Palpitations with tapering

[Plantmad]

I wonder if it is usual to have palpitations when reducing Prednisolone. I have successfully managed to get down to 5 mgms (last 7 weeks), albeit with the ‘dreaded fatique’. Sometimes on very little exertion or at times of stress I feel my heart will burst out of my chest! It eventually settles with rest. I do have a hiatus hernia - would this make a difference? Sorry if this is a stupid question!

As a separate issue I would be interested to hear if anyone has had issues with low backache when reducing. I read somewhere (and my fog brain precludes remembering where) that this can be adrenal pain as they start to wake up. I realise of course that there are many reasons for low back pain and hope to see an osteopath next week. Just wondered!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Adrenal insufficiency can be a cause of an arrythmia.

The adrenal glands are adjacent to the kidneys (ad-renal) but I doubt that low back pain is due to them - much more likely to be tight back muscles I would think. PMR can have myofascial pain syndrome as a component and that can cause back aches.

[Plantmad in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRPro - knowledgeable as ever and I appreciate the information. Hope you yourself are as well as can be.

[Zebedee44]

Hi, my lovely GP finally arranged an x ray after six months of what started as sciatica and moved into my lower back , reminding me of the pain pre diagnosis of PMR seven years ago. I think a lot of pre existing pain and age related pain begins to surface as you reach lower doses of pred.

It turns out I have an impingement on my hip which might require surgery. I will know more when I meet with the Musculoskeletal team. My GP has been great, I consider myself very lucky to have a great health service here in East Sussex, but not so lucky to have PMR and the additional complications it leads to.

I hope you also have a good GP who is taking your concerns seriously.

[Plantmad in reply to Zebedee44]

Thank you for your reply. Sadly, my GP not so helpful but I will see an osteopath. Yes I agree the niggles which higher doses of Pred masked, are returning. Hope you don’t need surgery, but good luck if you do.

[Pusph]

Hi, I have SVT heart condition so suffer from palpitations anyway and am on betablockers but I do find that tapering to each new dose does seem to exacerbate them! I can be asleep and they wake me up, sitting in a chair doing nothing or out walking - no particular exertion, they just come on. Try lying flat as soon as you can, splashing face and wrists with cold water or letting an ice cube slowly melt in your mouth, hopefully that may help.

[Plantmad in reply to Pusph]

Thank you for your advice. Yes, it can happen even when I’m doing nothing.

[dphu]

I have managed to reduce fairly slowly and have now been a few days off pred. I am always tired and drop off to sleep at the drop of a hat but I have retired and have a very understanding husband. I have just carried on reducing and many other side effects have improved so I would encourage you to keep going with the reduction. If you can get down to 4.5 you should ask for a Synacthen test. I was lucky and the advice was to continue reduction but my friend has unexpectedly been told to remain on 5mg pred as it could be life threatening for her to stop.

[Plantmad in reply to dphu]

Thank you for your reply. My aim is to reduce to 4.5 and the ask for a Synacthen test as you suggest.