Pred and sudden low blood pressure

[Bramble2000]

Hi,

The last two separate occasions that I’ve taken Pred, 20mg and 15mg, my blood pressure has become much lower than usual and my heart feels like it’s going to stop, like it’s going much slower than normal, for me. It’s most disconcerting!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Are you on any other medications? If you have vasculitis that can create raised BP because the arteries become narrowed. Pred reduces the inflammation and can lower the BP.

Bradycardia is unusual, usually found alongside high dose pulse therapy BUT is also very occasionally seen with oral pred:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....

Or there may be undiagnosed underlying cardiac or renal problems.

[Charlie1boy]

Interestingly enough, I experienced what the Consultant called a “presyncopal episode” last summer, which he thought could have been bradycardia.

My pulse was unduly low, but I don’t think this was due to pmr/prednisolone, not least because I was on a very low dose (half mg) at the time.

Probably just my age at 82!!!

[Bramble2000 in reply to Charlie1boy]

the two episodes I’ve experienced were definitely within a few hours of starting the Pred. It’s scary.

[Merryfield]

My bp has gone up since pred. Added more beta blocker. Still high. Bramble, good luck. Try to keep moving.

[Bramble2000 in reply to Merryfield]

I feel so horrendous that I feel like giving up. Hope you have as pain free Christmas as possible.

[Merryfield in reply to Bramble2000]

Bramble, so so sorry.