Dizziness / Vertigo whilst on Pred

[SpaghettiWestern99]

I’ve been suffering with nausea and dizziness whilst on Pred, whilst this has been awful it’s not as bad as the PMR pain I was experiencing.

My GP and an a nurse have suggested this could be to do with the inner ear. I do suffer from travel sickness and avoid roller coasters / waltzers because they make me sick for ages afterwards.

Does this resonate with anyone, I’ve thought about travel sickness pills but worried that might make be drowsy?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Some people do react badly to pred, feeling unwell after taking it. Does it persist the whole 24 hours or does it start an hour or so after taking the dose? If so, have you tried taking the pred before bed so you sleep through the worst of it?

[SpaghettiWestern99 in reply to PMRpro]

It persists all day and started pretty much after I began to take Pred. I’m hoping as I taper it will reduce. I’ve not tried taking meds @ different times as I didn’t want to impact sleep. Any thoughts on the travel sickness pills?

[SnazzyD in reply to SpaghettiWestern99]

Have a chat to a pharmacist to see if any are compatible. There are a range and people react differently to them. Personally I find they make me woozy so I only use them if vertigo or motion sickness is really bad. One makes me a bit silly and stoned, much to the amusement of my family one holiday.

Up to my GCA diagnosis I became increasingly more prone to motion sickness. Then Pred made me feel drunk some hours after taking it (I was on coated Pred) so I had to take it for maximum wobbliest at bedtime. It would zonk me out but I got the stimulant effect later in the night so I saw plenty of summer dawns.

We are all different. I hope it will reduce with dose.

I stopped Pred in 2020 but one thing I have noticed is that if I have too much salt, it can bring on vertigo. This is backed up by explanations of Meniere’s where the fluid retention is said to upset the pressure in the middle ear. Pred causes retention of sodium so you could try reducing your salt intake.

[SpaghettiWestern99 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks SnazzyD - nice to hear I’m not going mad. I might try the over the counter meds and will speak to the doctor too. Along with the supplements I’m not sure I can take many more pills

[Karenjaninaz in reply to SpaghettiWestern99]

Once, when I had dizziness for months, I was giving similar pills to travel sickness pills. They made me sleepy and depressed, and I couldn’t work. This was before PMR. I found the ginger root capsules 500 mg two tablets several times a day eliminated dizziness and nausea. I could even go on the ship or a boat and not get dizzy.

[SnazzyD]

is there any time pattern linking taking of the Pred or is it all the time? Did you have it from the start of Pred?

[Pixix]

Yes! Two different things. I have had vertigo episodes for first time in my life…over the last two years (pmr for nearly 4 years). I don’t think they are related at all to the PMR,but could be wrong. I take prochlorperazine for them, this is an anti sickness pill that also helps ‘the room spinning’ bit. But it dopes me a lot. Dr said I should carry them everywhere with me, though, as my vertigo attacks are very strong when they start. Secondly, as I taper down from 5mg I get nausea every morning, & occasionally in the evening. Generally, if I get my brain to accept that’s all it is…I’m it going to be sick, lay still & it passes! If not, then I take cyclizine. Both drugs prescribed, & monitored by my doctor. I’m more used to the nausea now, it’s nasty, but I just wait for it to pass! Good luck!

[SpaghettiWestern99 in reply to Pixix]

Pixix - thank you. Do you know if either are available over the counter?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SpaghettiWestern99]

nhs.uk/medicines/cyclizine/...

medicinedirect.co.uk/travel....

suggests that prochlorperazine is available OTC if you have a migraine diagnosis but otherwise must be prescribed ...

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks! S x

[Pixix]

sorry I’ve no idea, I’ve got a busy morning, or I would Google it for you! I tried a quick one, but got results for australia, USA etc…but Google will know…be sure to put UK in your query. But I’d check with dr if thinking of taking prochlorperazine, tbh. I don’t know what other drugs you take. I’m sure your local pharmacy will know, too. Sorry….

[SpaghettiWestern99 in reply to Pixix]

Thanks for replying, appreciate your support. Have a good day