hip, not to mention looking like the bell ringer in the tower of London.

[jss]

Mike, that is great news, and I'm glad that it's working for you!

My understanding is that prednisone and methylprednisolone are the strongest anti-inflammatory drugs currently at our disposal. How long will you be able to take it?

[Justin]

Five days ago I was put a a long tapering does of Prednisone, a corticosteroid and not the muscle building kind, for treatment of Muscular Sclerosis starting at 200 mg a day for 5 days. First time in years some joint didn't hurt some where and it is glorious!! It took 3 days via p.o. route to fully kick in. -It really puts you in the mood to go outside and work and stuff. I fear it will all turn back into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight the day the steroid wears off. But i'm riding the wave as long as I can.

Prednisone is a great drug. Too bad it's chalked full of side effects, especially long-term. However, it is used in conditions such as yours with great success. The clarity does feel great doesn't it?

I think it would be supportive to put people on shoot courses of steroids for spine conditions from time to time, not 200 mg a day but something more like 60 mg tapered over a week to ten days. I know it isn't preferred long term due to stuff like asceptic necrosis of the hip, not to mention looking like the bell ringer in the tower of London.

The prednisone dose packs are only 10mg and are very effective. 60mg tapered over a week would be more for a severe COPD exacerbation.

[Jack-of-all-trades]

Prednisone is a great drug. Too bad it's chalked full of side effects, especially long-term. However, it is used in conditions such as yours with great success. The clarity does feel great doesn't it?



The prednisone dose packs are only 10mg and are very effective. 60mg tapered over a week would be more for a severe COPD exacerbation.

Justin,

I think we are talking about the same thing. My understanding is the dose packs started with 6-10s, then 5-10s, then 4-10s, then 3-10s then 2-10, then 1-10. We would usually Rx lose pills instead of the actual dose pack as they were a lot less expensive with people you know wound take meds like they were suppose to. Writing all the instructions out under "Sig:" for each days dose was kind of long too. Dose paks, when they came out saved everyone time and money except who ever paid for them.

This is the kind of arrangement I was talking about only this is made up of 5s. It is my mistake, I should have specified tablet dose instead of total start dose.
http://www.healthcentral.com/common/...1_151196_5.JPG

[Jack-of-all-trades]

Mike, that is great news, and I'm glad that it's working for you!

My understanding is that prednisone and methylprednisolone are the strongest anti-inflammatory drugs currently at our disposal. How long will you be able to take it?

Not very long I hope. It causes adrenal axis suppression and can lead to symptoms of Addison’s disease if taken long term. For what I’m on, it would be dangerous to skip many doses or stop early leading to Addison crisis.

A lot of scary side effects long term as well. Diabetes, ulcers, Aseptic necrosis of hips and need hip replacement, cataracts, Round moon face, Buffalo hump on back. I was working in the VA hospital system once. Had an older Korean war vet who was on Prednisone for a shoulder injury, I don't remember how long he was taking it but it had to be a long time. Over a period of time his shoulder started swelling. Did a tap and it was pure bacteria pus. I&D got out a good cup full of pus out of the joint capsule. The thing is his body didn't mount any type of immune response due to the Prednisone. He didn't even have a fever.

Right now my biggest problem is food. If it’s not red hot or nailed down, I’m trying to stuff it in my mouth. Not a good time with all the Christmas goodies. Prednisone also causes a lot of fluid and sodium retention. Go from drinking water a quart at a time to peeing like a cow on a flat rock.

The dose I'm on is the longest and highest I have ever heard of anyone being on Prednisone as far as what is called a "short course". After 5 days of 200 mg a day, I made my first step down to 100 mg a day yesterday. About another 10 days or so to be finished.

[KBear]

Glad the prednisone is working for you. I'm sure it feels great to have some of yourself back. Hope the effects linger long after you are done taking the medication.

[Gilbert P]

Hi Jack

I have taken many dose packs over the years 11 or more I lost count sometimes great relief.

I am wondering what is the long term effect? I also read some time ago that it may cause tissue damage?

Have a good ride

Gil

[Moni]

Hi Jack...are you still using this stuff??
Have you researched pregnenolone at all?? Apparently it can give similar relief without all the crazy side effects. Matter of fact it supports fatigued adrenals which I think we probably all have with the constant pain of messed up spines...............
There have been some write ups on it being useful for severe spinal damage recovery....
I just googled it and was amazed at the stuff that came up...It's not pushed much because it is not a pharmaceutical....The cortisone and steroids ( with the scarey side effects) are prescribed but this stuff can be bought at health food stores...
I'm talking with my dr about it tomorrow.....can't hurt any more than the constant opiods I figure.
mg

[Katie]

Moni, that's interesting stuff! And it's so good to 'see' you again!

Jack, that's a heck of a dose, but I'm so glad to hear that you have some relief...sort of your own little kind of Viagra...sorry, couldn't resist after your title

I was put on 100 mg for over a week, if I remember correctly, for a massive dose of poison ivy after accidentally clearing out a big patch in my bathing suit when we bought this property. Other than like you wanting to devour everything in sight, I have to say that our house has never been cleaner....the energy level was pretty great, but not the accompanying jitters.

A dear friend of mine can not tolerate it; it makes her manic on even smaller doses. She has a progressive lung disease that will soon have her on oxygen, and she said that she would rather suffer that than the Prednisone.

Good luck with it. It sounds like you are having better luck .

[Moni]

Moni, that's interesting stuff! And it's so good to 'see' you again!

Hey Katie Sue!Good to be back in the loop a bit...its been a "rough" winter.....

Jack, that's a heck of a dose, but I'm so glad to hear that you have some relief...sort of your own little kind of Viagra...sorry, couldn't resist after your title

I smile at this too....

for a massive dose of poison ivy after accidentally clearing out a big patch in my bathing suit when we bought this property.

I am picturing poison ivy clearing in a bathing suit!!!hmmmmmmmm......