Has anyone experienced sudden racing heart with pmr and prednisone? Out of the blue sudden rapid heart and felt like was going to pass out!

[JanieBaxter]

Racing heart

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Janie,

It quite common with Pred. If you type in “racing heart” or similar in search box it should bring up previous posts in subject , and I think it refers to it on Pred information sheet as a side effect. Can’t check drug sheet myself as I’m not on Pred any more.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It may be the pred - but it can have other causes related to the autoimmune part of the disorder. I have atrial fibrillation (which commonly develops as we age anyway) which my cardiologist is confident is due to the a/i part of the PMR having damaged the electrical cells that govern heart rate. It was already present mildly right from the start of PMR - long before pred came on the scene. Once it was identified due to a severe drug reaction (not pred) and managed I realised these episodes similar to what you describe had stopped.

If your GP won't take it seriously and investigate it thoroughly, if the episode lasts long enough call the emergency services as the quickest way to get an ECG done.

[jevuki]

Yes Janie I experienced that as well mine would wake me up in the middle of the night and m heart was racing. I went to cardiologist and he put me on very low blood pressure meds, since I am reducing it is much better if non existent. I am now at 7mgs a day

[maria40]

I have SVT (supra ventricular tachycardia) which was exacerbated by the prednisolone. I now take bisoprolol which keeps it largely under control. I find the feeling of being about to black out which precedes the racing heart very frightening. Do get a referral to a cardiologist or an electro-physiologist if you can, also have a look at the Arthymia Alliance forum on Health Unlocked.