Can prednisone cause severe tachycardia (heart rate in 170's)

[gonebananas83]

I was in the hospital recently with a HR in the 170's with palpitations, sweating, facial numbness and tingling and a headache. They diagnosed it as SVT or superventricular tachycardia, but blamed it on my lupus since all cardiac tests came back negative. I've been on prednisone before with no problems. Due to recent problems with my kidneys my rheumatologist put me on prednisone 20mg twice daily for 5 days until I saw them on that following Monday. I had only taken one dose that Friday morning. It was 9:30pm when I started feeling palpitations and HR in the 130's and would go higher if I got up. So the reason I'm bringing up my prednisone dose is bc I'm wondering if that could have anything to do with my HR? Has anyone experienced this from prednisone? I know people with lupus who are on much larger doses than that and never have such problems. It makes me scared to ever take it again, even though like I said I've taken it before... Even IV form before! Any insight would be great.

[happytulip]

I have had the same problem when put on a high dose but I have an underlying neurological condition secondary to lupus called POTS syndrome. It means my heart rate increases when I stand up. It makes me feel like I will collapse and would do if it wasn't for medication.

Just out of curiosity it might be worth checking their website POTS UK. .but in answer to your question, yes, I do get palpitations when I increase pred and I have to take beta-blockers for this and other reasons. Prior to my diagnosis in 2014 I was fit and healthy and am only 37 now.

Lupus damaged my autonomic nervous system, hence POTS.

Hope that helps.

[gonebananas83 in reply to happytulip]

So do you think just one 20mg dose could do it?

[happytulip in reply to gonebananas83]

When it comes to auto immune disease and medications I think anything is possible.

SVT can be caused by a multitude of things. I on ever had sinus tachycardia.

I presume they must be following you up for your SVT?

[gonebananas83 in reply to happytulip]

I'm supposed to see a cardiologist. They'll set me up with one.

[KayHimm in reply to happytulip]

Happy tulip — I noticed you have POTS from your lupus. How are you doing with it? I also have autonomic dysfunction from my UCTD, but my heart rate and blood pressure go down. Please message me if you want to share tips. Are you told it is pretty rare? K

[ButterflyEffect96]

I had this during my most recent hospital stay and after. I was given very high doses of methyl prednisolone and then moved onto 50mg of prednisolone. I would have severe palpitations, dysphoria, shakes etc. Once I’d been discharged it took about a month to a month and a half for the palpitations to settle whilst I was still on the same dose.

[gonebananas83 in reply to ButterflyEffect96]

So do you think just one 20mg dose could do it?

[ButterflyEffect96 in reply to gonebananas83]

Ofcourse, especially if you haven’t been continuously on it. Prednisolone causes your adrenal gland to stop/decrease the production of the hormone cortisol. It releases cortisol itself which can cause palpitations and high blood pressure, most times this is higher than what your body is used to producing naturally hence has these effects. Your body should adjust gradually. However if you’re on it for short term the symptoms should reduce once you stop taking it or if your dose is tapered.

[PMRpro]

Pred can lead to a raised heart rate - but so can inflammation and damage to the electrical cells in the heart due to autoimmune disorders. I have atrial fibrillation which first appeared soon after the first minor symptoms of my a/i disorder set in. a/f (and other arrythmias) is more common as you age anyway but in my case they are confident it is the inflammation/a/i disorder.

More recently I've been flaring and my pred dose has had to be raised (only option) and I have found that reducing my pred dose by only 1mg (from 15mg) is enough to allow the a/f to set in quite firmly. The cardiologist says she is happy that it is closely allied to the vasculitis inflammation and since she can't do much more with her medication for the a/f - more pred it is so I can function safely. It IS working well so far.

So basically - what I'm saying is it could be either and it may simply have been coincidence that morning. The only way to really know is to continue taking it and see if it happens regularly - just as I LOWER the dose to see if it is still managing the problem. I know how you feel - when I feel so well at 15mg and have a return of the quite scary symptoms when I lower. I originally established the relationship by finding at 7mg I had paltpitaions and dizzy spells, at 8mg they were better and at 9mg gone. So I have gathered a fair bit of evidence!

[Dalilatm]

Hi! Hope you're getting well. I don't remember having tachycardia previous times when I've taken prednisone, but this year I've had them a lot. I started taking prednisone two months ago, 30mg/day and Oh my..my heart was going nuts. I just keep calm. It's not pleasant at all but I just wait till they go away. I drink a glass of cold water.

Something that makes everything worse is to have coffe or caffeinated tea. That's why I take decaf.

xx