Prednisolone and high blood pressure

[MrsPractical]

Hi Everyone

I thought I would let you good people know my recent success story. I have been taking Prednisolone since Approx Nov 2021. In about June 2022 I was diagnosed with very high blood pressure and put on Amlodipine. I was on 6mg of Prednisolone at th time.This was changed to Lercanidipine earlier this year. I have been having problems with my knees/ lower legs for some time. I wondered whether this was caused by the blood pressure tablets. I had been monitoring my blood pressure and found the average was pretty normal for my age. I therefore questioned whether I needed to still be on blood pressure tablets. The doctor said I could monitor my blood pressure for two weeks whilst taking tablets and if the average was less than 135/75 I could then stop the tablets and continue to monitor my blood pressure for two weeks. I am pleased to say my blood pressure has remained at an average of 129/72 now. I did return to swimming as regularly as I could and have limited my red meat intake. I didn’t have a weight problem. I am now on 2 mg of Prednisolone which I hope to continue tapering shortly. It just proves to me what I thought from the start that the Prednisolone was causing high blood pressure. So relieved, as I had never heard of anyone being put on by tablets for high bp ever getting free of them!

Hope to anyone else in the same situation

[Blearyeyed]

So , is your GP going to allow you to start tapering your BP medication as well?Glad to hear your BP is improving , and isn't it lovely to be proved right. Take care , Bee

[MrsPractical in reply to Blearyeyed]

I have stopped with no tapering of bp medication. Will continue to taper Prednisolone now.

[Blearyeyed in reply to MrsPractical]

Has GP advised you to regularly check your BP and heart rate during the next few weeks to ensure the hypertension isn't coming back without BP medication?If not , it is advisable to do that just so that you can be sure all is well.

[MrsPractical in reply to Blearyeyed]

I have told gp that I will monitor blood pressure every 3 months or more frequently if I think blood pressure is rising. Seem happy that I do that.

[piglette in reply to MrsPractical]

I now check my blood pressure daily at home. I found a FREE app that stores the BP and calculated averages. The app seems to be called ‘Blood Pressure’!

[MrsPractical in reply to piglette]

I’m on my second home blood pressure monitor. Started checking several years back but don’t do it daily as I think it’s important not to get too hung up about it. I do it approx every 3 months and do it twice a day for a week and check the average. I’ve found all sorts of things can affect the reading so always make sure everything is right before taking readings which I usually do three times and record the lowest 2. A major thing I find, is if I have been talking before taking a reading, it will always be higher!

[piglette in reply to MrsPractical]

Blood pressure can vary enormously. That is why doctors should be careful putting people on anti hypertensives at a drop of a hat. I like the app as it does the average calculation for me, including the MAP, and I can just type in the blood pressure reading and it is stored.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to piglette]

Just had a look -there are a few to choose from -does it have any more info to which one?

The App that comes on iPhone doesn’t calculate averages..

[piglette in reply to DorsetLady]

I have just delved a bit and I think it is called ‘feeltracker’. I am sure there are others that are as good.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to piglette]

Cheers

[Yellow-dog in reply to piglette]

hi piglette, I’m interested in this app. What is its exact name please? There seem to be quite a few but I’d like to get the one you recommended.

[curryone in reply to Yellow-dog]

BP journal great app

[piglette in reply to Yellow-dog]

It seems to be called Freetracker. As I said there may be others that are just as good.

[Teekay2]

Good to hear. I am on 10mgms Amlodopine and have been keen to reduce or stop and at my request my GP has sent some forms and I have bought a new BP monitor. I am to monitor for two weeks and return forms. I Bought the Boots BP monitor top reccomendation by Which?Cheapest basic but accurate. Just looked at it online and it has gone from £21.50 to £36.00 in just a couple of weeks!!

[MrsPractical in reply to Teekay2]

That sounds good. I have to take forms into my doctor too. They then record the average on my records. Good luck.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to MrsPractical]

If your surgery has eConsult you can use that to submit BP readings. You can enter up to 24 readings on one form and it works out average.

I monitor and submit about every 3 months.

[MrsPractical in reply to DorsetLady]

my surgery has never suggested that although we do have econsult. Can’t say I’ve spotted that option when I have completed an econsult request. Happy to drop readings in to surgery anyway but great for people who live a distance away. Thanks

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to MrsPractical]

Just for info, once you've selected eConsult - then choose - "Reviews for long term conditions" - new page gives a long list - BP is second on list...

[MrsPractical in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for info. Every bit helps.

[Myfoe]

Back in Aug last year when I was finally diagnosed with PMR my BP was already a little high 160/89 I contend from sleep apnea issues add 60mg of prednisone and it jumped significantly 200s/100s I could feel it pounding now as I have dropped prednisone my BP has followed I am down to 9mg today and a new CPAP I no longer need BP meds (amlodpine) hopefully my moon face leaves and my hair comes back 😂

[MrsPractical in reply to Myfoe]

All sounds good. Hope it continues.

[Merryfield]

Steroids; bp shot up along with glucose. On dble bp meds plus diabetes meds. Trying to lose weight so I can minimize all the meds.

[MrsPractical in reply to Merryfield]

Good luck.