Help! Starting oral prednisone 1000mg
 

This is my first time posting in the forum. I am desperately seeking advice. I am beginning the 1000mg prednisone regime. Dose is 500mg x2 daily. I am looking for advice as to when is the best time to take to avoid adverse effects. What to expect. I am very nervous as I have read some of the posts. Please all tips and advice are greatly appreciated. I have MS and am in the middle if a flare, specificAlly diagnosed with optic neuritis. I have just started a new job and ideally would like to begin the regime Friday am in order to complete the treatment over the weekend. Advice and tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

Hi Angela
 

My cousin has MS. I know just a little bit about it. Were any other treatments for your flare up talked about? Any other options at all?Can the flare go down with no treatment? Have you gotten other opinions from another MS doctor? I know you most likely like your current physician, but I think I would seek the other opinion before the steroids. Can they do it at a much lower and slower dose?
I hate to think of you on that much med. That particular medication is so hard on a person. I took enough of it to know, and I wouldn't want my friend to have to endure it.
I will be thinking about you, and hoping that whatever option you wind up with helps you the most. ginnie:grouphug:

Hi Angela and welcome to NeuroTalk.

Is this your first bout of ON? Have you ever done IV Solumedrol for MS flares? I'm just wondering why your doctor chose the pill form. Is your doctor a Neurologist or just your PCP?

Sorry for all the questions but we need to know a little more before offering suggestions or advice.

I have had ON a couple of times and have just rode it out without any medication. But I don't work so that is a big reason I just waited it out.

Are you taking any of the DMD's?

Hi Angela and welcome to NeuroTalk,:hug:

So sorry for your MS diagnosis. I hope that the steroids help to stop your
flare and you return to normal soon. Never heard of 500mg twice a day,
And I suggest a predizone taper at the end of your therapy.

Is this IV solumedrol? It's usually the whole 1000mg given slowly once
a day for 3 to 5 days. Are you doing this in the Hospital or at home?

Drink lots of water and have a banana(potassium) and maybe a mint for
the yucky taste in your mouth. My Doc gave me a little Valium to ease
the side effects of the steroids.

Don't use steroids too often, only if badly needed, as it is hard on your
body.

Stay with us and let us know how you're doing.:grouphug:

I was last on IV Solumedrol 3 years ago, but for this flare I lost vision and my Neuro Opthemologist prescribed the oral regime. I started a new job today and do not want to start until Friday. I am very concerned about effects.

Prednisone advice....
 

Any advice that you have would be so greatly appreciate...please tell me what to expect when taking the 1000mg per day dose and possible ways to avoid the side effect.

Hello Angela and welcome to NeuroTalk :)

Unfortunately, there is no best time to avoid the side effects of steroids :(

Your past experience with steroids could be similar to what you may or may not experience.

Sadly, the effects of steroids can stay in your system for a while so even if you start them Friday you could possibly experience the side effects into your work week :(

Take care and best wishes.

Is this just a short term dose? like a few days or so?

Yes a 3 day course of 1000mg per day then 80mg per day for 7 days

Was this prescribed by a neurologist that is familiar with your MS?

[QUOTE=Kitty;1095521]Was this prescribed by a neurologist that is familiar with your MS?[/QUOTE

It was prescribed by a neuro opthemologist in consult with my GP

1,000 mg orally may be a little rough on your stomach. Before starting, check with your neurologist. He/she may want you to do the steroids IV versus orally. If you decide to do the oral route, make sure you take it with a full meal. Also, if you feel any irritation in your stomach, contact your dr. I was in a study once and had to take 1,000 mg orally broken in to 2 doses. Of course, the study did say if I got placebo or steroids but based on my reaction on the months I took them, I had the steroids. I don't know how they could get a placebo to give you the beautiful moonface that steroids do as well as the swelling and upset stomach.

Mints, lemon drops, and lots and lots of fluid help with the taste of the steroids.

If you decide to do it over the weekend and IV, there are options such as home health coming and starting the IV and/or going to a hospital and having them do it there. I have done it both ways but since I react horribly to steroids, I only will do them at the hospital/infusion center/chemotherapy center.

Again, check with your neurologist and see if this is what he recommends as well. IV delivers the meds much quicker than orally and since you are experiencing ON, I would think that would be better as it is my understanding that the quicker you start the steroids, the better the results.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.:hug::hug:

Thank you for the response. I am so nervous to start this dose. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Short course, you should be ok, just don't let them keep you on oral for long course therapy. That's dangerous. -- MS since 1989