This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

[Michelle]

Does anyone know about taking Solumedrol orally instead of IV? (in addition to CRAB drug) As a monthly 1 g I think. Anyone doing this?

[mscaregiver]

Hi Michelle, perhaps this page will have some info on it that wil be of help to you ..

Solumedrol = methylprednisolone

http://www.albany.net/~tjc/methylprednisolone.html

[susanjones]

I have taken decadron orally on the monthly pulse therapy. It is very inexpensive, I can do it on my schedule and other than one night when I can only sleep for a few hours, I have never had any side effects.

[Nan38]

Michelle, I have been getting Medrol 1 GM IV for the last 5 months. This month my neuro gave me a prescription to buy the Medrol at a pharmacy. I was told to mix the powder (that is normally used IV) with a very sweet juice (such as apricot) as it is extremely bitter. He said the patients he has given it to have noticed no difference between the oral and the IV Medrol. I have yet to try it as he also gave me a prescription for LDN and I am trying that right now.

Good luck. Hope this helps.

Nan

[jicepf]

I took the steroid orally and it was so bitter, it was difficult to swallow even with welch's grape juice (that darn gag reflex). Also, my doc warned me it could be hard on my stomach. I was happy when I got to taper to prednisone. Since then, I've opted for the iv way.

[Cathy]

The "standard of care" for treatment of exacerbations is actually 1 gm of IV solumerol (different that decadron) for 3-5 days. In the first year of my DX I took solumedrol 1 gm IV X 5 day every month for 10 months. The next year, 1 gm IV X 5days for 6 months, although not consecutive months. Just be sure you are on fosamax or actinel, which can reverse glucosteroid osteoporosis. You also need to take calcium 1200 mg in dividied doses withVit D to prevent steroid induced ostoeporsisi. I will try to find the guidelines which document this and post. Hope you are feeling better.

Cathy