Prednisone, strength and length?

[luvnGod]

I started Prednisone yesterday 200 mg  for 5 days and then it tapers down from there (can't remember off the top of my head right now) I think for 15 days.  Several friends of mine have taken it and they couldn't believe I was on that much.  Do you all typically take this much?  He told me it would be high dose/agressive treatment.  He also gave me Prilosec to protect my stomach and tamazepam to help me sleep if needed.  He warned that it might make me sick.  I felt pretty rotten yesterday, my first day.  Was very tired, almost zoned out a bit, my body hurt and my eye had been bothering me all day.  At about 5am this morning, woke up with an excruciating pain behind my eye and shooting back through my head.  I almost called 911.  Today other than nauseouness, hasn;t been too bad, but still don't have the (bouncing off the walls) energy everyone told me I would have.  And my hip and knees have been bothering me.  Did anyone else have these sort of effects?

Thank you and blessings!!
Stacie

[Mummy76]

Thanks Lulu.  I will call tomorrow to confirm and see if they suggest anything to protect my stomach.

[Lulu54]

Mummy, you should call since the pharmacist said to, but that dosage would be correct if you are in a relapse and being treated for that.  The IV solumedrol that is given, is usually in a 1000mg dose.  It takes the big guns to take care of this problem.

[Mummy76]

Well I picked up my prednisone today and I'm supposed to take 500 mg per day!  The pharmacist suggested I not take it until I could confirm the amount with my neurologist as the amount was so high.  I wasn't given anything for my stomach either...

[Sidesteps]

The prednisone can cause all those symptoms - it increases your blood pressure, your sugar levels and causes an increase in your adrenaline. (Affects your adrenal glands.) I also had some aching in my legs and felt flushed and "out of it" as I had more treatments.  Anxiety is another one.

[luvnGod]

Thank you all for responding.  I started feeling very shaky today in church, hot and blurry vision.  When I got home my chest was hurting and I tried to lay down to sleep but couldn't.  Hurt to breathe.  I'm feeling a bit better now, but still tight in chest and kinda out of it.  Anyone have a response like this?

Thanks again and many blessings
Stacie

[Lulu54]

Be sure to take the prilosec- the oral steroids can cause all sorts of chaos in your stomach.  The taper is really important so be sure to follow the instructions and don't skip on being kind to yourself.

Kyle's dose is much more typical of a steroid used to take out a relapse.  It is 5x's higher than what you are taking.

To all of you, sorry you have to take these but I am glad there is a drug available to help.
hugs,
L

[kwarendorf]

That sounds like the taper i did after IV steroids. The IV was 1000mg/day x 5 days. The taper started at 6 pills/day x 2 days and ended with 1 pill/day x 2 days.

Kyle

[Mummy76]

Hi Stacie

I am just about to start a course of Prednisone.  I thought my doctor had prescribed 200 mg for me too.  I will post again tomorrow once I can confirm the dose and let you know how I feel after I start taking it.

I hope you start feeling better soon.