Side effects of Prednisolone

[gordyb]

I am 88 and was diagnosed with Polymyalgia at beginning of July after being laid low with initially hip pain then shoulders, hands and neck, after a blood test was put on Prednisolone 40 mg for a week then 30 mg for two weeks and now on 20 mg for four weeks.

The effect was almost instantaneous and pain disappeared however I seem to have lost strength from my lower legs, feel light headed at times and a little unsteady plus my voice has changed and become hoarse, has anyone experienced any effects like this and if so how long did they last.

Any comments would be welcome.

GordyB

[Hidden]

You have posted in an atrial fibrillation forum so we wont be much help. It sounds like you need to call the doctor that prescribed this medication, which is a steroid. Steroids have great bennefits and big side effects. I would call the doctor if it were me. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

[Dylanis13 in reply to Hidden]

I also have had a diagnosis of possible polymyalgia, have bad pain in shoulders and legs. I am 76 years old. I am trying to get clearance from cardiologist to take prednisone since I have afib and HBP. Do you have afib?

[gordyb in reply to Dylanis13]

Sorry my post has appeared on the wrong site it was supposed to be a query in the polymyalgia forum but I have also been following the BHF forum as I had an angiogram and two stents in April 18 followed a month later by three more stents. At this time the cardiologist noted that atrial fibrillation was showing up so my meds are Amlodipine, Bisoprolol, Atorvastatin and Apixiban for the heart and the Prednisolone for Myalgia.

Before the Myalgia diagnosis I could hardly move in bed and it would take about an hour to sit up and then get up to get dressed as I had no strength in my hands and could not even make a fist or grip anything. As soon as my Doctor phoned to say what the problem was my wife picked up the prescription and I took the first dose, by that evening I could feel the improvement and after the second the pains had all gone. My Doctor did not seem to feel there was any conflict between the heart and this medication so I would say try to get the steroids as soon as possible because the results are almost instantaneous, as I understand it you start off with a high dose and then gradually reduce over a very long period. Best of luck, I hope your Doc gets you sorted soon as I know all too well how painful this condition can be.

[Dylanis13 in reply to gordyb]

Thank you so much for your reply. My script is now ready and hubby will pick it up on way home. They did not prescribe a highdose..15 mg daily. Hope it helps as much as it did for you. It's been a rough time for me. Good luck to you!

[Dylanis13 in reply to gordyb]

I am very glad for the appearance of your post. I didn't know about the Polymyalgia forum. Am now following..thanks!

[john-boy-92]

I note that you posted in the incorrect forum; however I have been prescribed Prednisolone in the past. As Prednisolone is a steroid you will need to be carefully weened off it. It took me several weeks. Whilst I was taking it I also had to take a protein pump inhibitor and calcium because of the effect on bone mass. Prednisolone tends to alter the distribution of body fat. It gave me high blood pressure and I still take medication for that.