Blood pressure while on ACTEMRA

[Plains]

Hello, I had my infusion on Wednesday. I was exposed to someone with Covid the Sunday before and thought I may have covid because of the pretty bad headache I developed in Friday. As the day went on it got worse so I decided to check my blood pressure since I did not have any other covid symptoms. My pressure was 157/96. I already take blood pressure medication but my question is, could this spike be due to the infusion I had on Wednesday? I felt fine the next day and my blood pressure is now fine.

Has anyone else experienced this and if so what did your doctor do?

Thank you and have a great day!🌻

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It could be - it is a listed adverse effect of Actemra, together with raised cholesterol. My BP hasn't gone up on the injections - in fact it seems to be slightly lower as the pred dose reduced. Was that your first infusion?

I'm surprised that you had a headache at that level, it is high but not desperately so.

[Plains in reply to PMRpro]

it was my second infusion.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Plains]

Have you asked the team that deal with the infusions?

[Plains in reply to PMRpro]

since this just happened, I will contact them before my next treatment. I will also let the doctor know.

[Grammy80]

I take weekly injections of Actemra~~my blood pressure can be erratic, up around 150/85 one day and 104/60 the next. I do take Lisinopril, but I don't believe it is the Actemra in my case. Try keeping a record of it each day and that may explain why. Did Tylenol relieve your headache, I think you call it paracetamol???? Help, Pro!!

I hope all goes smoothly for you...💞

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Grammy80]

Correct!!!

[Grammy80 in reply to PMRpro]

The English bit of me is flourishing...I'm learning.💞💞

[Sharitone in reply to Grammy80]

And our American is coming on by leaps and bounds! But I think Plains is also American - so takes Tylenol, Prednisone and Actemra😆

[Plains in reply to Sharitone]

yes I am 😃

[Plains in reply to Grammy80]

thank you for your response. I also take a blood pressure medication. I have been keeping track and that is one of the reasons I am thinking it is due to the Actemra. I get 500 mg in one dose. I have to fit the insurance to cover it.

[Grammy80 in reply to Plains]

I didn't realize what your dosage was. I take an injection each week which is 162 mg....a lot less that you are getting at once. I do hope it helps you as much as it helps me.

tocilizumab (Actemra) 162 MG/0.9ML SOSY injection

[Plains in reply to Grammy80]

thank you, yes it is a lot all at once. So far so good, down to 10 mg of prednisone so far.

[JuneWalker]

I do weekly self injections of Actemra(162 mg). Actemra did not cause my bp to elevate. I have never had high bp until I started Prednisone for my GCA. On Namipril and it keeps my bp under control.

[Grammy80 in reply to JuneWalker]

So true, my prednisone had sent my BP, cholesterol and sugar through the roof for two years. While hospitalized in 2019 and getting three days of methylprednisolone 1000mg daily IV, I had to be given insulin injections, all steroid induced. Now that I am down to 5mg per day, my numbers are healthy too! 💞

[JuneWalker in reply to Grammy80]

So happy to hear your numbers are healthy. I am down to 10 mgs for two weeks. Had bloodwork done today and all my results were great. Next taper is 7.5 mgs.

[Plains]

thank you