thank you and more advice pleeeeeeze. 💗

[Fiddlemum]

so thanks for good advice and support when I was worrying re chest x ray. It was clear.

the 2nd lot of antibiotics Clarithromycin seem to have knocked me for 6 a bit. Wondeyif it isn’t good mixed with the 10mg paroxetine I still take. I wake feeling extremely nervous almost like I’ve got too much adrenaline 🤷‍♀️. I’m down to 2 Mg pred- I didn’t t follow sick day rules(stupidly maybe) the reason being I’m anxious to get off the pred if I can. I’ve read a the link on waking adrenals up - but feel as if mine are on overdrive…is this a thing ? Am I taking it at the wrong time- I take it on waking with Greek Yoghurt.

As usual I’m always seeking reassurance- pmr journey started June 2021….Pred started December 2021.

I read this forum every day and identify with so many of you.

Thank you all.

Fiddlemum xxxxxxx

[SheffieldJane]

I am glad your chest X Ray was all clear. I had a quick look and couldn’t see any contraindications with your anti biotic and your anti depressant. It’s quite a mix with very low dose Prednisolone and your own Adrenals coming back to life. I am not surprised that you feel a bit nervy. One of the reasons we follow the sick day rules is that when we are ill, we need more adrenaline to get us through. Perhaps your Adrenal system went into overdrive to help you out? I wouldn’t taper anymore until you are feeling fit again. Never worry about seeking reassurance, that is the main reason we are here for each other. Don’t put pressure on yourself to get off Pred completely and quickly, you are doing well and are taking a relatively harmless dose. Find some nice relaxation exercises on-line and practice being nice and calm before you get up in the morning. X

[SnazzyD]

If it isn’t drug interactions etc, it could be your adrenal function isn’t good enough to pump out extra cortisol needed for the added stress from your illness. The anxiousness can be a common symptom of this. If you are putting out enough cortisol you shouldn’t feel anything at all; there is no tell tale symptom that says they are firing up. Cortisol gets us through daily life and physical and mental crises. feeling weak, anxious, and empty can be a sign you are in deficit and 2mg isn’t doing the job. Normally I’d say just slow down and reduce the stress but if you are ill, there is a limit to what you can do. Ignoring this in the name of getting off Pred you risk adrenal crisis and possibly a flare of your body is being put through extra challenges of not having enough cortisol. It’s a fine line. Perhaps try 1mg and see if it helps.

[Fiddlemum in reply to SnazzyD]

Maybe I’ll add 1 Mg to make it up to 3 for a few days. I was thinking taking more pred might make me more jittery but I find it all v confusing….

Thank you ladies

[SnazzyD]

well it is in and out of system in a day so try it and see. If it helps you know it is likely to be low cortisol. You may well be pumping out extra adrenaline if your body is in fight or flight mode because it is in deep distress from too little cortisol which is at worst life threatening if it gets too low for any given situation. Now is not the time to try to push your adrenals into working by being on too low a dose. 2mg was likely ok on a good day but not when you’ve got this kind of thing going on.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think the potential reaction between clarithromycin and paroxetine could be causing the sensations you are feeling - difficult to say as different people interpret such symptoms differently.

drugs.com/drug-interactions....

There really isn't any virtue in trying to manage on too little pred when ill - your body needs more corticosteroid to help it get better and you'll feel it if it does.

[Gimme]

Clarithromycin can reduce the metabolism of quite a few medicines and hence result in increased serum levels, so you might feel increased effects from the paroxetine whilst you are on clarithromycin. I know that when I took paroxetine for a short while, it made me pretty jittery, so perhaps that is the reason. If this effect is uncomfortable, I would ask to speak to the doctor, but it sounds to me from your history that it might be important that you complete your course of the anti biotics.