Folks,

I recently had surgery, specifically an Anterior Interbody Lumbar Fusion (look it up). 2 weeks later, the back is feeling better and so is the incision, but my left legs is numb as heck! Uncomfortably numb.

I told the Dr this and he prescribed Prednisone (a steroid) @ 60mg's and 21 pills. It says it's a 6 day dosage, but i've heard that you take it differently on day 1 then you do on day 6. No indications from the Dr or on the prescription. I dont want to fuck around with a guess and test method of taking medicine, but I need some fucking relief from this NOW and don't want to wait.

Any advice from the smart people of TWW?

7/14/2011 9:52:13 PM

i take this every spring for allergies

yeah usually they start at like 6 pills for 2 days, 5 pills for 2 days, 4 pills for 2 days and so on, but this year the instructions said just to take 1 pill every day until it ran out ... i called and double checked and they assured me it was alright to take it as it said

i still was uncomfortable with it, because it was different from how i had taken it every single year before...so with about 4 pills remaining, i cut them in half and took half pills until i ran out

7/14/2011 9:54:40 PM

i took it to get rid of poison ivy. i started with something like 6 10 mg pills the first three days, 4 the next few days, then 2, then 1 then 1/2. the idea is that you start high then wean yourself off of it.

7/14/2011 9:55:09 PM

The current prescription I have downstairs is:

Take 4 pills daily for 3 days
Take 3 pills daily for 3 days
Take 2 pills daily for 3 days
Take 1 pills daily for 3 days

But really, call your doctor and ask.

7/14/2011 9:55:52 PM

Quote :

"my left legs"

7/14/2011 10:01:16 PM

ALL OF IT YOU PUSSY

7/14/2011 10:05:49 PM

You take a bunch at first so it works. Then you step it down so your body doesn't freak out. Medically speaking.

7/14/2011 10:13:25 PM

Unless you are supposed to be taking 3.5 pills per day for 6 days, you need clarification. Call the pharmacist or physician. If you take too few, you won't get the relief you expect. If you take too many, you'll have increased side effects, which I imagine will already be quite noticeable at your dosage. You'll also have a longer tapering period. You'll need clarification for day 7 anyway. Prednisone must be tapered to prevent Addisonian crisis.

7/14/2011 10:13:51 PM

ibtBlackDog

7/14/2011 10:13:56 PM

Sounds like u got a prednisone dosepack. You should take 6 the first day, 5 the second day, 4 the third day and so on. Just decrease by one pill each day

7/14/2011 10:45:06 PM

Or you could try the method where you take all one day.

7/14/2011 10:48:05 PM

Yep. 6 on the first day, decrease by one each day after that.

This shit fucked me up when I took it. Made me seriously RAGE over the smallest shit. I literally drove everywhere that whole week at 90+MPH, I would NOT let other cars pass me on the highway, I almost kicked a guys ass at target because he was wearing a UNC shirt and "following" me. It was kinda scary.

7/14/2011 10:52:26 PM

i always hear that but it never had any rage effect on me when ive taken it

7/14/2011 10:53:52 PM

well if its a 21 pill dosepack that would mean
6 on day 1
5 on day 2
4 on day 3
3 on day 4
2 on day 5
and 1 on day 6

[Edited on July 14, 2011 at 10:57 PM. Reason : usually steroids are tapered. does the bottle just say take as directed?]

7/14/2011 10:55:31 PM

7/14/2011 11:36:30 PM

Quote :

"This shit fucked me up when I took it. Made me seriously RAGE over the smallest shit."

I've noticed that too, the times I've taken it I get pissed at any little thing and can't for the life of me sleep at night because I can feel my heart pounding in my chest

7/15/2011 12:13:33 AM

All of mine have been stepped down over the course of 6 days... but then again the odd amounts certain meals get less.

Maybe Google prednisone taper, prednisone dosage instructions...

If it helps, the API in there is typically methyl prednisolone (think I spelled that right but I'm drunk)... which is an isomer of standard prednisone... maybe that will help Googling.

Where's joie?

7/15/2011 12:20:58 AM

is Joie the TWW's official drug expert or something?

7/15/2011 12:24:01 AM

I felt like I was inches away from murdering everyone that got within 10 ft of me when I was on it.

7/15/2011 12:24:27 AM

I was prescribed Prednisone before AND after I had my Lumbar Dyssectomy (sp?) in 2008. I didn't see it helping so I stopped taking it (oh yeah, and it makes you gain weight). I, too, had the numbness in my left leg.....but for 8 months. I don't remember the dosage though. Sorry.



[Edited on July 15, 2011 at 12:25 AM. Reason : .]

7/15/2011 12:25:13 AM

^^^joie is in pharmacy school, iirc

7/15/2011 12:40:07 AM

I too, have went to pharmacy school.

7/15/2011 12:46:18 AM

Oh OK I just remembered her off the top of my head. Nothing against you, but joie is hotter so I remember things better. Or something.

But yes your earlier recommendation of 6, 5, 4 ... is what I rememebr, but I know the dosages are different on times of day at some times. I dunno how much that matters.

[Edited on July 15, 2011 at 1:27 AM. Reason : .]

7/15/2011 1:24:54 AM

Quote :

"I felt like I was inches away from murdering everyone that got within 10 ft of me when I was on it. "

Yes. I would snap at people and then immediately feel bad and apologize and explain I was on medication.

7/15/2011 1:56:39 AM