This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I want to know about how many people have taken the oral preds after IV solumedrol. I thought it was standard, must be, practice to wean you off the cortisone. We have a friend that is coming home without the preds and seems to be in an endless cycle of attacks. Would love to hear what others have taken.

Hi
I have never heard of sending someone home without a tapering dose of prednisone after high dose steroids. They would have to do so because important hormones might not be produced since the body is not used to producing it itself when steroids are given. I am not sure if they may have tapered her Solumedral in the hospital??? Can you find out?

sh8un gives good advice. Would definitely try to find out.

Was recently informed at one of the John Hopkins hospitals, that Prednisone is no longer routinely prescribed for MS.

I went thru two rounds of solumedrol IVs, at home, without prednisone taper. My neurologist, who claims that he has successfully treated MS patients for 30 years, doesn't prescribe it. He says because of the osteoporis/bone damge risk if people become dependant on it.

Instead, he routinely prescribes Xanax and Lexapro. Took the Xanax, but refuse to start up on Lexapro. So, my experience was very severe mood swings, from the most ecstatic high feelings, I ever had; to crying harder and longer than I have ever cried in my life. But, knowing that it was because of the steroid withdrawal, I didn't give in to the depression, in spite of tears.

These effects lasted approximately a week following each round. I wish your friend the best of luck!

Minai

I've had corticosteroid treatment twice. The first time, the IV solumedrol was followed by a prednisone taper. The second time it was not. I had more problems the first time with the taper which consisted of a mild panic attack which only lasted about 5-10 minutes at most. The second time, without the prednisone taper, I had no problems.

NHE

This is all quite interesting. the friend I know was on Preds daily for quite some time. He was in a wheelchair but did much because he could transfer himself. I didn't know if his downward spiral was because of the MS or the "no preds" method. I am delighted to know that you can do it without the preds, being that is where Gary, my hubby, gets all the side effects from.

Ok...so I was really surprised by this whole IV steroids and no Prednisone taper thing. So...I looked it up. Where I work everyone is on high IV steroids and they are ALWAYS tapered but I guess you need to be on it for a prolonged time period in order to need a taper. Not sure how long that would be? More that 3 or 5 days? I got this info:
"Since a very short course of IV steroids has no effect on the adrenal gland, an oral steroid taper is not usually required." From here. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Source ... teroid.asp
What can I say...I am a new nurse. Only seen so mcuh.
Now me happy.