Sweating and pred

[Caradomben]

Hi I am on 20 mg prednisolone just now Zbdxss as getting episodes of profuse sweating . Does anyone have this side effect and does it get better as the dose reduces .,

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes and yes! I'm afraid it is a common side effect of pred but if you have PMR or GCA then they can also cause sweats - so it can be either or both. Once the inflammation is under control it often improves and also as you reduce the dose.

[Blearyeyed]

Yes and Yes , just like Pro.

It can be part of uncontrolled inflammation , or...

It is part of the affect that Steroids have on your Adrenal function and Autonomic Nervous system affecting instant temperature control .

As the dose decreases these symptoms reduce , with a spike for a few months when you reach the point that your Adrenal function starts to kick back into control at about 6-3 mg, then back to Normal at doses below 2mg to 0 .

It also causes palpitations , Fatigue , anxious feelings and temperature change intolerance and some sleeplessness or the odd dizzy spells and bit of brain fog for the same reason.

[piglette]

I think the sweating is one if the worst side effects. I used to tell people I had been swimming!

[Pixix]

Oh yes! If I hadn’t been busy asking lots of other questions, I would have mentioned the unmentionable sweating! It was one of my symptoms in the autumn before diagnosis...literally pouring off me! Now I’ve been on 16mg Pred for six weeks it’s not quite as bad, but poor late afternoon for some reason & nights, too (& no, not hormonal!) I like Piglette’s reply...will be telling people I’ve been swimming from now on! Pleased to know it may reduce as I taper! Thanks, all, for yet another learning curve. Off to eat dinner now, then TV until bedtime!

[PMRCanada]

I’m down to 9.5mg and take 2/3 of split dose before bedtime in enteric capsule (no coated pred here in Canada). I time it so the dose is on board by 4am...and that’s about the time that I sweat until I get up for the day. Luckily I don’t seem to sweat much during the daytime or evening, perhaps because I take a split dose (11am and 11pm).

[Caradomben]

Thanks everyone for your replies . I seem to have really bad sweats in afternoon and then it subsides. Sometimes I sweat during the night but not as bad. I also have atrial fibrillation and have noticed the ectopic beats have become more regular too.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Caradomben]

The a/f or ectopic beats? Not the same. I have a/f - the cardiologist is confident it is due to the autoimmune part of PMR.

[Caradomben in reply to PMRpro]

I have paroxysmal a/f. I also have ectopics beats which can trigger the atrial fibrillation. So far all good though.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Caradomben]

So you have potentially two causes for the sweats then , as if you are like me,, at certain times of day your cardiac issue and how it affects blood pressure activity can cause a swing in temperature control and this causes sweats similar to the Menopause for a short period of time until your system balances itself again.

[Hidden in reply to Caradomben]

Every time I go up in dose my heart goes flooey.... I was given Metoporolol 25 mgs 2 in a.m. 2 in p.m. it was the first med which actually stopped the flopping around.

As to the sweating it typically is just my head and my hair from mid down the back gets soaked. It is so embarrassing that I stopped going places like church. It seems they need to cook everyone and I find it so uncomfortable I head on home. My family and friends know I can’t take the heat. My twin gave me a hand held fan to use and it does make me more comfortable but it is still embarrassing. The temperature in my apt is in the low 60’s and very comfortable to me.

I too will step outside on occasion to cool off. Activity will normally bring it on. I can go to the store get my weeks worth of groceries then head home just in time for the deluge. My hair was short when I first started on 50 mgs prednisone and it would drip off the ends of my hair. Now with it longer I have more time to get home as it gets wet next to my head and the outer hair stays dry for a bit longer.

The fun we get to have 🤪

[Caradomben in reply to Hidden]

Yeah.. sounds very familiar. My head and hair soaking at times 😢

[Cyclegirl54]

Yes, I can testify to having a faulty internal radiator! I frequently step outside to cool down!

[paulus65]

Yes - though I've got used to it now. after about 18 months on pred, Tends to have exacerbated the normal tussle with my wife ref central heating settings.

[Noosat]

In the beginning, a year ago, I had your problem, but no more. I am at 5mg., and my problem is I cannot stand the cold any more. I used to wrap up on very cold days to take dog to park, but no longer. I also notice in the afternoons when I become lethargic, I become chilled. I lie down to read, covered by heavy blanket.