My hubby has used prednisone twice and sodumedrol once (Oct 2005). He took them when he went into relapses that lasted for a week or so.

IV sodumedrol treatment is over 20 times more potent than natural cortisol. A nurse comes out to administer the medication and therefore it can be more costly. HOWEVER, oral predinsone is only 4 times more potent than cortisol and is very cheap.

See below URL for more info:
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/loved-ones-who-support-someone-with-ms/discussions/messages/11643767

You can discuss your options with your medical professional.
Best wishes,
EP

I know IV Prednisolone is more potent than oral dosage form mainly because of oral medication's low bioavailability. I wanted to see if anyone knows if there is a time frame in which steroids should be administered. I figure because of inflammation due to the attack, there might be a time frame to administer the steroids to reduce this inflammation. I just don't know if that has been established or what the protocol is on that matter.

A few years ago when there wasn't a medication to take I would get 1 steroid each month to keep me stable.

Like I said, my hubby took them when he went into relapses that lasted for about a week. I have read optic neuritis symptoms are usually treated within a few days of the symptoms.

However, I have not seen any standardized criteria for when to administer steroids.

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/treatments/medications/corticosteroids/index.aspx

I will be reading replies to see if anyone else has found any info on this topic.

Thanks for the post.

1 GRAM A DAY OF HIGH DOSE IV STERIODS FOR 3-5 DAYS...I HAVE ONLY DONE 3 DAYS .........TAKING STERIODS ONCE A MONTH IS A BAD IDEA. THE MORE STERIODS YOU TAKE THE LESS EFFECTIVE THEY BECOME.. AFTER 12 MONTHS THEY SOMETIMES BECOME COMPLETLY INEFFECTIVE

I am not a fan of steroids and although I have had one initial iv treatment and two oral I now try not to consider them, preferring to ride things out (which isn't an option for many). I think the short term gains must be taken into account against the long term effects.

Try to find AusSue's posts on the damage steroids have had on her.

Hi;
I used to take oral prednisone when I was at home. It worked fine.
This in about when to take it is from my MS Doc b/c I had the same ?
He said the oral worked just as well but can cause tummy upset.
If there is inflammation it will help take it down and such help take away the symptoms. The reason for taking the steroids asap is to stop the attack to prevent more damage from being done.
Also if it is a progression and not an attack the steroids will not help.
I was also told he only uses steroids on what is a clear attack b/c over time they will stop working.
also about cost oral prednizone is dirt cheep the norm dose is
500 mg x's twice a day for three days.
it works by reducing the swelling of the lesion so less nerves are being pinched
but also it swats the immune system back down to stop the attack and thus further damage.
Hope this info helps

I don't know if you have tried but Social Security Disability can be life saver to those who need it. Most with MS don't have near the trouble that I had. Took me 15 months. I think about everyone who tries ends up getting an attorney to help them. Bad news is, in my opinion, the attorney sand-bags your case to let the cash build up so they can get their pound of flesh (25%).

Please don't generalize all Social Security lawyers in to one group. My AS lawyer was great. I was awarded SS.on the 1st application. The lawyers group made nothing from my case.

Not AS, but rather SS.

I have had iv steroids three times since 2011. First two times it was for three days.....it wonders! Best drug ever. Those where about two months apart. The last one was via iv for 5 days in the hospital. That sucked. Although it helped I was jacked up for weeks it seemed. There was about six months in between that one and the last.

I believe its not good to get more than four a yr. Reason being is because it makes your bones fragile.

I have had solumedrol three times! The nurse showed my husband what to do and he took care of everything for the week each time I had it. Then I took prednisone after.

I was told normally 2-4 days after an attack is when most doctors suggest the steroids.

Personally, I could never really tell if any of the infusions did me any good. By the time a week goes by, who really knows whether it was just the time passing that relieved any symptoms or one of the chosen infusions. I stopped taking any of them. The doctors cannot say for sure whether they actually do any good, at least mine can't, and I havn't found any evidence that they actually help at all. I just know they take their toll on the body.

I try to remember that sometimes what seems like an attack is a low grade fever or a cold or something too. I had IV steroids a few times and when the adverse affects were too much to take, feet swollen so badly I could barely walk on them, etc., I went to immuno globulin and honestly, I just couldn't tell whether it ever did anything.

I am working a diet and exercise regimen to try and keep this at bay. I've also been reading and hearing a whole lot about how most of the population have candida, male or female. Candida causes diagnoses of all sorts, including MS and fibromyalgia. So, I've decided to work on the candidiasis issue as of late. Staying hopeful that I'll find a reason for all this.

STERIODS WON'T MAKE ANY NEW PERMANENT DISABILITIES BETTER AFTER A RECENT EXACERBATION . THEY WILL ONLY HELP SPEED UP YOUR RECOVERY TO YOUR NEW NORMAL. THEY WON'T CHANGE THE END GAME.

First on IV steriods I had one treatment that lead to confirm my MS diagnosis. But I got worse during my 5 day hospital day on it. But I have complicating medical conditions that were made worse.

I always did ok on oral prednisone. Helped inflammation right away for me.

But as far as SSDI. You are way too young to even consider this and too new to MS as I see it. I got mine via LTD through my job who made me apply. I was contacted by an agency called ALSUP which is known to get you an answer in 4 months! And it took just 4 months for me.

But living on SSDI is pathetic as my only income. Poverty level.

Hopefully you can get insurance 2014 with Affordable Care Act.

Feel better!
Jan