Feeling strange after reduction in prednisoline

[Italigirl]

Have just reduced from 15mg to 10mg after 3 weeks. Was feeling on top of world but on reducing feel fuzzy headed and spaced iut. Go dizzy when stand up and feel as though having palpitations. Is this normal

[SheffieldJane]

You have reduced by far too much. No drop should be more than 10% of your dose, in spite of what some doctors seem to think we can achieve. Quite honestly I would return to 15 mgs and hope to goodness my symptoms settle. If and when they do, I would use the dead slow, nearly stop method of reduction of no more than 1 mg until 10 mgs is reached.I hope you feel better soon! There are no shortcuts, or believe me we would all take them. I think your symptoms are a normal reaction to the sudden drop in steroids, however if they continue consult your doctor.

[Italigirl in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks for that, was very worried but found this site and it is brilliant. Had never heard of PMR until 3 weeks ago. Good to have somewhere to ask questions from people dealing with this and not just doctors with no experience

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Agree with SJ.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'm not surprised you feel strange after a 33% drop in dose like that. I did it after 2 weeks and I couldn't tell you if I felt it then but I certainly would now! That is the sort of dose reduction used for short courses of pred - it rarely works well in PMR however long you have been on pred. Your doctor needs a bit of education,

This is a better approach but even it can be too fast for many patients:

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

I assume you have 5mg tablets? Get a pill cutter from the pharmacy and try 12.5mg first. If that doesn't get you to 10mg comfortably after another few weeks, try going 1mg at a time.

[Italigirl in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks very much for your advise and ref to article. I will start this regime and keep my fingers crossed. Strange disease when treatment can cause more problems as well. Glad to be in this site now.

[herdysheep in reply to Italigirl]

Don't cut your tabs if they are enteric coated though!

[SnazzyD]

Ooh, not surprised, you’ve just dropped about 30% of your dose and your body isn't used to it. I found 0.5mg per week (2mg per month) quite enough at this level.

[piglette]

My gosh, as the others say that is pretty fast. Who suggested that quick a decrease? Palpitations are a side effect of pred.

[Italigirl in reply to piglette]

Thanks for your reply. I was told by doctor to do this. Still new to pmr and really dont understand it all. Will be questioning everything on here now.!

[herdysheep in reply to Italigirl]

sounds like your doc is the same!

[piglette in reply to Italigirl]

Good idea. There are a lot of doctors around who have not got much idea about PMR.

[Kendrew in reply to piglette]

"Palpitations are a side effect of pred" Thankyou for that piglette. Before diagnosis I already suffered from ectopic beats but having settled down, a few weeks into pred, they all kicked off again. I was referred back to my cardiologist by Prof Dasgupta, and cardiologist did necessary tests and they were found to still just be ectopic beats. I found them persistent, uncomfortable and stressful so was prescribed propanolol and they're much better now. Cardiologist would not confirm steroids might have aggravated them and I couldn't find any information that definitively linked the two, so your comment was reassuring to read.

[123mossie]

I was diagnosed 12 months ago, put on 15mgm, it took several attempts to get to 12.5, finally managed it in March this year, having had several unpleasant flares. I’m ok now, I got to 5mgm but pmr is always in charge and will let you know how fast it will allow you to go. It’s difficult to get your head round at first but that’s the nature of the beast! This forum is excellent giving guidance, reassurance and redirection when we need it.

[Italigirl in reply to 123mossie]

Yes thanks, this site will be a godsend for advice from people who are experiencing the same..amazing for me, it is all so new and worrying at the moment

[Triumph650]

Too much too quick, I reduce 1mg a month and each time the first three days are up and down

[Loyd]

Oh poor you! Far too fast a drop. I’m trying to get down to 10mg for the second time after coming down too fast and getting a massive flair and having to increase the dose back up. I’m neurotic now and have bought a pill cutter on Amazon! I’m on 12mg and reducing by half a milligram a time. I’d go back up to 15mg and stabilise for a few weeks. Good luck. 🤞🤞

[sueysue]

My hubby has reduced by 1 mg every 6 weeks. He started at 15 and has just hot down to 1mg. Fingers crossed no return of symptoms or anything

[Kendrew]

Thankyou for that DadCue. I must admit I didn't look at Mayo clinic...... just usual uk websites, but where I had seen it listed under similar criteria I'd interpreted it as being more of a possible medical emergency and therefore unusual, rather than a common side effect. Thankfully I have had my palpitations checked out thoroughly and all was indeed ok. Thankyou again for responding.