Feeling jittery and anxious could this be due to Pred reduction

[Dee1jay2rac3]

Hello this is the first I've asked anything but I want you all to know I've learnt a lot from you all and I'm very thankful for all the advice I've received on this site. Thank you. I just tapered down from 11mg to 10mg Pred last Saturday and I'm feeling very shaky (jittery) could this be withdrawel or overdoing things. I have been under a lot of stress and overdoing things but I'm trying to rest and pace myself now so hopefully this jittery, anxious feeling will go away!!!!!!!??? Any thoughts would be appreciated

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It could be that you have arrived at the point where your adrenal glands have to contribute to the body's corticosteroid supply - usually it is at a bit lower dose but some people only absorb about 50% of the oral dose and so it happens sooner.

And if you are under stress of any sort - it is never a good idea to reduce! Especially if you are also overdoing things at the same time!

[Dee1jay2rac3 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you very much for your reply. I've been to America for my brother's wedding and my daughter went into Rehab just before I left and I saw her on Sunday for the first time in 6weeks and What a difference, she looks so well and I am so pleased and hopeful that when she comes home at the end of June she will continue to not drink. I have read here a lot that even good stress can cause problems. I'm also going for a Sigmoidoscopy next Thursday which is stressful in itself. So I will take your advice and go back up to 11mg for a while. I had been down to 9 for a week before I went to America but wasn't feeling right so went back to 10 and in America I went up to 11to cover the journey etc., and thought I would go back to 10 but hey ho back to 11 tomorrow (mind you I do wonder when I will be able to reduce again as life is always stressful - lol) ☺

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Dee1jay2rac3]

Not surprised you feel as you do - just don't push reductions that aren't working. There is no point in reducing and feeling worse than you did at the previous dose - that should always be a guideline.

It's easy to say - but trying to actively manage situations to minimise stress for you is an important part of living well with PMR/GCA because stress always impacts the immune system and can make the underlying disease process more active.

[Dee1jay2rac3 in reply to PMRpro]

I have been living with stress for so long now. I was Dads carer for 17 years ( the last 10 were horrendous, numerous health issues and Dementia, he died 2 years ago, and although I miss him so much I wouldnt wish him back as he'd suffered enough) I taught myself to stay positive and even though I'm not feeling the best life is good 👍My daughter is getting better, my other daughter is getting married and I have a beautiful Grandaughter, what more could I ask for 😃 so now what I have to do is up my pred and rest, rest rest as much as I can. Thank you so much for your advice

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Dee, it could be a combination of both the latest dose reduction and overdoing things, not to mention the stress you are going through. Pred itself can make us feel jittery and shaky especially in the early days - I remember finding pieces of bone china miraculously leaving by hands and landing on the floor on occasion! But as PMRpro has said, it is never a good idea to reduce when you know you are facing stressful situations. perhaps just returning to 11mg again for a while would improve things for you, especially if the stress is out of the way as well - I do hope so.

[Dee1jay2rac3 in reply to Celtic]

Thank you so much for your reply. As I said to Pmr Pro stress will be around for a while so I'm going to up my Pred. 😀😁

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Dee1jay2rac3]

Dee, let’s hope the stress eases earlier than expected. And revel in those few special moments you do manage with that gorgeous little bundle of joy - meanwhile, enjoy those special little Facebook chats.

[Dee1jay2rac3 in reply to Celtic]

So do I hope things get easier sooner than expected. My youngest daughter is getting married on 16th August so this is working out to be a very busy year lol. I will enjoy the FB chats, it makes me smile just to think about her 😃

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Dee1jay2rac3]

Keep smiling, Dee.

[Q-owl in reply to Celtic]

Yes, plates miraculously fell from my hands too!

[SheffieldJane]

I think jittery feelings are par for the course with PMR. I certainly get them particularly when my life gets stressful. It’s almost as if you can’t quite rise to occasions of stress. Like I said in a previous post, we are hot house plants, orchids and we need that kind of care. It’s not a good idea to taper if you’re ill or stressed. Perhaps pause for a bit.

Is that dear little baby your grandchild? A cuddle of one of those makes everything better.

[Dee1jay2rac3 in reply to SheffieldJane]

She is, her names Scarlett and she's 7 months but she lives in Dunblane in Scotland so I have to make do with seeing her on FaceTime at the moment (a hug would be really lovely but seeing her is good as well) as I have to look after my daughters dog until she comes home (I don't walk her, my other daughter does that, I just throw her ball up the garden and feed her etc) I'm not sure I could handle another journey so soon so rest it is or as much as life let's me lol ☺

[Rimmy in reply to SheffieldJane]

Agree -I am often 'jittery' or shaky when I am overtired or stressed - despite the effectiveness of the Pred in almost all other ways - just part of it all - but a useful 'signal' i may be overdoing things - which certainly abates when i rest.

[Dee1jay2rac3 in reply to Rimmy]

Thank you Rimmy. I think rest is what I need😴

[SheffieldJane]

My four grandchildren are in Australia and I am in Yorkshire. ☹️

I compensate by going mad with the mini Boden catalogue.

Scarlett is a wonderful name.

Good luck with your Sigmoidoscopy. My husband had a Colonoscopy which goes further and he didn’t find it bad at all, much to his relief.

I hope your daughter’s recovery goes from strength to strength. We experienced it in my family and it takes a toll. 🌸

[Dee1jay2rac3 in reply to SheffieldJane]

It sucks when they're away but at least Scarletts (thank you I love her name too) not as far away as your grandchildren and it's a LOT less expensive to get to. I surround myself with photos of her 😃 I haven't heard of the mini Boden catalogue I'll have to look it up. I've had a Sigmoidoscopy before and everything was fine, so I'm hoping it's the same this time.

It does take a toll but i'm very hopeful that her recovery will go from strength to strength as she took herself to hospital without telling anyone and wouldn't leave until she got help. So fingers and toes crossed😃

[SheffieldJane]

Wonderful baby clothes. Google it. You will curse me.

Bless your daughter for being brave!

Take care!

[Hollyseden in reply to SheffieldJane]

Wonderful toddler clothes too 😊

[SheffieldJane in reply to Hollyseden]

My grandson’s are covered in appliqué parrots and giraffes.

[Hollyseden in reply to SheffieldJane]

Bought my grand daughter a set recently with spacemen and rockets on, a wee change from her usual dinosaur clothes haha🐊

[PaulinaCanada]

I get this quite often too. I tend to be sometimes hypoglycemic, and have low blood sugar drop. When I feel this coming on jitters and jelly legged, I eat a few dates or granola bar, something to bring the blood sugar up , the feeling goes away in about half an hour. But that is just me, you may want to check this next time you see your doctor. Pred also causes me to have muscle cramps in the weirdest places.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PaulinaCanada]

Try taking some magnesium supplements for the cramps - pred depletes magnesium in the muscles and that leads to cramps. It is the first line approach by any mainland Europe GP if you complain of muscle cramps. If that doesn't work they look further.

[PaulinaCanada in reply to PMRpro]

Just to let you know PMRpro this has worked thank you for the advise :o)

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PaulinaCanada]

Pleased to hear it - I don't know why it is so mainstream here but other parts of the world don't suggest it!

[Dee1jay2rac3 in reply to PaulinaCanada]

That happens to me as well and I find it I eat something and sit down for 10 mins I feel fine again I don't get the cramps though.

[Robinre]

It might sound crazy but when I get jittery (not often) I take a tiny piece of a Benadryl tablet. Not sure if that is safe with Prednisone but it works and it is just a little tiny piece that doesn't make me sleepy at all== just calms me down.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Robinre]

Just a note: Benadryl contains different antihistamines depending on the country. It may not always have the same effect other than as an antihistamine.