I was wondering...anybody else with PMR experience low blood pressure while taking prednisone? Mine has dropped considerably. too low feel tired. I usually have an elevated bp and I take bp meds. Been on Prednisone for 3 weeks 10ml. Don't mean to wimp but this is scaring me.
yes I to had to reduce my Hypertension tabs by half - thank goodness
I think this is one good thing about taking prednisone for PMR. My blood pressure is much better than it used to be.
I would not worry about it.
Yes, me too. Have been cutting my "water" pills in half.
And I do agree--don't worry......Barbara
Interesting, my moderately high blood pessure sky-rocketed with prednisone! This resulted in going from taking a low dose diuretic to taking 2 different BP meds at fairly high dose to control things.
Phyllis, feeling "tired" is probably more due to both the inflammation of PMR and the steroids than the low blood pressure. How low? If very low, I would have thought you would be feeling light-headed. Worth gettig it checked by the GP - if too low, she will probably reduce your medication.
Usually it is high BP that is noted as a side effect of steroid treatment, but it's interesting reading the replies here with experience of the opposite. My BP has always leaned towards being on the high side but it has gone sky high since coming off steroids!
My blood pressure is up since I had to increase preds due to
a flare.....I'm hoping to get down to a lower dose and control
things.....
Thanks so much it scared me as I had read it would raise your BP. Will have to talk to my GP.
Thanks erika.
MrsO
I have been feeling light headed and dizzy. Just thought it was the prednisone.
Oh I wanted to tell you...I will be seeing a Rhuemy the 29th of the month. Don't think Pred is strong enough stiill have lots of shoulder pain most of the day.
My blood pressure has always been naturally low (100/60), but after starting on prednisone I noticed that I was feeling kind of lightheaded & a bit nauseated & unstable when I would get up in the morning. Started taking my BP when I got up & it was usually around 85/55 & sometimes lower. As I've tapered, it's improved, but I was pretty ocncerned at first.
Mine is usually 128/78 to 80 dropped to 95/58. I am tired and very light headed
I was having the same trouble with low blood pressure and have been taken off blood pressure med by cardiologist. I think you should see your doctor to change the dosage. I feel much better now I have more normal blood pressure. I hope you can get it sorted and feel better too.
This is all very interesting. My BP used to be high (190/100) even with taking tablets. It's now 135/85. It never occured to me it was the Pred reducing it.
If the inflammation in the PMR was narrowing your blood vessels it would naturally also increase your blood pressure. Being started on pred will reduce the inflammation, your blood vessels will have returned to a normal diameter and so your blood pressure will reduce.
I was put on BP meds after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation but have been able to reduce it some since I have been able to reduce the pred. At first I was getting very light-headed in warm weather but now it is all the time.
As MrsO says - what IS your BP? The light-headedness and tiredness may be because your BP is too low but not necessarily - though in the UK you will be told that too low a BP is good! Not wehn you fall over because of it it isn't!!
Phyllis, defiitely get it checked with the GP - 95/58 is very low. I hope you feel better soon.
Constance, yes it's very intriguing reading this thread. Wish I knew what the magic ingredient is in Pred that might be reducing BP for people - perhaps I could bottle it as my BP is also uncontrolled by BP medication, well at least those that don't give me horrid side effects.
Just explained it in anothr post MrsO - the inflammation in PMR/GCA will narrow the arteries, narrowed arteries leads to increased blood pressure. The pred reduces the inflammation, the arteries return to their normal diameter and the raised blood pressure falls as a result.