Overuse of Prednisolone

Posted , 10 users are following.

I've had 3 falls in the last 5 months. When taken to the hospital last Friday, consultant said I had been on Prednisolone too long and it was obviously affecting my Adrenaline level. She has started me on Hydrocortisone but so far it is making me very dizzy. My GP has told me not to stand but she couldn't indicate how long this may last. I will be going to the Endocrine clinic and getting an ECHO.

Any comments from any of you will be very welcome

Best wishes

1 like, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • Posted

    What dose are you on? How long have you been on it? If you are on prednisolone your body only makes the steroid it needs - was that the rheumy consultant? 

    What sort of falls? Did you trip? Did you have a funny turn that made you fall? Are there any symptoms before the fall?

    I can only say I have been on pred for well over 8 years and it certainly doesn't have that effect on me. But I have had other things that COULD have caused a fall in another situation.

    • Posted

      Will come back to you Eileen. I'll have to try to check up on the questions you're asking.

    • Posted

      Hi Eileen.It was definitely over 5 years ago that I developed the Arteritis. I have been trying since then to lower my dose but the pains always returned when I got as low as 2-3.

      However I've got down to 2 with no pains.

      I've fallen a few times over the last year or so, probably because of tripping

      The last 3 were worse. One resulting in a bite in the lower lip requiring stitches and with a haematoma under the eye. Then a few weeks later falling on the same eye and getting a haematoma on my shin

      In each case I could feel myself falling and landing. This latest one I can't remember anything at all. Consultant seemed to take from this and blood tests etc that my Adrenaline level has dropped considerably.

      Hydrocortisone should help to amend this.

    • Posted

      Eileen. I've tried twice to reply further but the messages seem to be disappearing into the ether

      Have you received any from me?

    • Posted

      Don't think so lorna. 

      Is this your rheumy? Has your doctor done a synacthen test to see if your body is capable of producing cortisol? Is that what the blood tests were?  Have they referred you to an endocrinologist? 

      Have they referred you to a stroke clinic in case they were due to TIAs? 

      It just seems very strange to plump for that when you have been able to get to 2mg before - and you are not complaining of fatigue.

    • Posted

      Hi Eileen.  Sorry for the wait but I'm still feeling a bit wonky, so I'm resting frequently.  Most walks in the past year or so were simple trips but more recently August, September then last Friday seemed harder to explain.

      I developed temporal arteritis well over 5 years ago and was advised by rheumatologist to try to bring Prednisolone dosage down very slowly.  After lots of downs then ups again, he said he thought I would never come off the steroids, but to still try to get low.

      I got down to 2mg daily a fortnight or so ago.

      The fall on Friday appeared to knock me out so I don't know what caused it.

      Anyway, the hospital I was taken to is arranging a visit to an Endocrine clinic, and an ECHO scan.  They also changed me from Prednisolone to hydrocortisone, as they thought the Prd was probably considerably affecting my adrenaline level.  I've had palpitations for many years and three angiograms, but there is no apparent reason for this.  I can only hope that the clinic and scan might find out at last where things have gone wrong inside.

      I have not had a synacthen test, nor been referred to a stroke clinic.

      I'm just so fed up with all of this.  Last year had lots of other internal problems, none of which appeared to have a reason.

      I hope I don't develop a fear of going out to walk now.............

    • Posted

      If you are seeing an endo that is a good start. Though lord only knows what makes the doctors think that HC is better than just raising your pred a bit - not sure they understand how it works. The endo will though. Quite why they have this desperation to get patients off low doses whatever I fail to understand.

      Palpitations would be better investigated by at least a Holter 24 hour ECG monitor - and doing it until an episode happens while you are on the monitor. My palpitations turned out to be due to atrial fibrillation - caused by the autoimmune part of the PMR/GCA damaging the electrical cells in the heart that govern heart rate. My GP ignored them too...

      Do tell us how you get on - and I do hope you don't have any more episodes.

  • Posted

    Hi lorna, It appears that Prednisone has the same effect on you that it did to me. I am down to 9 mg and have not fallen in several months, but fell numerous times on higher doses. I try to stay active, positive and keep a smiling. 🙂 Good luck on the rest of your journey.

    • Posted

      lorna, thanks I am doing well, skiing 4 or 5 days a week, instructing 2 or 3. Still not riding my bike, not that sure of my balance, but feeling better all the time. Thinking positive about not having another flare and slowly reducing my dosage and keeping a smile. 🙂

    • Posted

      Michdonn, you're certainly having great success with your skiing, keep it up.  You are obviously a good bit older than I.  I've not been on a bike for years, except an exercise one at a gym a couple of years ago.  Since my latest fall seemed to include fainting or concussion, I've decided to stop driving.  I used to enjoy it and am fond of my car, but it's not worth taking the risk.Let's hope my clinic visit and ECHO scan, coming up soon (I hope) will be able to find out what is wrong.

      Take care of yourself.

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