Solumedrol prednisone taper
Common Questions and Answers about Solumedrol prednisone taper
solumedrol
I am having my first of three solumedrol infusions today and it's been a while. Does anyone how long it takes for the steroids to level off in your system and how long they stay there?
I was told just recently that the medicine of the steroids (both solumedrol & prednisone) leave your body within a day or two...but the effects of the medicine can last weeks.
I had my first IV steroid/prednisone taper at the end of April. I'm now on my second. My main issue has been sleep. I tend to sleep 5 hours at the most, then pop awake. And of course, 2-3 hours after that I'm exhausted...but usually there is no chance for a nap.
I am wondering what kind of results has anyone had from the prednisone and how soon you may have noticed a difference. My biggest problems have been the shocking pains, tickling skin, and numbness in my hands. The numbness in my hands doesn't feel so bad as it did earlier today, usually it feels as if the circulation is being cut off or tightness.
Thank you in advance!
m on a daily dose of prednisone...I too was on 5 day IV sol/medrol and then started on a tapering dose of prednisone but I started at 70mg for two weeks then 60mgs for two weeks.etc .....tapering dose I'm finally on the 10mg a day..really I think when I was on the 70mg my symptoms where still there but not as frequent ..so the lower I got the more my "daily friends" would appear....lol..
Hi all - Curious if anyone has experienced problems with erratic bms while taking IVSM and prednisone? Finished my 5 day IV and now on day 3 of prednisone taper. The first 3 days I couldn't go at all now I'm going 3-4 times a day.
Unfortunately this is causing my nether-regions a bit of discomfort and anxiety on my part not knowing which potty break will be a controlled action or surprise attack!!
Consider that IVSM (Intravenous Solumedrol), the infused version of prednisone, is typically given as 1000mg/day for 3-5 days. The oral equivalent would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 1250mg/day.
If you believe your symptoms are being caused by the reduces steroid dose, then as Karry said, I would speak with the prescribing doc.
Hi Everyone
I start on my IV treatment for 5 days this Thursday, with 500mg of Solumedrol, I am worried about it, can anyone tell me what side affects i may experience, and how to prepare for it, and can i go to work right after the Treatment,
thanks
Tyler
I have vasculitis and was in the hospital on 150 mg IV Solumedrol for 1 week and have been on 80mg a day since Oct. 6th. I have the abd bloating, moon face and hump neck and shoulders. I know it is the side effects but was wondering if anyone has any ideas for relief of it. My back hurts as well I do use a heating pad on it and sometimes it helps but the neck, shoulders, and stomach are so uncomfortable. Does anyone do anything that helps with this?
Update, so as I had assumed my neuro had me go in for a 3-day Solumedrol treatment; I'm now on the 15-day Prednisone taper. My symptoms have alleviated; however still dealing with the odd sensation in my leg. The steroids have caused more sleep deprivation than the MS. As soon as I lay down, completely exhausted, I find my brain won't turn off.
I am currently being treated with 1 gm Solumedrol once/month. I had a three day course last spring and felt AWFUL afterwards. I did eventually feel a bit better overall, so maybe it was worth it. Even the one day dose makes me feel pretty lousy. My sx actually seem to get worse for a few days afterward!
I'm not dx, but symptomatically fit the diagnostic criteria (we'll see what the 3T MRI has to say...
I was given prednisone after I left the hospital and for those 2 weeks I still felt okay but not great, could not sleep and really looked like he_ _ as I developed racoon like eyes (they looked like I had tried to apply red eye shadow around my eyes (this was from the prednisone not lack of sleep). After I got off the prednisone it took about a week for me to actually not look ill. Steroids can also affects the regularity of the monthly visitor.
(I am also on Plaqueinil, which will enable me to lessen prednisone as well, but it takes up to a few months to really kick in). Our next step is to taper the prednisone, and ADD a DMARD (in this case Imuran). These drugs are also called "steroid sparing drugs" as if they are on board, you can go down to a lower dose of prednisone.
As for side effects, this is what Im going thru right now: Yes, I am PUFFY!!
i have a PICC line as I have been going through a 2 mnth relapse with my MS and I finally gave in and went to the hospital....of course it is solumedrol pumping through it but its way different than when I had an IV port last year...question though; I feel so dizzy and have feelings l want to pass out at times even though I don't pass out. is it because of the PICC with solumedrol that is giving me a different experience?
Good point, Penina. I had always assumed they were equivalent, so I decided to check this out, at
http://www.globalrph.com/steroid.cgi
This site has a corticosteroid equivalency converter (and maybe other interesting stuff I haven't looked at yet). The results:
1000 mg of Prednisone = 800 mg of Methylprednisolone, which is IV Solumedrol. If just considering Prednisolone, it's the same dosage as Prednisone, so I guess the Methyl in the IV makes the difference.
This would be equiv to 15mg prednisone. Used for 3 days, no taper. Got rid/reduced deep muscle pain, torticollis, paresthesias (whole body), MS hug, headache, and some motor control issues. I weigh 100lbs.
I don't like high-dose or extended treatment with corticosteroids. Had to have a hip replacement due to avascular necrosis caused by steroidal treatment. Also side effects like becoming hypomanic, moon face, osteoporosis, etc. I basically have a love-hate relationship with steroids.
Did his doctor give him a prednisone taper, that is steroids in pill form to take for a week or two after the solu-medrol was over? If not and he is still having the sweating, you guys might want to let the doctor know about it. I'm not sure if that is normal or not, but it won't hurt double checking to see. I hope he can get back to normal soon. The steroids are supposed to help him do just that. Please let us know how he is doing. Take good care, both of you.
My job is very demanding and I could not get away to see my neuro, so instead went to an urgent care where they prescribed me a medrol dose pak (21 tabs, 4 mg a piece) followed by an oral prednisone taper. I know this is probably not enough to make a dent in the exacperation, but can't take off an entire day to go to neuro and check into a hospital for the IV medrol. Are there any other options to manage this? Could my oral medrol pak be suffient?
thanks!
I was admitted into the hospital for infusion, 2 days of 325 mg solumedrol and 3 days of 1000 mg solumedrol. I was then discharged on another 4 week oral schedule of prednisone of which I'm on week one, 60 mg/day.
This second time, the infusion saved my right ear. Or seems to have, so far. It has done nothing for the headache though. After my first Abomb (1000 mg dose), my headache initially did ease up, but not go away. However, it hasn't eased up at all since that one time.
To help with sudden and severe balance problems, and leg weakness in January, I had the mega dose oral steroids for 3 days followed by the taper off. That didn't help, so I had the 3 day mega dose IV solumedrol. I did not do the tapering off pills, because I was having a reaction to the medicine. Since the end of February my ankles are swollen everyday, all day. I asked my neurologist, and she said it is a side effect of the solumedrol. Any one else experience this.....
What is the effect of sudden discontinuation of steroid pill prednisone 20 mg per day tablet after taking it for 4-5 months.
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