I have been on 60mg of prednisone for two weeks now. I keep having trouble with a rapid heart beat often times over 120bpm and my blood pressure is running high. When your heart beats so fast, it's scarey and hard to breathe. I feel like I am literally going to die. Has anyone else experienced this when on prednisone?
Have you reported these symptoms to your doctor? Do you have GCA? Do not wait to see your doctor. Yes, I have to take deep breaths and my breathing is different but no serious issues like you describe. Best of luck, Ann11195
Raised blood pressure is quite a common side effect of pred and I know some people have said they get tachycardia. I would give your doctor a ring to check though if you feel so bad. Your pharmacist will be knowledgable about steroid side effects too and if what you have is a side effect.
Hi kkmcclendon ye it's something that worries me high blood pressure. I had this since I was diagnosed in jan this year and was on 80mg pred, but down to 15mg pred so thought my blood pressure would be down, but yesterday it was 158 over 87 they are going to fit me with blood pressure monitor I don't know how serious this is (like high blood pressure when on pred ) maybe someone with more knowledge about this will come on good luck
Years ago, in England, they used to say your age less the 1 in front was perfectly acceptable (i.e. if 70 170 was ok). If lower one was 85 that was ok, too. They seem to be much more critical now, but 158 over 87 doesn't sound so bad to me (that is if you are an oldie). However, the experts will probably skin me alive for saying that.😏😏
You need to see you GP and not wait.
Hi kkmcclendon, I had palpitations a while back for no good reason, and I was only on 9mgs, but nevertheless it did frighten me. I was told to keep off the tea and coffee, I did and the palpitations have cleared up. However, like you I was terrified and I think this made the situation worse. I know that I struggled to take a deep breath. I would definitely go back to the dr even if it is a side effect from such a high dose of preds.
as for 158/87 blood pressure, I'm only 54 and my Dr seemed to think that that reading was just a tad high. I was fitted with a meter after I told my Dr that the reading from my blood pressure monitor was often in excess of 195/100. The moniter confirmed this reading was the average with one reading even higher! I am now on 3.75 of ramipril and feel great. All the best, christina
Hi - yes I still have raised pulse episodes and also high BP.
I have GCA and have been on prednisolone for going on 3 years - at 8,75 mg daily now and in the middle of a slow taper with fingers crossed!!
It is worrying when your pulse suddenly starts hammering away - pretty much a daily occurence and for no apparent reason - breathlessness also occurs - not neccessarily at the same time.
I have had heart and lungs checked and they are fine, both my GP and rheumy are aware of the situation but since all tests have come back showing no problems they seem to not worry.
Apart from the blood tests to monitor the GCA progress and how my body is coping with the meds I also go to a control once every 3 months or so for cholesterol, BP and blood sugar -
Make sure you are getting regular checks and you will feel less worried.
kkmcclendon, yes it is quite common to experience high BP and palpitations especially on the higher doses of Pred. See your GP as soon as possible to see whether you need some blood pressure medication or similar for a short while. Meanwhile, avoid all caffeine drinks and alcohol which can further aggravate the situation.
Hello everyone, sorry to hijack this thread, but just to let you know that christina66394 has been changed to tina-uk cwall. Hopefully like Mrs O it helps with location. I will also be signing off with tina from now on. Regards, tina
Hallo Tina. Welcome😄😄😄😄😄😄
I have described my experience with side effects of Pred. on the Zero Pred. thread so won't repeat here but it might be relevant to your query. Hope it might be encouraging.
Not sure I can cope with that - you'd better sign off with both for a while ;-)
Anone else having trouble with the emoticons?
I'm about to disappear again - internet will be sporadic for a while. For goodness sake - can you find me some half-decent weather in the UK for the next couple of weeks?
As the others have - said do make sure your GP is aware and has checked it out. Both are side-effects of pred and are often dismissed as such but I have atrial fibrillation which was most likely caused by the autoimmune part of GCA/PMR.
If you feel really ill with it or it lasts for very long don't hesitate to call the emergency medical services whatever they are where you live. Even if it IS due to pred, a fast heart rate for very long is not good for anyone and can be dangerous - better calling them once too many than once too few.
Poor Eileen! You're still sweltering, aren't you? Nice 20-23 dregs here. Just in time for a late Leo.
No, not really - it was comfortable at 25/26C this weekend. And not a great deal of sun. Been warmer in Bozen, hovering around 30C, it's almost always about 4C warmer down there.
Really not looking forward to rain and wind and below 20C even in the south! Don't mind the coolth, its the rainth and windth I can't stand!
Welcome from me, too, Tina!
Doesn't look as though it's a general problem with the emoticons, Eileen. Wish I could say the same about the weather though, especially as you are due over here. It sounds as though you have a packed schedule already so don't suppose Chertsey is having a second visit? They're recommending alternative routes avoiding Calais in the news today.
you want a lot its be hissing it down here all bloody day, bring some sun please
It's OK - they're back 
We have gone to great expense to avoid Calais! Coming Hook of Holland to Harwich and back Portsmouth to Le Havre. We aren't staying with David's SIL, just visiting as she is in the middle of chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. And because of all that, although Chertsey was on my menu originally (coming to the south first like last year) and it would have been very possible - or at least lunch with you and Lizzie-Ellen - on the morning of the11th I shall be in Preston, on my way back down from Scotland and I don't think getting to Chertsey for 11am is on 
However - all being well we're having breakfst with someone in Gatehead - I know you know how unusual it is to find her up at that hour!