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FaithS · 09-29-2011, 06:30 PM

I'm surprised to see so many people recommending oral steroids, rather than IV. IV seems to be the more standard way to do things, if you are taking a high dose (1000 mg). I think the biggest plus over oral is that oral steroids are much more likely to cause stomach problems (acid reflux/GERD). Another problem with oral steroids is taking twenty bitter-tasting 50mg pills every day.

Both IV's and oral seem to cause sleeplessness for me. My doctor also rx's a sleeping pill (Trazedone) to help me sleep when I'm on steroids (either IV or oral). Without them, I may only get 20 minutes of sleep in a 24-hour period.

I prefer oral, too, like many of the other posters. For the following reasons:
- I first started taking oral because a 5 day IV usually needed to be replaced after 3 days. My veins are difficult to find and access. One is fairly easy, but, finding a second is tough. The time that it took 2 competent nurses two hours and 6 pokes to find a vein for an IV was the last time I had one.
- Cost is much less.
- Much more convenient; can just take some pills at home, rather than going in to have the IV done in the Dr's office or an outpatient clinic.

The first time my physician ordered 5 days of 1000mg of oral prednizone, the pharmaicst called his office to confirm that the rx was accurate. He'd never seen a rx that high for an oral steroid.

~ Faith