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Prednisone..Shortness of Breath & Rapid Heartrate??

Posted , 8 users are following.

lora1978
lora1978

I have been on Prednisone for 4 mnths now starting off at 80 mg a day and now at 50 mg a day for auto immune problems. I am only 4 ft 10 and have gained almost 30 lbs. I was already chunky before starting the prednisone so this 30 lbs feels like 80. For the last 2 months I have been having shortness of breath to the point where i have went to the ER 3 times for it and they have done EKG, catscans, x-rays and even the blood tests that check the heart to make sure it is ok. Everything came  back normal. I had an echocardiogram this past Friday and scheduled for a cardiac stress test this Friday because I am scared that something is really wrong with my heart as that is what it feels like. I can not walk for a minute without being short of breath and it is scary. It also causes chest discomfort sometimes. I have been told that Prednisone can cause shortness of breath but..To this extreme to where I can not get anything done without feeling like I can not breathe??? It the worse with exertion (walking, going up my stairs at home etc...) Am I alone or is there someone else that can relate to what I am referring to? I am hoping it is just the prednisone and not my heart. My last 3 Dr appts each Dr has also told me that my heartrate was up which I am thinking too is from the prednisone...

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Roni45
    Roni45 lora1978

    Posted

    Hi Lora

    I can relate to what you are going through

    I also have an auto immune condition Vasculitis

    I started on 75mg per day for seven months then reduced to 62.5mg then 50mg and now 45mg.

    I suffer the same side effects as well as not being able to sleep so my Professor has given me Temaze a four hour half life as they call it sleeping tablet. The steroids make me race and even though I get tired and feel debilitated I also get energy spurts. I also take steriod sparing drugs including Methotrexate and another drug Cellcept.

    I'm not sure if you also have to take other medications.

    Initially I didn't put I weight which was very strange however the last month have out on 5kg !! My appetite has also increased and I am puffy all over.

    What condition are you treating ?

    My BP also was high and is monitored

    You may want to get your cholesterol checked as the Prednisone raised mine and I now have to take tablets each evening.

    Hope you feel better soon

    V

    • lora1978
      lora1978 Roni45

      Posted

      Thanks for taking the time to reply. I am being treated currently for Optic Nueropathy. Without the steroids (oral prednisone) my vision goes. I am also on Imuran since Sept as that is a long term drug to help with my eye condition. My Neuro Opthamologist is keeping me on the steroids allowing time for the Imuran to kick in. I have weight gain from the steroids, we are thinking the shortness of breath is from it, i am always edgy and shaky, sweating, mood swings, puffy & swollen and just miserable. My Dr's do keep up with my alot of bloodwork to make sure everything is ok especially with me being on other meds to for high blood pressure and depression. Are you experiencing any shortness of breath at all?
  • EileenH
    EileenH lora1978

    Posted

    Many people have found they can help the weight gain with pred by cutting carbs drastically - I managed to lose over 30lbs I had gained with pred, even though I was still taking it.

    Pred CAN cause severe enough breathlesness symptoms for a cardiac problem to be looked for even though there is nothing wrong with your heart. However - have any of the tests you've had been done while you are actually experiencing the symptoms, especially the chest discomfort? I developed atrial fibrillation, probably because of the autoimmune disorder, but it could only be seen during an actual episode - and even when it was happening I wasn't really aware of it a lot of the time.

    • lora1978
      lora1978 EileenH

      Posted

      Eileen,

      I may actually try to cut carbs and eat more fruits, veggies, fish and chicken which shld help some. The thing is, since on Prednisone I crave carbs the most. I am always hungry since being on that drug. I have been told by those who are on prednisone that the weight comes off afterwards but have not heard that it comes off during treatment and while on prednisone. I am glad that you lost while on it. That gives me a little hope.

      Yes, when I went to the ER they did a BNP test, EKG, chest xray, and another test while I was experiencing shortness of breath and chest discomfort. I also got my results back yesterday from my echocardiogram that I had done last Friday and it was all normal so I really believe the extreme shortness of breath I am dealing with is from the weight gain. i am only 4ft 10 and was already chunky so adding 28 lbs to that in abt 4 mnths is alot. I noticed that my shortness of breath and back pain started around the same time so I really feel it is weight related. I have to try to get some of this weight off me while still on prednisone as it looks like I am going to be stuck with it for a few more months if I want to continue to be able to see.

    • EileenH
      EileenH lora1978

      Posted

      Yes - all you describe are usual side effects of pred - but as I say to the people on my own forum, none of them are as bad as being blind which is also a possibility for them. like you. And we end up on pred for years - not just months. 

      It does help the carb craving when you cut them out as much as possible - try to stick to veggies rather than fruit because it has loads of sugar in it too, sugar is sugar unfortunately. When you eat carbs your blood sugar goes up, your body makes insulin and the blood sugar tumbles - and you feel hungry again. When you take the sugar out it often reduces the cravings. A good diet with veggies, salads, fish/meat/chicken should help lots.

      Good luck!

    • lora1978
      lora1978 EileenH

      Posted

      thanks so much for your replies. i do know that i am going to get a sweet tooth here and there so there has to be something i can eat...any suggestions? i would think fruit wld be ok as i thought it was a diff sugar but i am hearing it is not..
    • EileenH
      EileenH lora1978

      Posted

      You reeducate your palate really quite quickly - once you get used to less sugar you will start to find many things too sweet. It isn't sweet as such  - but a tub with carrot sticks and cucumber chunks in the fridge is ideal as something to keep your mouth occupied. When you crave something it often helps if you get into the habit of getting a drink first, preferably not sweet for various reasons. By the time you've got it and drunk it you often have forgotten the craving. Or go and do something else for the same reason - it really does work! It depends on the fruit and how much - even diabetics are advised to keep their fruit intake down but berries are best. I like nibbling at frozen rasps! Being frozen slows it down too! You can get diet jellies - put a berry in a icecube tray and cover it with jelly to make healthy low sugar nibbles.
  • lesley1414
    lesley1414 lora1978

    Posted

    Yes I to get shortness of breath.and I feel .my heart racing, I also get very tired mentally as well as physically but at night I cannot sleep, I take melatonin and they do help me sleep but sometimes in the early hours I wake up with restless leg syndrome. I also get very irritable which is out of character for me I have an auto amine problem when I first started on the steroids I was on 80 mg's now I have cut down to 20 mg's I also put weight on as well and my appetite really went mad,where I could not get enough food inside me.
    • lora1978
      lora1978 lesley1414

      Posted

      I am glad you can relate. The Dr wants me to eat less while on steroids and I am like..Ummm they make me feel like I am starving..It sucks!
  • Bioklastik1978
    Bioklastik1978 lora1978

    Posted

    Hello Loa,I've been taking a large dose of prednisone prescribed to me for my trigger finger tendinitis I been suffering with in both my hands.My right hand is barely funtional.I've noticed the past few days that a couple of hours after taking the prednisone,I will get these attacks of muscle spasms,pain,my heart feeling like it is being crush and the heart rate forced out of whack.It scares the hell out of me and lasts for about an hour.It seems it may have done something similar before to me when I'd taken it in the past.While they have been helping my hands swell down gradually,these side affects are terryinfying.. Has oneyone out there felt like that whil using steroids?Thnks for any input..~J

  • deborah26407
    deborah26407 lora1978

    Posted

    Hi Lora,  have your doctors tested you for Cushing's Syndome? 

  • Minamii
    Minamii lora1978

    Posted

    Hi Lora, I'm so sorry to read about the problems you've been having.  I have had a similar experience with Prednisone: I developed an autoimmune version of Thrombocytopania a year ago and was on steroid meds for around ten months.  My dose was quite small, 5 mg a day and while I was on it I got shortness of breath, etc. during the day.  I've now been off it for the past three months, however the shortness of breath didn't ease up, and I now have awful trouble sleeping.  I am exhausted, yet just as I'm starting to drift off, my breathing gets shallow and I wake up feeling as if I'm suffocating!  I now have to sleep sitting up propped in a corner against the wall, and my quality of life has really taken a huge dive.  I'm a preschool teacher, and at age 55 it's extremely difficult for me on so little sleep to cope.  I'd never, EVER take that medication again.  And I don't know when, if ever, the side effect will wear off.  

    You have my sympathy.

    Minamii

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