Prednisolone and blood pressure

[Doraflora]

Prepare yourselves for a ramble:

I posted on here recently about an increase in my Pred dosage (from 4 to 10mg) because I was having shoulder pain (which I’ve not had before). My fingers began to swell on the higher dose & so a chat with my GP resulted in me going back down to 5mg. So far so good, no additional pain and my fingers have gone down now, apart from the middle finger on each hand.

Moving on from there, I’ve been on BP med for a couple of months and a resulting itching to my skin made me look into the side effects and, lo and behold, an itchy skin was a side effect. My GP said to stop the BP meds for a week, take BP readings and discuss the readings with thr GP next week. I’d much prefer to stay off BP meds if I can, but for some reason my BP is always higher about 6pm, whereas in the morning it is normal. I’m wondering of the prednisolone has anything to do with the fluctuation?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

BP varies quite a bit over the day anyway - and you are probably more active in the early evening getting dinner maybe?

What type of BP med was it? Did you have a rash as well?

[Doraflora in reply to PMRpro]

I’ve usually been sat down for about half an hour before taking my night time reading.

The med was amlopidine and about 2 weeks after starting it I developed this awful itching (which has significantly improved now since stopping the amlodipine)

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Doraflora]

I really don't get why the UK is so keen on amlopidine! It has so many unpleasant side effects!!!

[Doraflora in reply to PMRpro]

I’m in their hands with knowing nothing about BP meds! But Pred does have a tendency to bump up blood pressure, that’s why I feel reluctant to take the meds for it.

I guess I’ll have to be guided by the doc....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Doraflora]

It isn't WHY it is up that matters - it is the damage raised BP can do in the long run. How high is it? I'm on bisoprolol, I was on losartan as well at one time but they stopped that. Mine goes up with "white coat syndrome" - got a lecture at the cardio before xmas, When I checked it at home 4 times a days for a few weeks, not a single raised reading!

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

I get the white coat syndrome,I am on lisinopril and amlodipine, and they don’t cause me any side effects that I can think of

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

You are lucky - so many people struggle with amlodipine

[Doraflora in reply to PMRpro]

It’s absolutely normal in the morning (pre taking Pred) and high at night - average 154/90!😲

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Doraflora]

I do checks at least 4x a day for the doctors - otherwise I never bother! I've also had 24 hour Holter monitors - automatic checks done every 1/2 hour during the day and hourly at night to see the circadian changes which are also important.

Is that average of morning and evening? If so - something must be very high!

[Doraflora in reply to PMRpro]

No, in mornings it’s around 128/80 and evenings are higher - around 150/88.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Doraflora]

I doubt my doctors would get iffy about those readings - but I'd do a few more to see if others are at all raised.

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

[Noosat in reply to PMRpro]

I have exactly the same syndrome, so I take measurmeent at home 3 times a day, and if I have medical appointment before and after.

[Noosat in reply to PMRpro]

I have had none and been taking it for many years. Our bodies are different, certainly in what we can tolerate and what helps

[nallufl24]

I’m on lisinopril and felodipene. No problems with either one

[Bcol]

I've been on low dose, 5mg, of Amlodipine for years and have not noticed any side effects.

[Charlie1boy in reply to Bcol]

Yes, exactly the same with me. Paddy

[Noosat in reply to Bcol]

Same with me.

[Noosat]

I had similar reactions when I was given a statin, so went back to my regular blood pressure medication which is amlodopine and a diuretic.