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Hello Dr Taka, One More Question. I Am Taking Epidural
Question: Hello Dr Taka,
One more question. I am taking epidural steroid injection at L4 L5 on the right side tomorrow.My doctor uses 1 ml dexamethasone ( 1 ml equals 10 mg ) for the epidural injection. Do you think this is the right dosage and the right steroid. I will appreciate an aswer today only since I am taking the injection Tuesday morning. Thanks.
One more question. I am taking epidural steroid injection at L4 L5 on the right side tomorrow.My doctor uses 1 ml dexamethasone ( 1 ml equals 10 mg ) for the epidural injection. Do you think this is the right dosage and the right steroid. I will appreciate an aswer today only since I am taking the injection Tuesday morning. Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Looks fine
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Substances used may vary between clinics, the most used ones are methylprednisolone, triamcinolone, betamethasone and last (but not least) dexamethasone. So dexamethasone is a perfectly sensible choice, actually it is considered as potentially safer than the others as a non-particulate steroid which doesn’t cause embolism if inadvertently injected in a blood vessel.
As for the dosage that varies as well, there is not a precise, widely accepted dosage, have read studies with dosages mostly of 7.5 to 15 mg, actually there is a study which suggested that even doses as low as 4 mg may be equal. In our clinic we have used mostly 12, but that has been an empiric choice, I am not saying that we represent the gold standard, 10 should be just as fine.
So, to conclude, I have nothing against the protocol used by your doctor, hope things work out for the best.
Looks fine
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Substances used may vary between clinics, the most used ones are methylprednisolone, triamcinolone, betamethasone and last (but not least) dexamethasone. So dexamethasone is a perfectly sensible choice, actually it is considered as potentially safer than the others as a non-particulate steroid which doesn’t cause embolism if inadvertently injected in a blood vessel.
As for the dosage that varies as well, there is not a precise, widely accepted dosage, have read studies with dosages mostly of 7.5 to 15 mg, actually there is a study which suggested that even doses as low as 4 mg may be equal. In our clinic we have used mostly 12, but that has been an empiric choice, I am not saying that we represent the gold standard, 10 should be just as fine.
So, to conclude, I have nothing against the protocol used by your doctor, hope things work out for the best.
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