Adrenal suppression

[DeanSamson]

Hi all,

I have come to the conclusion that I may have adrenal gland suppression. Reason for this is i stopped taking prednisolone suddenly. I was on it for 4 weeks at 10mg a day. The 3rd week I went up to 40mg a day advised by doctor as asthma wasn't Great. Took my last 40mg on the Friday the 2 days at 30mg then 2 days at 20mg then 2 days at 10mg then I stopped it suddenly. Reason I stopped is because I felt it wasn't helping and was making my skin reason bad. The first 2 weeks after I felt ok then last week I have been having huge panic attacks and feel wierd, light headed dizzy and heart rate goes mad this happens often now. I get stressed over the smallest thing? My skin is getting better but still not 100% and I have had lower back ache and frequent headaches. I can manage all of that apart from the anxiety problem. Feel like I'm going to pass out. I have put up with it for over a week now and you to see the doc tomorrow. I have been on pred many times before but only for 3 to 5 days max and never felt like this. All in all its made me worse with new side effect. Thoughts or advice please? Thanks

[Minushabens]

I think you are doing the right thing getting to see your doctor. I don't know enough about steroids to say one way or another what is causing what for you, but you clearly have such a lot going on that you need to unravel it all & get things back under control.

I'm sorry I can't offer you an answer, but I really hope that you start to feel better soon

[DeanSamson in reply to Minushabens]

Thanks for the encouraging words. I'm going to see the doc today hopefully and see what he says.

[Shellc]

You should never cut down so quick after being on them a while , your cortisol levels are probably down and your body isn’t making enough due to the pred, I did the same , I was on 5mg daily for over a year , I thought I could cut down every other day , was I wrong , I had really bad cramps and aches all over my body and felt so lethargic , I didn’t tell a doc , mentioned in passing at a clinic appointment, my cortisol levels were low , went on 3my per day and I’m fine now , still got muscle pains in arms but now thinking that’s down to Mepolizumab injection and have been taken off if

[DeanSamson in reply to Shellc]

Thanks I spoke with the local pharmacist yesterday who said it sounds very much like an adrenal issue he said the docs might do one of two things either tell me to wait it out or put me back on prednisolone and taper off properly. Hmmmm we will see today.

[DeanSamson in reply to Shellc]

Can i ask what was the Mepolizumab like iv been asked to go on it.

[Shellc in reply to DeanSamson]

It made me extremely fatigued , did seem to help during pollen season but I’ve developed muscle pains in arms so they have stopped it . Mixed reviews from people who are on it

[Hidden]

I was having a few of your symptoms, breathlessness, Palpitations and panic attacks, mine was connected to silent reflux (LPR).

[DeanSamson in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that I also have acid reflux but it's managed with gaviscon I was told my asthma medication was the cause?

[Faith68 in reply to Hidden]

Can I ask what is silent reflux

[Hidden in reply to Faith68]

SIlent reflux is also known as Laryngopharyngeal reflux or extraesophageal reflux.

You can have it in addition to normal reflux, but often there are no sign you have any sort of reflux.

It can cause asthma like symptoms but it restricts inhalation mainly so peak flow ( which measures exhalation) will seem ok

[Faith68 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that.

[DeanSamson]

I spoke to the doctor today and what a waste of time it was. She told me to either go back on the steroids or not as it's my choice. And thinks I have too much adrenalin hmmm this is the opposite of what I'm thinking. She also told me my skin should be better on prednisolone???? She said a month on steroids isn't alot and wouldn't require a taper down dose. I said I'm feeling a little better today and if I go back on them won't this all start again when I come off she just said yeah maybe? Safe to say I'll try not speak to her again.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to DeanSamson]

A month on steroids certainly is enough to cause adrenal problems! It sounds like you have been having problems with that from what you describe.

I have longer term adrenal suppression due to long courses of steroids (2 lots over a year) at various doses. A few years ago before those long courses, an asthma consultant (!!) once told me I didn't need to taper off from a month at 40mg and I got what I now know were low cortisol symptoms - and based on advice from othersI didn't even go to 0 but to 5mg and still felt crap!

Maybe try going back to a low dose ans tapering down more slowly. The Asthma UK nurses might be able to help if you give them a call or at least advise who you could ask. Maybe a different GP, but I find so many medical people are not clued up on steroids.

Oh and it's rubbish to say that your skin ought to be better on pred - pretty sure she is thinking of inflammatory skin conditions which steroids can improve. I believe bad skin as in acne type symptoms isn't uncommon with pred (though can check leaflet). I have an idea it is due to the hormonal effects - as a woman the pred breakouts I get are similar to the ones I get at certain times of the month.

[DeanSamson in reply to Lysistrata]

Thanks Lysistrata,

It definitely sound simular, the strange thing is the panic attacks come out of know where. I had one at my son Perents evening thought in was going to have to get up and leave. I have felt ok ish today. I'm going to see if it continues then possibly go back on them. The dose I was on was 10mg for 3 weeks and a week at 40mg then 4 days later i stopped them. If I go back on them how do you suggest tapering down? Thanks

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to DeanSamson]

Not a doctor so not sure how much I should advise but I found slowly is best. I agree with Shellc below that you should ask for 1mg tablets. Maybe see how you feel and don't push yourself. Totally doable but coming off too fast is not good.

Panic attacks sound horrible but I personally have never had that sorry so not sure if it might be related! I have had odd moods with low cortisol though, suddenly felt quite low and/or aggressive put of nowhere if I go too long without a dose, so might be possible!

[Shellc]

Go back on then to say 10mg a day , stay on fir a week and see how feel then if I’m cut down to 8 mg a day , u can get 1 mg steroids , cut by a 1 mg a day until u get right down , u definitely have to taper down when in longer than a week especially if u start on 30 to 40mg, terrible gp

[DeanSamson in reply to Shellc]

Iv started back on them this afternoon and can already feel a difference (probably in my mind tho) I'm going to see the specialist again on 26th and I'll ask him the best way to taper. But I'm defo going to ask for 1mg tablets.

[Shellc]

That sounds like a plan , I’ve just upped mine because of infection and only stayed on the upper dose for a week but going to cut down by 1mg a day to be on safe side TIL I get to my maintenance dose

[robert1957]

hello dean to help your adrenalin glands recover eat plenty of fruit and veg every hour say an apple then a banana any fruit or veg this should keep your sugars mere level

[robert1957]

drink lots of water