Does low does steroids like prednisone help ms flare ups

[Redhead63]

Can low dose prednisone help with mild flare ups like numbness in leg and burning sensation related to relapse remissive ms ? I've had flare ups a couple times sincey official dx in march. It sea to help after. Few days I need some guidance I had trouble walking on Friday and left work early. My doctor said to take a 5mg prednisone and elevate it. It didn't help I tried to reach him but couldn't so I took 5mg 3 x a day last 3days and twice today. It's a little better but I don't know what to do HELP

[chieko]

My body reacts quickly to corticosteroids. I recently had very bad flare and self-medicated with methylprednisolone (I have a standing RX for this). Cleared up/reduced most of my symptoms with just 12mg. 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. Love because it works; hate because the side effects suck.

[immisceo]

Sigh "Connect Four"!

Breaking down the math of your dosage versus what's generally given for a relapse, a standard infusion is 50 times more powerful. (20mg versus 1000mg/1g per day). Put another way, 20mg per day is 2% the dosage of one methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) infusion.

Most of us don't relish bringing out the big guns, but in certain circumstances we're certainly glad they're available and will use them. However, I believe it's been shown to work better for some kinds of relapses than others. Perhaps your doctor can advise you of which relapses do or don't warrant such a 'big gun'. Alternately, they may be able to give you advice on how to best manage the side effects for when the infusion truly is the best option.

[PastorDan]

Triple ditto {sigh}…

[Cann1980]

Ditto... The sigh of double vision!

[doublevision1]

Sigh. If only........

[kwarendorf]

Hi Aquarius -

20mg prednisone for 4 days doesn't sound like a very potent approach to resolving a relapse. I've only used steroids to treat a relapse once. Thankfully I haven't had a relapse since :-)

In my case, and I know in many others as well, the steroids (IVSM) were administered via IV at a rate of 1000mg/day for 3-5 days. 5 days in my case.

Others may no more, but it might be that the dose you were given gave you some of the ill effects of steroids without any real benefits.

Kyle

[aquarius44]

reading this helped me.. I just had a relapse a week ago and  was takin 10mg prednisone 2x a day for 4 days. I noticed all I got was massive headaches and still have problems walking when I start off to walk. Prednisone seem to make me feel jittery and not do anything to help. I go to see my dr. this coming Monday. Hope my Dr. can help fix my problem so I can feel normal again

[Sumanadevii]

Before I was diagnosed I tried a dosing pack.  It did nothing for me.  I agree with Lulu.  Call the doctor and insist on being treated.

[Lulu54]

Hi redhead and welcome - I don't think we have met yet.  

The low doses of prednison do not really help with MS relapses.... what you need are the mega doses.  And since you are worsening, I wouldn't wait - call your doctor in the morning and ask about coming in for IV solumedrol or getting a rx for a mega dose course of oral steroids.  

As a point of reference, the recommended dose of steroids to treat an MS relapse is equivalent to taking 25 of those prednisone tablets in one dose.  A three-day course of steroids would require 75 tablets.  That should illustrate for you the need for a greater amount to treat your symptoms.

Welcome again and I hope we see you around.
Lulu