Medrol dose pack

[Salamander2]

Hello All,
I haven't posted for awhile,  I have just been too tired and discouraged.  I had hopes of seeing s specialist in Palo Alto,  but my insurance denied it.  So, I have just been dealing with everything and not pursuing further treatment, and trying to up it out of my head.  Yesterday at work my numbness in my right calf which is contant,  spread up leg, into right arm and right face.  I saw a Physician Asst. who seems smarter than my specialist and he said this is probably a flair of my as yet undiagnosed MS.  Really???????  He is giving me Medrol and says if my symptoms improve it will be another clue as to what is going on.

So my question.  Can I expect this Medrol to help with my symptoms?  Can I expect resolution of the numbness in my arm and face?  I don't know what to expect with this med. Any side effects?

Thanks to all.
Sally  

[fig65]

My primary gave me the Medrol dosepak as well. She was trying to rule out autoimmune/connective tissue disease, since my bloodwork had all come back "normal". I felt great during the week that I was on them. My vision cleared up, the stiffness in my arm an leg disappeared, I could think clearly, my heart stopped racing and I slept like a baby. I felt great. After I finishe the pack, my symptoms began to reappear. The doc told me that since my symptoms came back, that indicates this si snot an autoimmune problem. Deep down inside, I am still convinced that I have MS, she didn't really address MS and I didn't bring ti up. She knows I have been to a Neuro several times (she is a fairly new primary for me, I have only seen her a few times). Does anyone have any thoughts or input on this?

[Salamander2]

Thanks so much for the support.  I won't worry so much on the weekend, but I have to work tomorrow so, I took a Benadryl tonight,  I am a zombie without sleep.  I know it's only for a few more days, but I'm exhausted!  I am sure I will be cleaning house this weekend!
Sally

[Heather3418]

Lack of sleep is very common with steroids.  Taking Solumedrol IV myself, it was the first time in a long time that my house was really scrubbed and clean.  I couldn't sleep, so I cleaned and dern if I didn't have the energy to actually do a good job.  Steroids can really be a good thing for a short period of time.

I hope your leg feeling comes back quickly.  Good luck dearheart.  I feel good about your medication doing the job for you....Hang in there.  Sleep will come AFTER the steroids.  LOL

Heather

[Salamander2]

Already found one side effect.  It's after 1AM and still awake.  Safe to say I won't get my full 12 hours of beauty sleep!
Sally

[Quixotic1]

That is a much better dosing than the usual Dos-Pak.  Keep us posted.

Q

[Salamander2]

Picked up the rx.  20mg a day for 5 days.  I'm hoping I will feel my leg for the first time in months :)
Sal

[Salamander2]

Thanks for the info, I will let you know how it goes.  If nothing else was accomplished, at least he listened and understood what I am feeling.  It's nice for a change.

[Quixotic1]

Hi, Kiddo!  I have heard some people here (undiagnosed) say their symptoms were helped a little by a DosePak.  However, it is unlikely that MS will respond to one, except possibly very briefly, and here's why:

Medrol (methyprednisolone) is identical to Solumedrol, but is the oral form.  When we get IV infusions we get 1000mg of it.  Each pill in the dose pack is 4 mg.  You take 6 tabs the first day, and then 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 the following days. (24mg, 20mg, 16mg, 12mg, 8mg, 4mg).

Long ago they established that the lower dose dose not afford the relief in MS, likely because it is not enough to establish any meaningful levels within the brain and spinal cord.

I didn't like Medrol dose paks because they didn't give enough med to be really useful except for the first 2 or 3 days.  A course that short doesn't need a taper.  If I wanted someone to get a meaningful course of oral steroids I gave them 6 days of 24mg!

So, if you don't get any response, it is not enough to tell us anything.  However, if you get a good response then it indicates that you are more likely treating a peripheral problem - one that is out in the body, like an inflammatory autoimmune disease.  I think the experiment is worthwhile.  


Quix

[Lulu54]

Hi Sally,
I really don't know how effective oral steroids are - I do know my neuro said that if I flair he would only do IV steroids and it wouldn't be a pill I could take.  I'm interested in reading everyone else's responses too. Feel better, Lulu