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On pred for pmr. Reducing to 8 mg. seem to have surfeit of adrenalin

Posted , 11 users are following.

jan21306
jan21306

I am reducing from 81/2 to 8 mg pred.  Feels like I am having a permanent   panic attack.  Fast heartbeat, strong tingling in legs and feet, dizzy, stomach problems, restless, shaking, exhausted.    I have just been diagnosed with A-Fib and am waiting to go to fast track clinic next week, so worried about that too.  Is it the pred causing these symptoms of excess of adrenalin?  Also if Eileen reads this, can you give me some advice regarding the A-Fib please, as I remember you saying you have it.   Thank you 

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Anhaga
    Anhaga jan21306

    Posted

    I had a few days when making a reduction, I think it was only from 10 to 9, but it might have been when starting 9 to 8, it seems ages ago now, when I felt sort of panicked.  I don't think it was as bad as your sensations are, but I felt like I should be doing something, as though I were facing a crisis.  I don't suppose it can be a surfeit of adrenalin if prednisone has stopped our adrenals from producing the hormone, so I guess it must be a reaction to the lowered dose of pred.  When I asked about that in a forum no one seemed particularly concerned.  I'm glad you are going to be seen promptly re the AFib.
    • philoso4
      philoso4 Anhaga

      Posted

      I'm very interested in learning more about this topic. I have experienced the rapid pulse, tingling hands and feet, panicky feeling. Mine was also accompanied with high blood pressure. I think I recall that each instant was associated with rapid breathing, sometimes following exertion, sometimes not.
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga philoso4

      Posted

      I think my experience was that it felt like fear, only that was disconcerting as I had nothing consciously to be afraid of.  It went away after a few days and I haven't been aware of it since.  I wonder if it IS something to do with the level of pred in the body, which might vary a bit from person to person, but show up at roughly the same place (under 10, approaching 7)?
    • jan21306
      jan21306 Anhaga

      Posted

      I wondered if it was possible that my adrenals had started kicking in as well.  It is a very uncomfortable feeling.  
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga jan21306

      Posted

      So do you think that this would have been a good moment to reduce the pred a bit more?  Hmmm, too late to experiment now, but it will be interesting to see if this happens again as we get lower.
  • debbie27473
    debbie27473 jan21306

    Posted

    Hi Jan. Are you on other meds as well? Just wondered as I had these problems and it turned out to be the Omeprazole which I was taking for gastric reflux. This wasn't recognised by the medical profession. It was only when my Omeprazole was changed to Pantoprazole due to my developing a gastric ulcer, I suddenly realized that the palpitations and anxious feelings had ceased and my pulse had returned to normal! Just a thought. We tend to first blame Pred for everything. I know I do. Good luck. Take care, Debbie.
    • jan21306
      jan21306 debbie27473

      Posted

      Yes, I take omeprazole as well.  But I have taken it on and off for 12 years and not had these problems before.  I also am on a beta blocker.  I think it must be the pmr/pred side of things as I am reducing at the moment.  It certainly makes me feel very weird at the moment.  
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