Hot flushes

[NewPMR53]

Hello

I’m on week 4 of daily pred (20mg), 30mg lanzaprozole, 70mg alendronic acid (weekly not daily).

I’ve suddenly started having horrendous hot flushes - mainly at night but yesterday evening had a horrible sweaty and ill feeling 30 mins. Very reminiscent of my early menopause days pre HRT.

I have had a search on here re this but couldn’t find much.

I am still on HRT and only on half the standard dose due to numerous DVT and 2 pulmonary during my 20’s.

I also take vit d, calcium and about to incorporate K2.

So could the meds be interfering with the HRT or this this just one of the lovely side effects?

I am also in the same time frame seeing a recurrence of buttock pain.

My ESR and CRP levels last week were good and showed great improvement (ESR reduced from 73 to normal and CRP from 48 to normal range).

In general pain levels much reduced - hands and fingers getting better now I’m back to taking meds at 5am thanks to advice on here. Some brain fog, some headaches but mild.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Plenty of related posts come up... and also referred to as hot flashes - depends where in the world the member comes from...or sometimes sweating ..

Unfortunately it's very common, you will get lots of replies and advice😊

Just monitor the headaches, and chase up should they get any worse.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The bad news I fear is that both pred and the underlying autoimmune disorder that causes the inflammation in PMR and GCA are liable to cause flushes, Some people get them badly, especially at higher doses and while for some they improve as the dose falls, others just suffer and have to learn to manage the symptoms. Layers, handy fans and scarves that you can put in the freezer all help.

PS - alendronic acid can also cause hot flashes.

[piglette]

I hated the hot flushes. In my case they were particularly bad in the evenings. My nose would start to itch and then whoosh, much worse than the menopause. The good news is that they go away as you reduce.

[Fishponds50]

Sorry to hear this. Sadly I have also been troubled with hot flushes day and night for the 5 years that I’ve been on prednisolone. They are reducing frequency fortunately. I do hope your other pains ease.

[Satya70]

Had lots if hot flashes initially when I started Prednisone (15 mg). They became less frequent over time but in general my body prefers the room to be cooler now than other people. Recently (at 8 mg after 18 months) the hot flashes have become a daily visitor - mostly in the evening.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Satya70]

That may well be adrenals beginning to struggle at the level you are, or that Pred dose is barely enough for your illness. Sometimes it’s difficult to know.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Especially since either way, a bit more pred will probably help!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Very true..

[S4ndy]

I get really bad head sweats. I can get in the shower then dry and style my hair and 10 mins later I get a hot flush and my hair is dripping wet again! I take a couple of medications which have this as a side effects including prednisolone.I have armed myself with fans, cooling bedding and cooling gel pillow inserts. I have to change over my pillows regularly at night as they get wet.

At home it's easy to deal with the hot sweats but not so easy when out and about. I do carry a little rechargeable battery fan in my handbag which helps on the go. I also tend to dress in natural fibres as the man made ones exacerbate the symptoms.

I got all my cooling stuff from Amazon including my huge bedroom fan that is whisper quiet

[Missus835]

Yes. Soaking night sweats. Pretty much nightly. However, I don't sweat during the day. When first on Pred I used to have hot flashes, similar to menopause. These stopped and now the sweats. Last night, with temps being near 30C here in Nova Scotia, the sweats started early and continued right through the night. Even with a fan blowing directly. I'm wondering if the body is trying to regulate temperature and it's more difficult with PMR and Pred or maybe just the Pred.

[moconnolly]

Sorry to hear of your suffering NewPMR53 but at 80 plus I have been suffering from hot flushes by day and also night sweats continuously since menopause. I have now been put back on HRT which only helps by day. I don't think the Alendronic Acid made a difference to me and I stopped taking it once I was back on HRT patches.