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Medrol dose pak vs prednisone taper
#214100 08/05/11 04:31 PM
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What is the difference between a medrol dose pak and a prenisone taper? My primary is giving me a pred taper for my sciatic pain. The nurse said this is not the same as the medrol dose pak, but didn't give me any more info. I've not had the pred taper before.

Thanks for your help with this.


Brenda

undifferentiated spondyloarthropy, HLA-B27+, iritis, Vit D3: 6000 IU/day, trochanter bursitis, Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, migraines, SI joint dysfunction/hypermobility, DDD L4/L5 and L3/L4, straightening of cervical spine, impaired glucose tolerance, sleep apnea.
Re: Medrol dose pak vs prednisone taper
poodlegirl #214119 08/05/11 06:22 PM
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a medrol dose pak is 6 days of a 6-5-4-3-2-1 taper. pred taper would most likely be a longer time frame, maybe a week of 5, then week of 4 ect. I cant take pred as it makes me rage, but I have been on medrol long tapers before.


Carrie
Small business owner, 53 / mother of 5, Fort Worth, Texas
Remicade, Seroquel, Folic Acid, MTX
Undifferented spondylopathy HLA-B27+ (onset 2007- DXed 2008) with associated uveitis, psoriasis
EPI and IBS - gastritis due to NSAIDs
Right Hip replacement 2017 with subsequent 4" heterotopic ossification (removed 2019)
Re: Medrol dose pak vs prednisone taper
Roqufort #214122 08/05/11 06:39 PM
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Brenda, it is worth asking for a lot more detail - one of prednisone's renowned side effects is TROUBLE SLEEPING! I'm not saying you should/shouldn't take it - it could really help with the pain - but definitely make an informed decision. Try to start with something that could be a short taper in case the side effects make you want to kill someone and eat them smile


Jen, 42, happy partner of James and Moma to Evan, 14, & Lucy, 12.5 (Crohn's dx @ age 3; on Remicade since April 2010.) I take piroxicam, Flexeril, & Nucynta ER nightly. 3 anti-TNFs didn't pan out for me.

"Science is the father of knowledge, but opinion breeds ignorance." -- Hippocrates
Re: Medrol dose pak vs prednisone taper
JenInCincy #215886 08/26/11 05:57 PM
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I'm not quite sure, to be honest. My neurosurgeon ordered the Medrol dose pak for me about a month and a half ago, but the pharmacy didn't have it at the time, so they substitued it for Prednisone taper. They are both taken the same way...first day you take 6, then 5, then 4, and so on. I think they are just different types of steroids, but both can be taken in a taper, which is basically a steroid burst. I'm currently on the Medrol dose pak now.


Kim - age 33, married with 3 children
DX: Psoriatic Arthritis, HLA B27+
Meds: Otezla, Naproxen PRN, Prednisone PRN
Re: Medrol dose pak vs prednisone taper
KimD592 #215890 08/26/11 06:27 PM
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It's the same thing. Medrol is a kind of corticosteroid just like prednisone. The Medrol pak is a taper over a specific number of days.

Last edited by seekonk; 08/26/11 06:32 PM.

Spondylitis since '08, finally diagnosed Feb '11.
Enbrel 50mg/week.
Re: Medrol dose pak vs prednisone taper
KimD592 #215893 08/26/11 06:33 PM
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My GP just gave me a script for a pred taper. It's for 20mg pills. I take 1 pill/day for 5 days, the 1/2 pill/day for 3 days then 1/4 pill /day till all the pills are gone. When My GI puts me on steroids, he has me start at 40mg/day for 2 weeks the 1 week at leach lever on the way down.

My GI's nurse says that you wont have a problem sleeping if you take it as early in the morning as possible. She said to take the whole dose and not split it up. It worked the last time I was on pred. In the past, I had to take sleeping pills to get to sleep and now I don't. This is a new thing in his office as in the past they had me split my dose.


Donna
Suffering since a teenager.Dx with AS Dec 2009. Dx with ulcerative colitis 1998, both knees replaced 2006. GP said I had "some kind of inflammatory arthritis" 25 years ago. It has taken 50 years to get a Dx.

Mobic, Nexium, Naproxin, Lipitor, 6-MP, Nexium, Miacalcam, MSContin and 2 Norco for break through pain
Re: Medrol dose pak vs prednisone taper
avonldy #215907 08/26/11 09:54 PM
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Now the rheumy wants me to take 5 mg of pred a day for awhile to see if it helps the toe. I don't want to take it very long, though. She gave me 30 pills. I am afraid of having trouble getting off of it if I take it for very long. I have seen some posts where people had problems, but I can't remember the dosage or time length.

Anyone have any problems with a 5 mg dose?


Brenda

undifferentiated spondyloarthropy, HLA-B27+, iritis, Vit D3: 6000 IU/day, trochanter bursitis, Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, migraines, SI joint dysfunction/hypermobility, DDD L4/L5 and L3/L4, straightening of cervical spine, impaired glucose tolerance, sleep apnea.
Re: Medrol dose pak vs prednisone taper
poodlegirl #215909 08/26/11 10:30 PM
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Usually when someone has problems getting off pred, it's because the started on much larger doses and for a long period of time. I had problems many years ago when I was on 40mg for over a month. It took me over 6 months to taper off. I was taking 1mg pills at the end.

I don't worry at all now when I take a short course of pred. I just started one that my GP put me on because I wanted stronger pain meds. He is hoping the pred will reduce my pain and we can avoid going to a much stronger med. 5 mg of pred is really a small amount. I wouldn't worry. I hope it helps you to feel better.


Donna
Suffering since a teenager.Dx with AS Dec 2009. Dx with ulcerative colitis 1998, both knees replaced 2006. GP said I had "some kind of inflammatory arthritis" 25 years ago. It has taken 50 years to get a Dx.

Mobic, Nexium, Naproxin, Lipitor, 6-MP, Nexium, Miacalcam, MSContin and 2 Norco for break through pain
Re: Medrol dose pak vs prednisone taper
avonldy #215910 08/26/11 10:37 PM
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Ok. Thanks, Donna. That really helps.

I hope the pred helps reduce your pain a lot, too!


Brenda

undifferentiated spondyloarthropy, HLA-B27+, iritis, Vit D3: 6000 IU/day, trochanter bursitis, Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, migraines, SI joint dysfunction/hypermobility, DDD L4/L5 and L3/L4, straightening of cervical spine, impaired glucose tolerance, sleep apnea.
Re: Medrol dose pak vs prednisone taper
poodlegirl #215912 08/26/11 10:43 PM
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It always does. Between my GI and my GP, they keep me with a stash of pred to keep on hand, just in case I get a AS or UC flare over a long weekend.


Donna
Suffering since a teenager.Dx with AS Dec 2009. Dx with ulcerative colitis 1998, both knees replaced 2006. GP said I had "some kind of inflammatory arthritis" 25 years ago. It has taken 50 years to get a Dx.

Mobic, Nexium, Naproxin, Lipitor, 6-MP, Nexium, Miacalcam, MSContin and 2 Norco for break through pain
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