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High blood pressure from pred.

Posted , 9 users are following.

karenjaninaz
karenjaninaz

In the last month I am having high BP readings like 159/95. Rheumo said it's from pred but go thinks not but why all of a sudden? Started on diuretic low dose- usual protocol . Hasn't worked yet. I am not overweight and BS normal.

Can anyone relate?

Took my second careful walk outside which felt wonderful even at a snail's pace.

0 likes, 31 replies

31 Replies

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  • Elijo
    Elijo karenjaninaz

    Posted

    That seems to be one side effect that I do not have, but have SO many others.  My B/P has been great, even better than usual!  My MD did increase my diuretic to 25mg. from 12.5 to help with the edema I have from the pred.  The only problem I've had from the PMR was occasional painful hand cramping so he reduced my amlodapine (norvasc)  to 2.5mg. from 5mg.  I get pitting edema, I've gained 10 lbs., and amazingly my blood pressure is down!  You figure.       Good for you, keep walking; exercise is good )I actually do not do enough, little energy)         Hope theyi figure out why your B/P is up!
    • EileenH
      EileenH Elijo

      Posted

      In some patients the inflammation in PMR/GCA narrows some of the arteries - and that leads to raised BP. Once they take pred and the inflammation is gone the arteries are back to normal and their BP falls again.
    • karenjaninaz
      karenjaninaz EileenH

      Posted

      Eileen, my BP was good in the weeks before I started pred but suffering from undiagnosed PMR. I have been taking my BP periodically over the years because my mom had it. I also have a Bp device checked against the doctor's mercury manometer for accuracy. Within a few weeks on 15mg on pred I had readings of 140/100 rather consistently. I never had a diastolic reading that high even when extremely stressed. The pharm info with pred I got from the pharmacy indicated hypertension as a side effect in some people.

      The vascular inflammation with PMR influencing BP does intrigue me but not sure it's happening with me. Interestingly, after I went down slowly from 15 to 14 the BP went down to 140/95. Still too high for my vascular system so I visited my GP who prescribed the 12.5 hctz. It seems to be helping because my numbers are down slightly in 6 days.

      With all pharmacological agents there are patient genetic factors in play which influence individual responses to meds.

      I am a retired nurse-anesthetist in the US. I saw this many times administering anesthetics.

    • EileenH
      EileenH karenjaninaz

      Posted

      No - you sound to be one of the people for whom pred raises BP which is probably more common.

      My response was to Elijo's comment "You figure...". There are reasons to account for it all!

    • Elijo
      Elijo EileenH

      Posted

      Great, hope that happened to me.  Fortunately I have had NO PMR pain since starting the prednisone Nov. 1.  I'm doing a gradual taper.
    • EileenH
      EileenH Elijo

      Posted

      Brilliant! That's what everyone would hope for!
    • Elijo
      Elijo EileenH

      Posted

      Yeah!!! Now to get rid of that extra 10 lbs, edema, brainfog, bruising, UTI's weak muscles,  etc. I'll be cooking!
  • Susanne_M_UK
    Susanne_M_UK karenjaninaz

    Posted

    At the request of my GP, I'm currently testing my BP at home over a 3 week period. I bought a very simple BP monitor from my pharmacy for £20.

    My BP is borderline too high and I'm hoping I can avoid having to take yet more meds.

    My rheumy confirmed its due to pred, but having also put on a huge amount of weight, it has exacerbated the problem.

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