Shortness of Breath/Rapid Heartrate on Prednisone

Hi Lora,

Prednisone can cause all kinds of problems and you are on a really high dose.  I have Sjorgrens and periodically go on Prednisone but only 5mg tablets 3 times a day.  It causes my heart rate to go up quite high, was at 174 the other day while I was at the Gym.  Why are you on such a high dose? You also do not state which Auto immune issue that you have?

regards,

mandy

H Lora, I read your post and could have written it myself.  My initial reaction was the same, I went from 78Kg to 105Kg in waht seemed like a week and just felt completely shattered all day every day.  Over a fairly long period of time we have replaced the prednisilone with a variety of steroid sparing agents, there are quite a few to choose from.  We eventually settled on Azothiaprine which works well for me, I have managed tp loose 10Kg in about 2 months.  Bare in mind this whole process has taken 5 years of trial and error.  I have Retro Peritoneal Fibrosis, which is in the iGg4 category of autoimunity.  I hope this settles your concerns.

Hi Lora, I can only empathise with you. When I was first diagnosed with RPF I spent month in hospital, sometime on life support as I couldn't breathe on my own and my weight plumetted, as soon as they started filling me up with prednisolone my breathing improved slightly but I just ballooned, my face was a full circle, infact the slang term for the reaction is Moon Face, every part of me was bloated, as a temporary measure I took Furosamide to reduce my fluid retention but it only partially helped.  Imuran is a trade name of Azothiaprine, so the route they are taking with you is the same as mine.  I can only advise to stick with it at least for a year to see if it works, as with all Autoimune and iGg4 conditions its a long haul processs to get control with a 'cocktail' of medication.

Oh wow....you sound just like me, only I was on a much lower dose of prednisone! I started having palpatations so bad I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest and fast heart rate too. Then shortness of breath and my doctor immediately took me off and put me on plaquenil and then added methrotrexate. I do not miss the prednisone at all and am finally feeling better so tell your doctor you will not take that drug anymore and that he needs to try something else...you won't be dissappointed!

Hi Lora,

I was recently put on Prednisone and had the reactions you speak of with both my heart and breathing. Last week I had a major allergic reaction on the verge of anaphylaxis. The ER gave me steroids and benadryl and pepsid. They sent me home. The next day I could not breath all day, and I went back to the ER flush in the face and having issues breathing. They gave me Prednisone steroid and pepsid and I had taken benadryl before arriving. They then prescribed Prednisone (pack that tapers from 25mg down to 4mg for a week), Pepsid, and Allegra (360mg double the dose). Sunday I could hardly get up and walk to the next room without having a breathing issue. All week I kept waking up in the morning with heart racing pounding out of my chest, and the minute I got up out of the recliner I slept in, I was out of breath bad. I hardly made it to the Dr. On Tuesday, and I could hardly breath in the office. They took me right away as they and I was scared. Dr made me take Ativan as this all was playing into me panicking after my ER episodes and as result I kept almost hyperventilating all weekend and beginning of the week. Dr took me off prednisone. He said it was having bad reaction with my body.He put me on Flonase to help and kept me on pepsid. Said a bit congestion in my ears. Next day breathing was immediately better than it had been, and heart did not race as much. Next day still had heart issues, he agreed no more Allegra that I was having bad reaction. He put me on Mucinex for my congestion as the steroids had dried me out prior and now congestion returning. Today is Friday, a full week since the first initial allergic reaction. I am still on Pepsid, Mucinex, and Flonaise. I have bit cough, but can't bring anything up, and my ears are still bit fluid. Today I was getting heart racing bit when waking up still. I am questioning if prednisone and Allegra still working their way out of my body. In addition, I was getting out of breath a tiny bit when walking around. I can say I am A LOT better than I was with breathing issues and heart now that I'm off prednisone and allegra. I hope your Dr can help you possibly switch to something else. I see your message is 4 mths old, but I hope you are doing better. I'm so sorry as I know it is very scary. It doesn't hurt to get a second opinion, so don't ever feel stuck with this dr. Who has you on the prednisone. If you have told him of the issue with breathing and he has been nonresponsive, I would seek a second opinion. Do a search for the type of specialist you need and add the word "award" to the end. I've found some amazing doctors that way. Then search that persons ratings on multiple sites to ensure they aren't paying for ratings, and you will get an amazing doctor. Keep us posted. Wishing you well. <3>

Hello I am curious what is your eye condition you are having? I was diagnosed with auto immune disorder that the Doctors still cannot define what I have. They ruled out Lupus, MS, etc and said maybe its RA, however the Rhuemtoligist doesn't think so either. I have many eye issues. From Uveitis, Scleritis, to other Eye inflammatory disease. They put me on Celebrix, and other meds for the eyes. And still no hope. Will this ever go away?