Vertigo Symptoms in PMR

[ShellyC23]

My mother is currently reducing her prednisone as is complaining of a 'funny head' - not a headache but an unbalanced swimmy feeling. She is convinced it's the steroids so is just tolerating it best she can but surely she could get something to alleviate these symptoms?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Shelly,

You don't say what dosage your mother is on, or how long she's been on Pred, but it is most likely to be a side effect. Unfortunately a 'fuzzy' head seems to affect different people at different doses.

However, if it persists, best she gets it checked out with doctor, just in case it's something else.

Sorry can't be more helpful.

[kingharold11]

I've suffered with this for years doctors have looked at me like I come from outer space when I tell them so I have given up

[piglette]

I have had this problem ever since I started steroids, although recently it has improved.

[Maisie1958]

Hello Shelly,

Just a thought, is your mother on a PPI as well as pred? My GP started me on Omeprazole at the same time as pred. I took it for about 2 weeks and felt dreadful, not just GI upset but headaches and had awful dizzy spells, have never felt so ill. Took a few days after stopping before I felt reasonable. Everyone is different and I have friends that are fine on it. I still felt rather " buzzy" and lacked concentration till I got under 10 mg of pred daily so guess I'm not much help.

Hope your Mum feels better soon,

All good wishes

[bunnymom]

One time on a higher dose when when reducing I had terrible vertigo and went to emergency room. That was at the very beginning and had not been yet been diagnosed. I was on steroids for something else. Later Dr said it was steroid withdrawal. It was awful. Took motion sickness medicine and it went away.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Has she been to the doctor about it? You can't blame the pred for everything - it doesn't stop us developing other things. But without more info about your mother and her pred history it is difficult to say anything.

[cjatthesea]

I get dizzy and nauseous but don't have vertigo....don't believe I ever have. Just this week, my sister-in-law was visiting and made a comment about vertigo. Said she couldn't eat pickles or would likely have vertigo. Seems strange but could be the answer to some problems.