Severe rash

[Enid500]

Has anyone had a severe itchy rash when reducing dosage of prednisolone.

[SnazzyD]

Hello there. Can you give a bit more detail of the rash and the dose you’re on? People do report rashes here but dose makes a difference to likely cause. Have you tried anything for it?

[Enid500 in reply to SnazzyD]

Hello

Thank you for your response this is my first post on this site.

I was diagnosed with PMR in March this year GP prescribed 15mgs of prednisolone which was fine until October when I tapered down to 5mgs pain came back so GP increased the dose to 7mgs. This had little effect on the pain buI I did develop a very severe itchy rash all over my body. Went to see a consultant dermatologist who put steroids up to 50mgs tapering down by 5mgs every 5 days, this worked very well, the rash cleared up until I got down to 15mgs and the severe rash is back again. Just wondering if anyone else has had this reaction to tapering the prednisolone or could it be an allergy to something else.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Enid500]

I think it is far more likely to be a response to something that the higher doses of pred have been controlling. Quite a few people report developing allergy-like symptoms as the pred dose falls.

I developed an allergy to wheat starch about the same time as the PMR symptoms started. At higher doses of pred I can eat some wheat, though not a lot, but the very itchy rash returns at lower doses. The immunology clinic did allergy testing but nothing specific was identified there - I worked out the wheat thing empirically: the rash was improved when I ate a very low carb diet, returning after we had been on holiday in Italy! The response was always delayed which made it more difficult. It isn't gluten - I can eat other gluten-containing grains but reacted to the Juvela gluten-free flour in the UK which is made with washed wheat starch.

[Enid500 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you

[Enid500 in reply to Enid500]

Thank you

[123-go]

Hi. I do remember have pronounced itching on the outside of my legs between ankle and knee which was hard not to scratch. I was careful to moisturise every morning after showering and sometimes during the day or before bed. I used Palmers cocoa butter which is described as fragrance free. It cleared up after a couple of weeks.

[Enid500 in reply to 123-go]

Thank you

[Daffodilia]

I had an itchy rash all over - had antihistamine and betnovate fromGP - use Avenocream to keep at bay now

[Lochy]

I’ve found as I’ve got to lower doses of prednisolone I develop an itch but not a rash. Always an itch on right shoulder blade and on right breast. The tops and sides of my feet also itch. It’s all very odd but I put it down to a taper. Once I’ve settled on the new dose the itch settles too. If it doesn’t I need to reconsider my dose. Currently on 6mg after 4.5 years of PMR. There seems to be lots of weird little niggles that happen and it takes time to recognise your own niggles!