Hi, am new here and been on Pred for 3 weeks (40mg then 20mg) Told I am now anemic, has this happened to anyone else? Not usually anemic.

[Carol-mc]

Can Predisolone cause Anemia

[SnazzyD]

Hello, what are you being treated for? Anaemia can occur with GCA. Is that what you are being treated for?

[Carol-mc in reply to SnazzyD]

Hi, I was diagnosed withPMR, which I’d never heard of. Have been very grateful for this forum, but not seen Anaemia mentioned

[HeronNS]

Anemia is quite common with PMR. I was severely iron deficient early on and took liquid iron supplements for about a year to get ferritin level back where it should be. Doctor doesn't check haemoglobin so I hope all is well now.... Btw, you can take iron supplements with pred, but not with calcium. Calcium seems to interfere with lots of other things, including pred.

40 mg is a very high starting dose for PMR.

[Carol-mc in reply to HeronNS]

Hello, that’s made me feel better to know Anemia common with PMR, feeling so tired as it is, but,yes, will be happy to take iron supplements, another step on the journey! First doctor gave me 40mg for a week, worked like magic, second doctor thought it was a bit high, put me on 20mg for 2 weeks, which also worked well, now a few days on 17and a half, working towards 15mg! Thankyou for your help, are you still on Pred yourself?

[HeronNS in reply to Carol-mc]

Yes. I started at 15, stayed there for about a month. Never reduced by more than 1 mg at a time, and started one of the slow taper plans when I got to 10. I've been mostly at 2 with a couple of blips for the past sixteen months or so. I think PMR is still lurking, not able to reduce further although every few weeks I give it a try. My doctor suggested the liquid iron because she thought I would tolerate it better, having taken iron pills in the past and not liked them. I had no issues with the liquid supplement and my iron level gradually improved.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Corticosteroids usually INCREASE the haemoglobin content and red cell count but a rare side effect is to cause anaemia. However - is your doctor sure this wasn't already the case before you started the pred? Anaemia is commonly a result of chronic disease and autoimmune disorders in particular.

[Carol-mc in reply to PMRpro]

Hi, thanks for replying. My blood count was good in April,started Pred in May, now it’s way down, so don’t think it was already the case. Having bloods checked again later this week

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Carol-mc]

Sounds as if you are a rare bird!!!!! It does happen!

[Telian in reply to PMRpro]

After 4 years on pred my GP says I am now anaemic! never had it before...

[piglette]

Yes I suffer from anaemia. The doctor said why are you anemic, I said I did not have a clue! I have had a blood transfusion. Perhaps I should become a vampire!

[Carol-mc in reply to piglette]

Now I know some people with PMR do suffer from anaemia, have so much to learn about this. You made me smile though!

[Hidden in reply to piglette]

That goes with the Frankenstein walk!

[Hidden]

I have been prescribed Ferrous Sulphate 200mg 3 times per day by my Doctor about 6 weeks ago no side effects I don't think unless that's what is causing leg cramps in the night. Most nights out of bed 3 times until it wears off. I also take Accrete D calcium med prescribed by my Doctor. Shouldn' Doctors make sure each new medication is OK with existing tablets. I am on Pred and down to 4 mg now and other than the cramps, stuffy nose and dry eyes I am fine. Good luck

[Carol-mc in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the information, I look forward to the day I am down to 4mg. I have Carbomer Eye Gel on prescription for dry eyes, use twice a day, helps a lot.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Try a magnesium supplement for the night cramps - pred makes us lose more magnesium through the kidneys and low magnesium causes muscle cramps.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for that suggestion. I do have some Magnesium tablets but haven't been taking them for a while. It's a case of fitting the various tablets in at differing times during the day rather than pushing them in at one go which I know is not advisable. I am going to take one now and see if it helps although I don't expect miracles after just one but it would be good to have a good night without the interruptions.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

I use soluble magnesium tablets (standard fare here in mainland Europe) and use it as a very pleasant drink - anytime.

[CT-5012]

Hi, I have both PMR and GCA for two years Hb always normal then a couple of months ago my Hb suddenly dropped quite dramatically. GP thought it was most probably caused by pred causing a bleed in my stomach, have had lots of investigations with everything normal. Was on ferrus fumarate but had to stop as it caused a major flare of my IBS. Hb has gone back to almost normal no idea what will be suggested next. Never had anaemia before. Good luck.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to CT-5012]

Was it a single result or did it come back low several times? A single out-of-line result may be a lab error - and be checked.

[CT-5012 in reply to PMRpro]

Only once but had been away from home for ten days and had problems with leg muscle weakness and feeling a little dizzy at times. Have had a lot of investigations as GP thought it was pred causing a bleed in my stomach or gut but everything was normal. Saw a new GP last week, age about sixteen, who was totally useless. Have stopped taking the iron tabs. New bloods show Hb almost within normal range so not too worried about it. Have been on clopidogrel since TIA earlier this year and did have some nosebleeds and lots of bleeding under skin but, no, it will be the pred they said. 😱

[Vanner460]

I have been on pred for over 4 years, starting on 40mg, and having reduced to 2.5mg.

A few weeks ago I went to my doctor as I felt extremely lethargic and breathless, so bloods were taken, plus ecg and chest xray. I was then told that I had severe aneamia, so referred to hospital. After a consultation with the head of haematology i had 2 units of blood transfused. Next appointment today.

2 weeks ago I seemed to have relapsed , so back to doctor. More bloods, ok, but pmr has flared. Preds increased by steps to 8mg, and I will see if that kills the pain!

[CT-5012 in reply to Vanner460]

Hi Vanner, were you ever given any reason for the sudden drop in your Hb? Only explanation I’ve been given is that I must have had a bleed somewhere but no history of any problems with my digestive system even the IBS was having a bit of a rest.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to CT-5012]

There are other causes - so it should be investigated by a specialist haematologist.

[CT-5012 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your advice I will be seeing my choice of GP later this month and will be suggesting this. Definitely will not be seeing the last idiot again.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to CT-5012]

Though if it really was just a single reading and all went back to normal it is probably a problem with the blood sample so far less to worry about. Is your Hb always checked at the same lab? We used to see previous results for the patient so a sudden abnormal result would have rung bells - and we'd have checked it and then recommended a re-test.

[Slosh]

Could be what is referred to as 'anaemia of chronic diseases'. Ferritin can be high - marker of inflammation - but iron low.

[CT-5012 in reply to Slosh]

Thank you, will think about that.

Have just consulted Wikki on that, looks like I am a likely candidate. PMR GCA and IBS and white blood cells are raised.

[Amkoffee]

I've been on Prednisone for almost 2 years now. Then in February my rheumatologist discovered that my iron was very low and she was concerned about it. So my course of action has gone from my general practitioner to GI doctor to hematologist. Finally after months of being on iron supplements and my iron doing nothing but going further down I am scheduled for an Iron Infusion. I do not know if they do those in the UK but I'm sure if they don't do infusions that they do something similar. I hope it will help me and if your iron level does not improve after a month of iron supplements you need to see a hematologist. Since I've been anemic I have start hearing of people who have suffered from anemia for literally years with no underlying reason and I just don't understand why. For me I had an endoscope that showed some seeping of blood and I don't know if that was enough to cause my anemia or not but of course it was fixed. I hope everything works out for you

[Carol-mc in reply to Amkoffee]

Doctor has put me on something called Omeprazole to protect the lining of the stomach while doing more blood tests to find out why I am suddenly anaemic. When things are worrying, it makes a big difference to have you guys to talk to!

[Sallyaches]

I have been anaemia for all the time I have had PMR, apparently you can get an anaemia that’s the result of chronic inflammation. I have had endoscopy, colonoscopy and an abdominal MRI scan all clear. I am down to 2mg of prednisone and 200 of azathoprine and my haemaglobin is now improving. Interesting my G.P.

Had me on iron tablets 3 times a day which was a bit of a challenge to the system, the gastroenterologist recommendation was one every other day and this is bringing up my haemoglobin. If you have been anemic for a while your iron stores are low so you will have to be on iron a while even after your haemoglobin is bac to normal.

Best wishes

Sallyaches

[Carol-mc in reply to Sallyaches]

That’s really interesting, my doctor was making noises about an iron supplement, didn’t know their was an anaemia brought on by chronic inflammation. Thinking that as my inflammation markers go down, haemoglobin should possibly go up? Here’s hoping, Thankyou!

[HeronNS in reply to Sallyaches]

I'd have been a non-compliant patient if told to take iron pills having detested them when I nearly died from low iron many years ago. So that's why the liquid iron. Not a problem at all.

[Vanner460]

The doc at the hospital that I eventually saw today (at 2.15pm for a 12noon appt!) Said that pmr or diabetes could be the cause. This without any prompting.

I am now on an 8wk blood transfusion regime while the investigation continues. Lumbar puncture in August.

All good fun!