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PMR and low BP

Posted , 11 users are following.

phyllis10549
phyllis10549

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.

 

2 likes, 27 replies

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  • Oregonjohn-UK
    Oregonjohn-UK phyllis10549

    Posted

    yes I to had to reduce my Hypertension tabs by half - thank goodness

     

    • phyllis10549
      phyllis10549 Oregonjohn-UK

      Posted

      Thanks so much it scared me as I had read it would raise your BP. Will have to talk to my GP.
    • phyllis10549
      phyllis10549

      Posted

      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.
  • erika59785
    erika59785 phyllis10549

    Posted

    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.

  • jean39702
    jean39702 phyllis10549

    Posted

    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.
  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey phyllis10549

    Posted

    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!

    • constance.de
      constance.de MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      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.
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey phyllis10549

      Posted

      Phyllis, defiitely get it checked with the GP - 95/58 is very low.  I hope you feel better soon.
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey constance.de

      Posted

      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. 
    • EileenH
      EileenH MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      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.
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey EileenH

      Posted

      Eileen, thank you!  But knowing how awkward my body is, perhaps my arteries have narrowed since coming off steroids!
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Weird though how Pred can cause hypertension in some whilst causing hypotension in others.  Vive la difference!
    • EileenH
      EileenH MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      I do wonder about your adrenals - have they looked closely at them? Like CT closely?
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey EileenH

      Posted

      I haven't had a CT scan for years, just an ultrasound about a year ago on the bladder.  The radiographer did remark on the fact that I had a kidney missing but I doubt the ultrasound would have given too clear a picture of the remaining kidney.  As the adrenal glands are attached to the kidney, I have often wondered whether the gland might have been removed along with the kidney.
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