Prednisolone and red cheeks and taking hot flushes

[Buchanan16]

This wonderful group has kept me sane over the past months since my mums GCA diagnosis begin March answering many queries ive had along the way.My mum had been on pregabalin 100mg twice a day which after her GCA diagnosis and the fact all her aches and pains disappeared once on prednisolone our GP decided to start reducing the pregabalin dose. He feels that any unnecessary medication should be stopped where possible. so over 3 months we went from 200mg to 100mg to 50mg and a week ago he said to stop altogether. She had tapered without any issues till this final drop and within 24 hours of going to zero she started having what seemed to me like withdrawal effects . She had headache for couple days upset stomach nausea which have now passed but shes still having hot flushes and the back of her neck gets soaking wet with sweat and she says she still doesnt feel 100%.

I looked it up and it does mention you can suffer from withdrawal which can start within 24 hours and last up to 2 or 3 weeks.

Is there anyone out there whos suffered anything similar?

My mum is coping with them fine they are more a nuisance to her but my concern is she is due to drop to 15mg of prednisolone on Sat after 4 weeks at 17.5mg and i would rather she was feeling 100% before we do that. Im always wary when we drop as she has been very lucky up till now and i dont want anything getting in way of that.

Another quick one has anyone suffered from like red cheeks while on prednisolone. My mum looks as if she has rosacea.

Thanks again for reading my post.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

hi

Can't help on the pregabalin issue - but red cheeks are listed as a side effect of pred...as are hot flushes.

[SnazzyD]

Pred gave me cheeks like a polished red apple and sweats too. I also had dark half moons under my eyes. These all kicked in with a vengeance about 3 months in.

[Hidden in reply to SnazzyD]

That's very helpful SnazzyD 🙂 I first noticed the red cheeks middle of May - I started pred end of March. It has got increasingly worse and the temperature thing too. I thought the redness resembled the butterfly rash of lupus. GP said it was the pred.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Farmer's wife cheeks are often an effect of pred - and everybody assumes you are really well!!!

I wouldn't drop two things at the same time - I would keep the pred where it is until the pregabalin withdrawal is resolved. Honestly - what was the matter with continuing a really gradual change of dose??? They are always in such a rush. Though to be fair - it wasn't a lot and it wasn't long but older patients are likely to suffer more.

[Buchanan16 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you that was my thoughts exactly to wait till all pregabalin withdrawal effects have passed before reducing dose further. I know everyone is in such a hurry and it wouldnt even be as bad if they had warned us as my mum tends t worry less if she knows its expected.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Buchanan16]

Quite - anything pretty much is bearable when you know it isn't out of the way ...

[Croft9232]

just to add, GP could have given her 75mg to reduce more slowly. I have had the same when reducing Pregablin.

[Buchanan16 in reply to Croft9232]

She was absolutely fine on drops from 200mg to 100mg then to 50mg. It was only on this final drop to nothing.Can i ask what withdrawal effects you suffered from and how long they lasted?

[Croft9232]

I didn’t get lower than 150mg daily as my nerve pain increased, so with my hip replacement coming up my GP advised me to increase.

I am back at 400mg daily but now 1 year on from my Op I would like to try and drop down again as nerve pain is a lot better.

[Leafsong66]

Yes, my very first sign was a flushed, burnt feeling on my face. It fluctuates.Sorry for her.

[Reclus]

hi there sorry to hear about the symptoms she's lucky to have a lovely daughter looking after her. i have the same symptoms of red cheeks and sweats on 10mgs of prednisolone i just bath my face with a mild antiseptic and throw the covers off whenever the sweats arrive.

[Missus835]

Yes. Apple red cheeks, terrible sweats, moon face and horse collar neck. Everyone thought I looked healthy. 1.5 years and still have the cheeks, moon face and neck. I still sweat, but not quite so profusely. I now take my Pred at bedtime which helps me sleep through side effects, and sleep is no problem.

[Buchanan16]

Thanks everyone for your replies maybe my mum will feel better about it now. Its great to know i have somewhere to go where there is so much knowledge about GCA/PMR. Thanks again.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Buchanan16]

Does she use make-up? You get green tinted foundations that calms the redness, some are all over, some are more targeted.

[Buchanan16 in reply to PMRpro]

She really only uses wee bit of tinted moisturiser but will have look into other foundations for her. To be honest as u said people think she looks like she has a rosy glow.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Buchanan16]

The big A do a selection at reasonable prices..

[Buchanan16 in reply to DorsetLady]

The big A?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Buchanan16]

Amazon ...😏

[Buchanan16 in reply to DorsetLady]

Awe sorry i should have realised that🤣