I have had PMR and been on Prednisone since 12/05. The prednisone has helped my symptoms greatly. Currently on 19mg/day.
I began to have rapid irregular heartbeat (Atrial Fibrillation) one month after starting on prednisone. It required hospitalization and I had to be cardioverted twice now to get me back to normal rhythm.
In my research I have found that prednisone is known to cause rapid irregular heart beat.
My question is has anyone else had this happen?
I experience shortness of breath quite a bit and extreme fatigue.
My goal is to get off the prednisone for my heart's sake.
It is great to have a group to share our journey with..
Rosey
I am on Prednisone since 06/05 and at the moment I have 2.5 mg/day. I have had atrial fibrillation some times and have been cardioverted twice, so I take Sotalol for that, see http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/Uses/0,3915,612%7CSotalol,0 0.html I took Sotalol before I got PMR too.
RDSwede
I should have mentioned that I haven´t had any atrial fibrillation after starting to take Prednisone and as mentioned above, I take Sotalol twice a day to prevent me from that.
RDSwede
I have been searching for a support group for PMR and Temperal Arterites for 2 years and am so glad I found this site! This condition has completely turned my life upside down. I started on 60 mgs 2 1/2 years ago and was doing really well and then a year ago I had a complete set back and back up to 60 mgs. Right now I'm on 8 mgs and trying to lower 1 mg per month. The problem right now is going thru the withdrawels because I've been such a high dosage prednisone for so long - so much aching, confusion, no sleep, fatigue but the only way I can get off the predinisone is to go thru this. NOT FUN! This drug has caused a depletion in my bones and as a result I fractured my ankle this summer. There are so many side effects, I don't look like my old self at all. I will be so glad to get my life back again.A recent study (published this week) on school children in Sweden has shown that 80 % have depletion of bones due to lack of calcium and vitamin D. It seems to be due to the "normal" food to-day. I asked my doctor if I should continue to have Calcichew D 3 (vitamin D 3 in it) in the same dosage now at 2.5 mg a day of Prednisone as I had when I started on 30 mg. I got the advice to continue twice a day. Each pill has 500 mg calcium and 400 vitamin D 3. When I read about the side effects of Prednisone (including depletion of bone) some week after I started, I asked my doctor about calcium pills and then I was prescribed Calcichew D 3. After that I have unfortunately had many doctors due to the system in Sweden with free health care. They all keep telling me about the importance of taking Calcichew D 3.[QUOTE=Jackiee]I have been searching for a support group for PMR and Temperal Arterites for 2 years and am so glad I found this site! This condition has completely turned my life upside down. I started on 60 mgs 2 1/2 years ago and was doing really well and then a year ago I had a complete set back and back up to 60 mgs. Right now I'm on 8 mgs and trying to lower 1 mg per month. The problem right now is going thru the withdrawels because I've been such a high dosage prednisone for so long - so much aching, confusion, no sleep, fatigue but the only way I can get off the predinisone is to go thru this. NOT FUN! This drug has caused a depletion in my bones and as a result I fractured my ankle this summer. There are so many side effects, I don't look like my old self at all. I will be so glad to get my life back again.[/QUOTE]
Jackie-we have the same name. Was diagnosed with Temporal arteritis July 19th this year-shocker. Put on 80mg of pred. Developed diabetes 2 in no time. Just been reduced to 30 mgs of pred. Was being followed by primary and just contacted rh again and he seemed concerned that I wasn't followed more closely and thus lowered pred down 10 mg from 40 to 30. After reading all of the info here now, I am concerned if my dosage was lowered too fast this time? But on the other hand with all of the complications that come from being on this prednisone I wish that it had been lowering all along.
I find little info on temporal arteritis and doctors give out little info. Would be very interested in hearing from you and any info that you can share. I am wishing you the best --jkinsman@difxs.com
I
Jackiee:
Would appreciate hearing what the symptoms of arteritis are for you. My MD wants to do a biopsy to see if I may have that. Did you have a biopsy?
I am having severe jaw and temple pain when I have flare ups - and the flare ups are always tied to my reducing the dosage of prednisone.
I sympathize with your frustration in tapering off prednisone- it certainly is a double edged sword!
Rosey
Rosey:
A year ago I had a biopsy in order to decide for 100 % that I had PMR. Nothing was said about temporal arteritis. I have been on prednisone since 06/05. I started at 30 mg and take 2.5 mg at the moment. For a month I have had like pressure from a forehead band on my temples/forehead and thought maybe it is due to my eyesight having changed (I am male and 69) -tension from having the wrong glasses? When I read your posting, I looked up what temporal arteritis is and found out that it is related to PMR. I will contact my doctor next week to find out what I have. There is an English summary of the webpage I looked at, see http://www.smartguiden.nu/diagnoser/010kktemporalisarterit.a sp#start
(The word smärta in Swedish is = pain, so this is from the "pain guide"). As I am already on prednisone. maybe I should take a higher dose. I have no pain and fortunately I didn´t have it when I found out that I had PMR.