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increased HR and BP AFTER stopping prednisone as directed
Hi all-
I am a 32 year old male who has recently been experiencing some MS symptoms: shakiness, vision issues, muscle spasming, weakness/tingling/numbness in left arm from shoulder down). I was put on a 12 day prednisone regimen and have been off of the drug for 6 days. While on the pred, I experienced insomnia, and slightly increased blood pressure, but my heart rate was around 60 and didn't change. since the 2nd day after weaning off of prednisone, my symptoms have returned (ms), but my heart rate has gone from 60 bpm to 80 bpm, and my BP has gone from 116/60 to 130/80. I am otherwise healthy other than benign PVC's and PAC's, and I take a 25 mg atenolol daily for those voluntarily. With that being said, has anyone else had this happen? I have not had any real medical issues other than the symptoms just described, and I have recently (within a month) had EKG, routine bloodwork, ultrasound on my heart, and a stress test about a year ago and all came back with no remarkable results. Any advice? Has this happened to anyone else? I would like to think that it is a side-effect of the prednisone wearing off and getting out of my system, since the atenolol I am on usually has me at 60 bpm or below. Please comment as I could use all the help I can get at this point. Thanks!
I am a 32 year old male who has recently been experiencing some MS symptoms: shakiness, vision issues, muscle spasming, weakness/tingling/numbness in left arm from shoulder down). I was put on a 12 day prednisone regimen and have been off of the drug for 6 days. While on the pred, I experienced insomnia, and slightly increased blood pressure, but my heart rate was around 60 and didn't change. since the 2nd day after weaning off of prednisone, my symptoms have returned (ms), but my heart rate has gone from 60 bpm to 80 bpm, and my BP has gone from 116/60 to 130/80. I am otherwise healthy other than benign PVC's and PAC's, and I take a 25 mg atenolol daily for those voluntarily. With that being said, has anyone else had this happen? I have not had any real medical issues other than the symptoms just described, and I have recently (within a month) had EKG, routine bloodwork, ultrasound on my heart, and a stress test about a year ago and all came back with no remarkable results. Any advice? Has this happened to anyone else? I would like to think that it is a side-effect of the prednisone wearing off and getting out of my system, since the atenolol I am on usually has me at 60 bpm or below. Please comment as I could use all the help I can get at this point. Thanks!
I know this is an old post. I'm curious what the outcome was. I was just on prednisone for 3 weeks, 60mg to 40mg to 20mg then done. I am an avid runner and I have noticed and extreme increase in my heart rate while coming down and off of pred while running. My heart rate will stay up near it's max high 170 to low 180 for much longer than it should. I am unable to sleep at night after an intense run...prior to prednisone my runs would have no affect on my sleep and my heart rate didn't concern me. I am guessing the increased heart rate may be due to my body not making it's own cortisone..or enough of it yet? I have been off for 5 days.
There is something called "Steroid Withdrawal Syndrome," which can involve the heart rate, among other things, and which can be googled. In this condition, it is possible for blood values to be normal even though the paitnt is having withdrawal symptoms.
You were only on pred for 12 days, which is far from the kind of long term steroid prescription that is generally thought to require a very gradual taper, but I'm guessing that the relatively short-term administration followed by a comparatively rapid tapering is a factor in your increase in heart rate.
Ask your doc about this when you see him/her, but I wonder if it is possible that a patient with MS could be a special case where an exceedingly gradual tqper might be required. In general, though, as your adrenal function returns to normal after being suppressed by pred, your heart rate should also return to normal in its own time.
You were only on pred for 12 days, which is far from the kind of long term steroid prescription that is generally thought to require a very gradual taper, but I'm guessing that the relatively short-term administration followed by a comparatively rapid tapering is a factor in your increase in heart rate.
Ask your doc about this when you see him/her, but I wonder if it is possible that a patient with MS could be a special case where an exceedingly gradual tqper might be required. In general, though, as your adrenal function returns to normal after being suppressed by pred, your heart rate should also return to normal in its own time.
update: had a neuro appointment two Thursdays ago. blood work as well. Nothing out of the ordinary. No b12 deficiencies, no hepititus, etc. Still trying to get a diagnoses.
I haven't ever had this effect. My beta blocker has me back down into range, now just need for the MS symptoms to go away and we'll be good. thanks for the reply!
I saw your post and wanted to respond. I have been on Prednisone several times and each time I experienced heart palpitations. Each time I came off the medicine, it took a couple of months for my heart to stop racing. Prednisone can suppress your own immune activity, especially cortisol (your stress hormone). So yes, it can definitely have an affect when your adrenal glands are kicking back in when you stop the medication!
Have you ever had your B12 levels checked as almost all of the symptoms describe can stem from B12 deficiency?
Have you ever had your B12 levels checked as almost all of the symptoms describe can stem from B12 deficiency?
Have a docs appointment Wednesday and I will be bringing it up. It has gotten better, but not back to where it should be. thanks for the help.
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A HR of 80 at rest isn't abnormal, but given you are on a BB and have a history of 60 it surely is a change for you.
I am not familiar with the prednisone beyond it looking like a steroid medication, which in my experience is only symptomatic treating... good only to help whatever else one is doing to effect a cure. If I'm off on this, just trash it... but I go down this line of thought in the belief that in the absence of an symptoms beyond the elevated HR/BP I would wait it out for another week or so.. but if I had a doctor appointment anyway I surely would bring it up.
I am not familiar with the prednisone beyond it looking like a steroid medication, which in my experience is only symptomatic treating... good only to help whatever else one is doing to effect a cure. If I'm off on this, just trash it... but I go down this line of thought in the belief that in the absence of an symptoms beyond the elevated HR/BP I would wait it out for another week or so.. but if I had a doctor appointment anyway I surely would bring it up.
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