Steroid reduction symptoms

[AltGr]

In consultation with my G.P. I've been gradually tapering my steroids down by 0.5mg every two weeks. I've now been on 7mg a day for just over a week. For several days now I've been experiencing what I can only describe as light headiness / dizziness/ queasiness. I am wondering if this is a symptom of steroid reduction. I'm still getting acquainted with PMR, its treatment and effect on the body's natural adrenal function. I would be interested to know how many others have experienced the same symptoms at about this point in the taper.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Could well be related to your adrenal glands. At around this level they should be thinking about kicking back in. When you are on higher dose (for more than weeks) they virtually switch off because the Pred is replicating what they would normally do - i.e. Producing cortisol. So you have to nudge them back into working again - and the symptoms you describe could be telling you they aren’t.

If you don’t have any return of pains or symptoms you had prior to diagnosis and haven’t experienced this previously it’s probably more likely to be adrenals than steroid withdrawal. Or maybe a combination of both.

Have a look at this, it may give you a better idea about what is happening -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Incidentally a bit more information on your profile about start date, start dose and your experiences prior to this would help us answer.

[AltGr in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you DorsetLady for the link. Very interesting. I've updated my profile. I'm not sure what I did to get a profile name of 'AltGr' but I guess I'm stuck with it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AltGr]

You can change it once.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to AltGr]

PMRpro beat me to reply. Thanks for updating profile - gives us a better idea of what the problem might be and therefore we can tailor answer rather than just a stab in dark!

[composition in reply to DorsetLady]

just returned from a PET scan to make sure the sacral fractures aren't related to another underlying cause.......no carbs for 2 days prior and I just overdosed on carbs and am so angry at myself! ON 20 mg., prednisone since oct and added Leflunomide to back down the prednisone if possible. I weigh 140 so it's not a weight issue as much as healthy eating, I felt I needed to go to Mother COnfessor, this site. Rheumatologist wants me to cut to 15 from the 20 but I'm going to go to 17.5 first and see what happens. SHe had me cut back 2 mos. ago and had a big relapse. oh, well, there is always tomorrow and that binge didn't hurt anyone but me.

real reason for the post: both of my front thighs all of a sudden are weak from knee to hip...don't hurt, just very weak. Is this PMR?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to composition]

Agree with your thinking re reduction - 20mg to 15mg - too big.

Leg problems could be PMR or Pred issues, sometimes it’s difficult to know what causes what. Unless you have done some activity out of the ordinary - yesterday or day before that might have caused it?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to composition]

The carbs?????

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not a lot to add to what Dorset Lady has said - except to say if it were me I'd stay at 7mg for a month to see if it settles down before continuing with your taper.

[AltGr in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, I think I will stay at 7mg for a month and see how I feel before attempting 6.5mg.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to AltGr]

No rush at this level. Your Adrenals need all the help they can get! Slowly is the way to go.

Take care.

[piglette]

When I got down to 5mg I had the queasiness, dizziness and dreadful fatigue. I have even fainted a couple of times, I have put it down to the adrenal glands. I did not want to go up as I felt the adrenal glands would happily go back to sleep, I did go to 6mg in the end which improved things a bit. I am staying on that dose until things improve a bit and the adrenal glands get used to having to do some work again after their long holiday.

[AltGr]

Thank you piglette. Sounds familiar. I haven't actually fainted yet. Hope I don't. I'll stick to 7mg for at least a month to see how it goes. Like you, I'm resisting going back up.

[piglette in reply to AltGr]

I did manage to faint in the greengrocers at lunch time. The shop was not really designed to lie down in!! I offered the lunch time shoppers a bit of entertainment though.

[AltGr in reply to piglette]

Hope you did not hurt yourself. With this week's hot weather it's probably wise not venture out unless you go first thing in the morning. Take care.

[piglette in reply to AltGr]

I fainted in the cafe at my swimming pool and that was OK, although I think I traumatised the waiter more than myself. I think he thought I was dead, but the greengrocers is very cramped so I was terribly bruised afterwards, I hate to think what happened, should have been interesting to see.

[Noosat]

I am tapering, and have been on 5.5, down from 6 for five days. I am having your symptoms, especially the fatigue, kind of "on and off" I plan to keep at this dosage until I feel closer to normal, hoping the adrenals will speed up. If I become worse, will simply have to accept that I should increase dosage. So far, I have no pain, which I consider a plus for the tapering. Just wish I was a beer sleeper at night. Good Luck !