oral taper after IV steroids - question!

[doublevision1]

I've done IVSM four times I think, both five and three day courses.  Never did the taper I hear about here and apparently never needed it as I never had a problem after finishing the IV. My neuro at the time said in his experience it's unnecessary and he doesnt wanthis patients on steroids any longer than necessary as they can start to wreak havoc on your body overtime.

I have a friends just dx'ed with MS .... or I guess CIS for now, high risk for probable MS.  She did five days IVSM and is now on an oral taper for 12 weeks!  That seems really long to me!

So, question for those with experience with the taper:

what dose were you on and for how long?

Also, if anyone has on separate occasion, done and not done the taper, did you notice a difference and if so in what way?

[Riderfan3169]

I just finished my first 5 day Ivsm and the neuro says no taper needed. Nice to know others have survived it without any ideas on what to expect? And foods that will help get my adrenals going again?

[Maks322]

I had solumedrol for 5 days then no taper.  My neuro says he finds it rare that anybody needs one.  I was to call him if I didn't feel well.  I was fine
Maureen

[cubbiesfan918]

My 1 and only infusion was SM x 3 days. He did taper, 6 Prednisone for 2 days then 5 x 2 days, etc 40 total. I was very newly diagnosed (day 2) and having a post partum flareup.

[Cann1980]

Above you had 12 weeks? I assume u meant 12 days.

I had IVSM 3 day and had a 10/11 day taper... My first couple days 12 then 10 then 8 so on so on...
I did this bc I thought it was correct... My one and only time. It was horrid on my stomach... Virtigo .. Etc etc... It was awful for me. And just drug on (pun intended :) ) for the duration... Then my body still seemed to have adjustments needed after...but I had a head cold too by that point bringing ll my symptoms back partially.

I will try next time to not have a taper. Hopefully :) ... Well hopefully I don't have a next time though right? :)

[doublevision1]

Thanks for your replies.  Interesting to compare our experiences with this kind of stuff.

[Lulu54]

My neuro has been no-taper after my 3 encounters with high dose tx.  Intersting how many of us have been without the taper and live to tell about it!  :-)

[kwarendorf]

Followiing my one and only IVSM treatment (1000mg/5 Days) i was given a 12 day taper. I had no side effects from either the IVSM or the taper.

Submitted FWIW.

Kyle

[rendean]

My neuro is like yours-no taper . Same thought process as GG's. No need to prolong the havoc on the body.

12 days is a really long time unless the patient has a past history of bad reactions without  the taper.

Just my 2 cents,
Ren

[carrieblackwell77]

Before I got diagnosed I was seeing a Rheumatologist, for all the good it did which wasn't much, he had me on them for almost six months and I did a few tapers in that time (once for pneumonia and once for a bad rash reaction to another med he tried me on).  Anyway, I was fine, I understand that the really long term therapy, like more than 6 mo is when you start seeing problems.  The up side is that it really did help my symptoms and made me feel better.  I think that is a really slow taper but if she tolerates it well it will probably help her feel better.  The neuro may have some reason for it that he didn't explain that will help her.

[Guitar_grrrl]

Good questions, DV!  My neuro is in the same camp as yours, re: no taper after a 3-4 day high dose IVSM pulse.  1500-2000 mg/day.

In an unrelated incident (radiculopathy), DH took 300 mg 3x/day for 10 days, and tapered off over 5 days.

12 days does sound like an awful lot, to me.