Steroid side effects?

[aewin]

After my GCA diagnosis I am on 40 mg Medrol at the moment. The classic GCA symptoms like headache, jaw pain, scalp tenderness 99% gone. Also my dry cough is totally stopped.

But.. I have other weird and frustrating symptoms. Constant tinnitus, ear pressure, tingling feeling in both of my feet and sole. Occassionally blurry vision. Sometimes heart arrhythmia and essential tremor, fortunately they are dissapear after 1-2 hours. Can all of these symptoms be steroid side effects? And all in together?

It is possible that i am so sensitive for these type of drug? My doctor would force to start the methotrexat, but i am afraid that it just would strength the side effects of the steroid.

Thank you again for your help and support!

[SnazzyD]

Yes, these symptoms can be caused by this level of Pred and very disconcerting they are too. The list in the leaflet, though lengthy doesn’t give one an idea of exactly how it feels. You don’t get that until you try it which most doctors haven’t. I found these symptoms were worst at peak blood level at about 1-2 hours after taking non-coated Pred for a few hours. Mine were so severe that I was uncoordinated so had to take it before bed to sleep through the worst before waking at the crack of dawn once the stimulant effect kicked in.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Lot of yesses to your questions I'm afraid - they are all things I had with Medrol during the few months I was on it. It is supposed to have a greater antiinflammatory effect than prednisone because of the methyl part of its structure - unfortunately that also tends to make adverse effects worse too. And you are right - methotrexate also is thought to increase the antiinflammatory effect so that you need less of the steroid to get the same effect but the same also applies to the side effects and that happened to me too. I had "pred effects" while on methotrexate I had never has with pred alone.

They will probably improve with time as your body gets more used to the medication and as the dose reduces. I do hope so - it is all very unsettling for you. But do remember - you also have a serious systemic illness and it can cause some of the symptoms you describe too.

[piglette]

I reckon I had fourteen side effects from the steroids. As there are over 80 there is quite a wide range of them.

[aewin]

I appreciate for your reassuring! I start to feel that this will be a long and bumpy journey for the next months or years. But maybe there is a light somewhere in the end of the tunnel.

I am very happy that i could find a so supportive, helpful and very well informed community here. Sometimes it is the only way where can i gather a strength and positive feedback... And of course a lot of useful medical information and practical experiences.

THX again

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to aewin]

It is why we are here.