What are you feelings on Oral Prednisone to treat optic neuritis in an MS patient? Particulalarly 50mg tablets, 12 in the morning and 11 in the afternoon? Doctors office just told me I should take pills to save thousands of dollars. I expressed interest in IV treatments because of what I have read and others I have spoken to who have taken prednisone. I would appreciate any feedback. Thank you. I was just diagnosed on 9/11/08 after review of an MRI of my brian.
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Q: Oreal Prednisone for optic flare up in MS...Dosage?
Answers (7)
9/17/08 8:12am
Hey there...
I was just on Prednisone for a major episode of MS and they gave me a twelve day pack which was tapered. I took 6 pills in the morning for four days at 10 mg each and then four days of four pills at 10 mg each, and then finally four days of two pills 10 mg each. So I am sitting here trying to even imagine the dosages they are telling you to take. Could there be some mistake?
Here is some information about Prednisone right here on Health Central.
I assume you are talking about the Solumedrol drip when you talk about IV treatment?
Here is some information about this type of treatment.
The main concern is what is going to be good and beneficial for you. Prednisone is not without side effects and the dosage you are talking about seems...extreme.
If it were me I would be concerned. Perhaps others can chime in here as well. Usually doctors are concerned about what will be the best and effective treatment and not talking about saving you thousands of dollars. I am not sure of the accuracy of that claim.
Again...perhaps others can talk about their opinions on this. Thank you for asking this question.
9/18/08 3:29pm
Hi Marmolaid and welcome to Health Central.
I'll gladly chime in with my personal opinion and experience. The very first time I had optic neuritis (in 2000), the neuro-opthamologist gave me options:
1. IV steriods given as out-patient at the hospital, three times a day for three days (that was the protocol at the time rather than all at once)
2. An equal amount of steroids as oral Prednisone for the same period of time.
Both options called for an oral taper over 14 days (think it was 14).
I didn't have insurance at the time and was unable to get "time off" my working schedule. So I opted for the all-oral prednisone route.
1000mg predisone (50mg x 20 pills for 3-5 days, then a taper)
This was VERY TOUGH on my system and I've read other MSers who expressed the same.
The IV route of 1g of Solumedrol for 3-5 days, followed by an oral taper, has been much easier and more effective for me personally. I would absolutely never choose to do that amount of oral Prednisone again. Just my opinion.
12/23/08 5:41pm
Hello Marmolaid
Was going through the questions and was wondering whatever happened with taking the huge dose of Prednisone or not. Did you opt to take this or the IV drip?
I do hope you are doing well and please come back to let us know how you have been doing these past months.
Happy Holidays to you!
12/29/08 4:02am
It seems that you are talking as stated in the other post about a solumedrol drip IV. Just about all neurologist discourage taking predinose/deltasone or and steroids other than a tapper after an IV drip, I keep some around for the just in case where it always seems you cannot get into the doctor in a fast track manner. HOWEVER like them, steroids taken over a long period of time has many side-effects, including adrenal gland failure. There is about 5 pages of why not to take steroid long term in the PDR book...
God Blesss...John
3/19/09 8:21am
I am currently on 1200mg for 5 days for a flare up. I take 24 pills in the morning and it is tough to sleep at night but it seems to be all we have to work with right now,lol. I take a pepcid about 1/2 hour before I start taking the pills, it does help with the stomach upset and I eat something small right after to get ride of the awful aftertaste. Best of luck to you
Melanie
3/27/09 9:35pm
Personally, I hate it. Relatively new to the drug thing, though I've had MS for 9 years. This Spring Break I did the IV and am now taking the tapering off from 60 mgs in pill form.
I've noticed I'm irratable. My wife says it's roid rage.
I meet with the doctor in two weeks to discuss how things went. The IV was okay, but it would have been hard to do with my students around and teaching.
8/14/11 1:38am
Hi everyone,
I just finished IV pulse therapy for a flare up. I did the same last year when I had a bout of optic neuritis. I was then put on oral steroids 12 5mg pills a day to be tapered off. It seems like a lot but the IV only does so much and we need a little extra to kick it into gear. Some of the other symptoms are getting better now with the oralprednisone.
I am interested to know how much it costs to have IV therapy in the U.S. I live in Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada and the only thing I had to pay for was the $12.00 for the oral prednisone.
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By marmolaid— Last Modified: 08/14/11, First Published: 09/17/08
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