[jowen214]

I've noticed that after each dose has had time to get into my system, I get a headache (bad enough to take some ibuprofen) and a feeling of pressure on my upper chest and upper back.

Has anyone had this experience with a medrol dose pack before? I've got an email out to my neuro's nurse, but I thought I'd see if anyone here had had this happen.


I can not take IV steroids due to a reaction the last time we tried it. Within seconds of the drip being opened, I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest, broke out in a clammy sweat, and almost passed out (my vision was getting dark around the edges!). Since that happened, we've been using a medrol dose pack. I just hope I don't have some strange reaction to this oral steroid b/c not only do I take it for a relapse, I sometimes have to take it for respiratory infections.

[tkrik]

I don't have any advice for you. Just wanted to give you a and hoping that you feel better soon.

[Debbie D]

Yes, I always get a huge headache...and chest heaviness...sometimes feel like I'm going to explode...hope you're discussing this with your doctor...and take care...

[jowen214]

Thanks! My neuro's office did call back and discuss it with me. Told me it was normal unless I started having trouble breathing or very rapid hearbeat. So far, none of that!

Ack, now it's the sweating!!! I'm seriously thinking about going upstairs to turn on the air conditioning. (that darn futon is so uncomfortable, or I'd already be up there cooling off). If I were here by myself and wouldn't freeze DH and DD out, I'd turn the air on downstairs. I'm sure next week that I'll look 14 again...and not in a good way...what with the massive breakout that's sure to come.

[Lady]

Jennifer, how are you feeling today? I have done the Medrol pack and it seemed to help when I needed it. If you don't get relief you may need more days on it. Always call you doctor if something doesn't feel right. I hope you feel better soon.

If you get a headache it may be from the dilation of your blood vessels. I used to get red on the chest and sometimes on the face, as blood vessels dilate. Also the upper back thing too. I think it affects the Adrenal glands for a while. It goes away when your dosage is done or after a week or so.

[jowen214]

Thanks, Lady! I'm still feeling pretty funky. I took my last tablet this morning. At least I did get some sleep that last couple of nights. As a matter of fact, that's all I want/feel like doing today. I'm sure my DH and DD were wishing I would have slept the day away this weekend when they were home since I was, as DD put it, "grouchy"!

I'm supposed to go apply for SSD (needed to last week but didn't feel it was safe to drive that far) and am hoping that I'm able to. (My disability insurance requires me to do this from time to time so they'll know if they need to continue paying me the soc. sec. benefit rider.) My husband teaches and can't take off work b/c the other man who can teach those same computer classes is out b/c of cancer. All of our family lives out of town and they all work. All my friends work. Argh!!!

Okay, complaint time over. Thanks again for asking about me!

Originally Posted by Lady

Jennifer, how are you feeling today? I have done the Medrol pack and it seemed to help when I needed it. If you don't get relief you may need more days on it. Always call you doctor if something doesn't feel right. I hope you feel better soon.

If you get a headache it may be from the dilation of your blood vessels. I used to get red on the chest and sometimes on the face, as blood vessels dilate. Also the upper back thing too. I think it affects the Adrenal glands for a while. It goes away when your dosage is done or after a week or so.

[0357]

Your drug didn't help my MS attack. Too, steroids did nothing for my MS attack either. In time, I was prescribed ACTH for 7 days (intramuscular shots). It immediately made my MS settle down and I felt 100% better both physically & emotionally.

You want to take Calcium w/vit. D every day while on this drug. Zantac 30 minutes before your shot to protect your stomach. You keep ACTH refrigerated; sat out 30 minutes to warm before your shot. ACTH is gotten through NORDS and will be shipped to your pharmacy 'if' memory serves me correctly. I had no bad side effects from this drug.

You can go to the National MS Society's main site and search ACTH. Go to their 'glossary' and look for the definition of ACTH.

ACTH does not slow MS but does lift your attack. It was often given in the 1980s.

Take care.