Blood Pressure spikes from steroids

[Italybound62]

hi. has anyone experienced or know about irregular blood pressure while taking steroids?

I’ve been taking steroids for 2.5 years and now all of a sudden I noticed my heart is racing in the afternoon and evenings. It wakes me up sometimes. I started checking my blood pressure and pulse rate 2 days ago and they are all over the place. It is farely normal in the morning and then by afternoon and evening they are both dangerously high.

Around the same time I noticed the fast heart rate I started getting intense daily migraines at night. So I decided this week to check my BP. I am starting to think the fast heart rate and/or high blood pressure might be causing the migraines.

I’m getting an EKG test today and seeing neurologist on Thursday about the migraines but I wonder what will be suggested as I am guessing it is the steroids that is causing this. I’m on 6mg methylprednisolone About 1 month ago I had to increase from 2 mg to 10 mg due to a flare and then dropped to 6mg for maintenance.

I’m wondering if anyone else experienced the blood pressure and heart rate spikes and what can be done to resolve it if it’s due to steroids. Obviously would love to get off steroids More reason to now

thank you

[Wizards]

I didn't have the racing heart or at least noticed it. However I knew prednisone can increase your blood pressure. I was checking mine because my 94 yr old mother just checked hers and told me to. I was 185/165. I was shocked but not surprised. I had usually extremely low blood pressure so I thought I might go to normal lol.

I went on blood pressure meds and all was fine. I'm now off meds since being off prednisone.

Go to a pharmacy and get your blood pressure checked and go from there.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I developed an arrythmia - atrial fibrillation - but mine wasn't due to pred, it was due to PMR, it started about the same time and long before I was offered pred. Arrythmias can affect BP as well. Atrial fibrillation is common as we age - even without PMR or pred.

You are doing the right thing getting it checked out but since it is a recent development it suggests to me that it is not necessarily the steroids - if it were it would most likely have been worse at higher doses.

Pred can raise BP - but again, would have been worse at higher doses.

[montebello]

My blood pressure was normal prior to my GCA diagnosis and the start of 60 mg of daily prednisone. But my BP skyrocketed quickly afterwards to over 180/100, and I also had jittery hands. I was put on BP medication immediately and my BP and jitters returned to normal quickly.