Hot flushes/sweats

[Turkey55]

Hi everyone. I havent seen anyone mentioning hot flushes or sweats on here. I get them all the time night and day. Dont think its menopause as Im 61 and went through that in my early 50's. Is it a side effect of pred. I am currently taking 8 mg. Sue.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Sue, yes a very definite side effect of steroids, unfortunately! On the higher doses (I started at 40mg), and especially during the summer months, I could be found sitting at my computer with either a towel or towelling band (think Wimbledon!) around my head to catch the drips before pouring down my neck. Strangely, the heat would often suddenly envelop me as I was eating a meal, and often immediately following a reduction in dose. It does improve though once you get to the lower doses and will suddenly disappear completely, I promise!

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Celtic]

I meant to add, if you drink coffee that can make it worse, as can eating spicy foods.

[Turkey55 in reply to Celtic]

Thank you. Was beginning to think it was just me! Some days are worse than others had 3 today already and not one cup of coffee! I will bear that in mind though.

[piglette]

Yes, I started the hot sweats with the start of pred. I look as if I have been swimming. The rheumy said it was very common.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Surprised you haven't see a mention - hot flushes/sweats are a symptom of PMR/GCA and also a side effect of pred so really the few who escape them altogether are very lucky. They are often localised - some of mine are just head and neck, sort of where my t-shirt neckline is. Mine are more a sort of "glow" usually but when I had PMR without pred I could sit at the phone or computer and feel the sweat trickling down my spine. Mine also start with a feeling like an electric shock starting at the solar plexus and the sharper the feeling the worse the sweat will be.

Wearing layers helps so you can shed some. I also have a fan on the desk next to me which helps. Sleeveless vests with a shirt on top also seem to be cooler during a sweat than a t-shirt with sleeves. And I avoid artificial fibres as much as I can other than proper sports underwear - but it is difficult to find such functional stuff that is good under normal clothes, always dark in colour.

[lesley2015]

Hiya

Sweats!! - drive me mad - although I can and do get them in the day, often making me feel nauseous first, they are at their worst at night. I have long hair and have to tie it up or it makes my neck sweat even more - not pleasant. I often wear a scarf in the day to help hide my new chins (!?!), but then have to strip when I get a flush.

I am on 20mgs and still get them .... not sure at what point they will go.

[Suetum]

I went through the menopause with just warm glows to the envy of my friends but now with PMR get regular night sweats.

[Caroline54]

I am down to 4 mg pred put on 2 stone in weight still getting the sweats Ben if I do nothing

[Turkey55 in reply to Caroline54]

I have put on 1 1/2 stone and am struggling with 8 mg at the moment..very stiff neck and arms..and yes sweats even when Im just sitting watching TV or at my computer. Very frustrating. I was over weight when I started. So know how you are feeling x

[bettyv910]

How do we know if it is the GCA/PMR or the prednisone causing the sweats? I am down to 17.5mg from 60mg in November and the sweats went away for a while but are again a problem. My rheumatologist said it isn't usually a side effect of prednisone. Maybe a combination of factors? I sometimes get up during the night and have to chance my nightgown and pillowcase. It doesn't seem to affect my legs much at all. I get really hot in my upper back to the point it almost feels like a burn. I lost weight prior to being diagnosed but have gained over half of it back.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to bettyv910]

The International Hyperhidrosis Society (who'd you think might know) says

"Medications are also a common cause of night sweats. Frequent culprits are antidepressants, other psychiatric medicines, hormone therapy, and medications taken to decrease the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood. Even medicine taken to lower fever (aspirin, acetaminophen) can lead to sweating. So can cortisone, prednisone, and prednisolone."

It usually appears in the first sentence of a list of side effects: "SIDE EFFECTS: Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, heartburn, trouble sleeping, increased sweating, or acne may occur."

And frankly - your rheumy might not think so but I've heard plenty of people say it started after starting pred and went away after they stopped it!

I knew that both can cause it because I had sweats without pred so it was the PMR, I still have sweats on pred, they were much better for a long time at 5mg but have returned at 15mg - whether it is the flare or the pred is anyone's guess.

The same might apply to you - the pred stopped the GCA sweats but they have returned as you have reduced the dose, maybe a bit too far.

[8sandylou]

I'm still struggling with getting the Diagnosis but had Temporal Artery Biopsy.....I've got massive sweats but it's a side effect of two of my meds Amatryptaline and S/R Oxy Contin......like you my menopause was done and dusted very quickly in my late forties...Bonus!!!    Have not taken Amatryptalene for years so I forgot the Zombi effect...but proffered to take it as opposed to Mogadon Dr offered (my mother was seriously and irrevocably buggered up by it) .  Waking up in pool of my own perspiration with nasty aroma is happening now and had it before my TA Biopsy site went septic.....also terrible restriction across thump/hand knuckle....pain in foot across top front near toes and yesterday I had an awful stabbing pain in my Abdomen that was there then gone (thank goodness it didn't stay) and only happened once...but also feel like my stomach could turn inside out at any moment.....I put it down to the painful needles I had every morning while I was in hospital to avoid clots....but even iif it hadn't been negative GP does not want me on high dose Steroids.   Every morning and evening I'm checking my eye/vision and the slightest difference I'm off to make a big noise!!!! Lol.  Does anyone else have the sound of thousands of crickets in their head....or could that be the Sepsis ?