Prednisone

[MoeLane]

Do alot of people get the shakes from a large dose of prednisone that last for quite awhile and come and go?

[SnazzyD]

Yes, it’s quite common and can be worst a couple of hours after taking it and may or may not wear off as time goes on. On doses from about 25mg upwards I felt like I had an internal tremor all the time.

[MoeLane in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you for your input. That's exactly how I feel. Not nice at all lol. Thanks again.

[SnazzyD in reply to MoeLane]

I would describe my experience of high doses as being like a tightly wound up clockwork toy that could still only move in slow motion. I know it was the Pred because aged 54 on the Friday I was an active, working, mum and general superwoman with a bit of a headache and by Monday morning I was rendered fairly useless. It does get better, hang on to that.

[MoeLane]

Thanks for the info

[Kendrew in reply to MoeLane]

Like DadCue, I also have experienced some tremors at doses above 10mg. Intermittently though and eased eventually.

[MoeLane]

Good to know thanks

[Joannarosa]

Yep, absolutely....and also feeling slightly dizzy/off balance....The first time I had it - for a chest infection- I did get that quite enjoyable buzzy feeling, but never since!! Instead, on higher doses I have little energy, and the other damn thing is after 4 years on the stuff, leg weakness...

Hang in there friend!

[AliDeJ]

Oh yes. On 40mg and 30 mg I couldn't write properly because my hands trembled and I sang vibrato because the inner tremble came out in my voice. Very strange effects. It was a lot better when I got down to 20 mg.

[Francesbarbara in reply to AliDeJ]

I live like this all the time as I have Essential Tremor, which is another of those completely misunderstood conditions that most GPs are totally ignorant of. I'm glad these feelings have passed for you.

[Predderman2020]

yes - I do. am around 20 mgs, for last 8 months. T

[CoziNess]

Yes, I get the shakes, but I've stopped caffeine drinks and it helps a lot. Also, trai chi and meditation help

[Canarylady]

Yes I do,it seems I get mine for most of the day,looks like I ve been drinking most of the day.

I m not sure why I get it so bad.

Shall read the reply’s to your question now.

Hope your well

[PuttyPenguin]

Yep! Started feeling better on 20mg

[Blonde61]

Hi Moelane

When I was on a higher dose I used to experience the shakes mostly morning time I'm on 8mg and the shakes have stopped. Hope this helps

[Iamfedup]

Yes I was very shaky until I got below 10mg

[Harrywogan]

Melanie, when I was on 40mg was on top of the world I felt like 16 again then I had to come down 10mg and then the shakes started and very agitated but as I got lower the shakes stopped most of the time but still if I hold my hand out I can see them shaking but not often. Take Care.

[beethovenite]

Yes I have been shaky all the time except when asleep since starting pred last summer.

I would love it to go away now I am down to 12.5mg but it hasn't. Beethovenite.

[Quiney]

I started on 60mg and now tapering down with current dose of 20mg. Tremor and lightheadedness persist and not once has my consultant acknowledged that this may be down to the prednisone. Was sent for a brain MRI last week which may have been a waste of time and public money if symptoms cease when I get down to a lower dose. I was completely unaware of how common these side effects are

[SapoKiko]

I know this post is a year old, but thankful to read it, and thought I'd share. I'm 3 months from diagnosis (newbie lol) and down to 11mg pred from 15. I have had the shakes now and then, and generally just eat because it makes me feel better. Tonight I got them around 6pm, almost 12 hours after taking the pred. The worst shakes ever, had to lie down a bit, felt dizzy.

So... I guess it's "normal" eh?

Regards to all, Kiko

[HeronNS in reply to SapoKiko]

I'm glad you found this post. I was having these episodes all last summer and fall, when I was at a higher than usual pred dose to deal with a flare. Of course, right after I told my doctor they seemed to stop, and that was right around the time my pred dose went below 5 again. I did not have this happen the first time I was at higher doses and did not make the connection until recently. Interesting what we come to accept as "normal" isn't it?!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SapoKiko]

I wouldn't say "normal" - but "not unusual"!

Most people seem to suffer this sort of thing a couple of hours after they take the pred - and one way of dealing with that is to take the pred before bed and then sleep through it, But that big a separation is unusual. You say eating something usually helps - it could be you have one of the random spikes of blood sugar being released - which is inevitably followed by a spike of insulin release which sends the blood sugar level too low. But since the spikes of BS are random - they are difficult to manage.