Flucuationg blood pressure

[Reader7]

In the past several months, I've been reducing my prednisone from 5mg to currently 3mg. I've had high blood pressure for many years and take three medications for it (despite implementing all the lifestyle changes). About 8 weeks ago, my bp spiked to some very high levels...180/85. My internist added a diuretic to my meds, but discontinued it after my sodium level fell. After 10 days of traveling, I took my bp and found that it had dropped considerably to some very low levels...93/67. So back to the doctor who now refers to me as a "problem patient". Right now I monitor my bp and take meds accordingly...the doc told me which ones to eliminate on my low bp days. My question is is this caused somehow by my adrenals reactivating? Thank you.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

I would guess more likely to be the lower dose of Pred - one of the side effects is increasing BP levels.

As you’ve been travelling have you been more active generally, or maybe a bit dehydrated?

As for a problem patient - what a plonker!

Just keeping monitoring BP - and see another GP (if possible) if you’re still concerned about it.

[Reader7 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for your quick reply, DL...actually the doc said "problem patient" with a smile.

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Reader7]

Well i suppose that lets him off a bit, but if you dont think hes helping as much as he could definitely do what DL advises and change him. I dread to think what my gp thinks of me. YBB

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The low BP is possibly due to them NOT reactivating - but just as likely is that the spikes of high BP were spurious and checking it over a longer period before knee jerk reacting with the diuretic would have helped.

I'm glad he was being ironic - if he hadn't been I'd have suggested a different doctor!!

Adrenal insufficiency can be accompanied by low BP - and you might have been fine at 4mg but 3mg is just that bit too low for you for the moment until it catches up.

[Reader7 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your reply, PMRpro...the high bp readings had gone on long enough to cause concern, especially since strokes are prevalent in my family. I'm thankful to my doctor...when I first went to him with symptoms, he diagnosed me in under 5 minutes and I was on prednisone the same day. His schedule for tapering however put me into a flair...after that he let me taper at my own rate. I started at 30mg in June of 2018 and am currently at 3mg. I feel well except for blood pressure problems.

[piglette]

My blood pressure dropped because of the adrenals. At one point my diastolic was 49. I kept fainting too.