Pred a d blood pressure

[Livlife1972]

I have had PMR now for 11 years 76 years old and here I am again trying to do slow reduction from 9mgs and grateful for all advice I read here .but does pred put BP up as mine is creeping up . I do suffer from anxiety and it can go up when this happens .but need to know if it's pred and if anyone has BP issues and have been put on BP meds .if so how have you been on them together with pred .thanks for any advice.

[Constance13]

Morning Livlife,I had the opposite (as I believe Dorset Lady did). My blood pressure reduced considerably with pred (why -nobody knows).

Original BP - 40 years ago - was 230/160, now it's level at 130/80. Sometimes it drops to 116/65 (again, no-one has found out why)!

So there are many different reactions to the BP theme.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I was on BP medication long before and during GCA and Pred….no reaction with taking both.

One of the side effects of Pred can be raised BP, plus as you say can anxiety…..so if you need medication then take it…unless lifestyle changes can reduce your readings. I’m guessing/hoping you have discussed with doctor.

[Betty_H]

I take prednisone and also have high blood pressure. My HBP is caused by kidney failure, though. The prednisone has not made a noticeable change in my BP. I am on 6 different BP meds, so a lot of experience there. Prednisone does make my daughter have higher BPs, but she's very sensitive.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It could be the lower pred dose allowing some inflammation back which can narrow the arteries and raise BP. Or it could be the anxiety - sends anyone's BP up. Pred is usually assumed to raise BP but that sounds less the case for you if it is creeping up as you reduce the pred.

I've been on pred for over 12 years, been on BP meds for several years now with no problems at all. I can't use ACE inhibitors as I'm allergic to them so was first put on losartan and bisoprolol, both at very low doses, and now just on bisoprolol.

[Livlife1972 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi I would like to thank all who replied to my HBP problem.i will keep an eye on it for a while before seeing GP.the reason being. That some good few years ago I was put on atenalol and had a bad time on these will never forget it .So I am scared of going on meds for this as I know some people have a hard time trying one after another to suit them.sorry to be a whimp but once bitten twice shy as they say.thanks.

[Koalajane]

I am on 2 blood pressure meds, linisopril and amlodopine and both have helped my BP without any side effects. My blood pressure now is 120/60, taken at home as I have white coat syndrome!

[cycli]

Mine used to be regular 120/80, but since getting these 2 it's beenerratic to say the least. Broadly speaking it stays within a range that doesn't unduly worry , but occasionally spikes or dips. I've just accepted that's the picture for now.

[herdysheep]

My blood pressure went up the longer I was on pred. I was walking 3 miles a day and decent diet - made no difference BP increasing, so went on meds which has stabilised it. However well we may have dealt with Covid, it is an extra stress and there are plenty of other stress factors around. Amlo** disagreed with me big style, but lisinopril seems fine.

[cycli]

weird isn't it. Nurse said, do you realise you have irregular pulse? didn't use to .

[Bcol]

Morning Livlife1972 I've been on Amlodipine for a good few years now and have found that Pred has had very little, if any effect, up or down. I take my BP daily and a four week average is always around 110/69 ish, varies a few of points up and down but nothing very much.