Blood pressure craziness after Steriods (kidney, doctor, heart rate, reactions)
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After a short course of prednisone (for an allergic reaction from an insect bite), my blood pressure went nuts--shot up to 200/100--and my heart rate went from 70s to 100 or so..
My hbp had been well controlled with an ACE/HCTZ, but it rocketed upward shortly after the steroids and I've had a pounding heart (and insomnia from the pounding heart).
Just visited a cardiologist and now I'm wearing a heart monitor for the next 2 weeks and he changed my meds to a maximum dosage (100mg) of an ARB (Losartan), a Calcium Channel Blocker (Amlodipine 2.5mg) and upped the HCTZ from 12.5mg to 25 mg.
Now I kind of feel like a zombie with such a heavy dosage of the 3 meds. Blood pressure is sometimes normal but shoots up at night before bed...
Can a steroid do this to someone?
Scary stuff.
Would appreciate hearing if anyone knows more about this reaction--or advice?
Yes its happened to me, although I never tested my BP my heart rate shot up over 100. But it returns to normal when you stop, or should.It did for me. Its not uncommon. I called my pharmacist and she said not to worry unless my heart rate got a lot higher, so I didn't. It only happened the first day when I was taking 40 mg every day for a week. Next day I was fine, just maybe a bit hyper.
Yes its happened to me, although I never tested my BP my heart rate shot up over 100. But it returns to normal when you stop, or should.It did for me. Its not uncommon. I called my pharmacist and she said not to worry unless my heart rate got a lot higher, so I didn't. It only happened the first day when I was taking 40 mg every day for a week. Next day I was fine, just maybe a bit hyper.
Thanks! My BP and heart rate was way up since May when I finished the course of steroids.
Doc added more HCTZ and amlodipine to my meds. BP is now normalizing...steroids, apparently, can cause fluid retention, which equals high BP (in some of us). And they can mess with your electrolytes, too. (I've been doing some research on this since it was very concerning to me).
Cannot tell you how nice it is to have normal BP--and to sleep again!!
I don't have high BP, which is why I didn't check it. I don't have a way to test it. But I felt like I was going to explode for a few hours, lol. Its not the first time that has happened.
That's interesting, Mrs. PM...seems those steroids are really effective when needed--and can also really impact our health in ways not so delightful.
I know I, like you, will think very, very carefully about taking them again--I've read that every drug has both a positive and a negative--as consumers we have to decide if we wish to throw the dice--most espcially if certain conditions could clear up with time and a change in lifestyle or more gentle means.
Short term I would not be concerned. But my blood pressure can do odd random things and correct itself on its own so I am used to it and my doctor is not concerned. (I've passed the cardiology and kidney tests).
I know I, like you, will think very, very carefully about taking them again-- .
What you should think about before going that far is to consider the dose. What dose were you taking? I can take 20 mg with few or no side effects. Its only when I take 30 or more that I experience it. Your tolerance may be different, but there may be a dose that works for you without the HBP effect.
Also slightly different steroids may not have that effect. I have had a lot of Kenalog/Triamcinolone injections and never had any side effects whatsoever. But the one time I got a methylprednisolone injection I had similar reactions to higher doses of prednisone. I always make sure I get Kenalog now.
What you should think about before going that far is to consider the dose. What dose were you taking? I can take 20 mg with few or no side effects. Its only when I take 30 or more that I experience it. Your tolerance may be different, but there may be a dose that works for you without the HBP effect.
Also slightly different steroids may not have that effect. I have had a lot of Kenalog/Triamcinolone injections and never had any side effects whatsoever. But the one time I got a methylprednisolone injection I had similar reactions to higher doses of prednisone. I always make sure I get Kenalog now.
I took a total of eight pills @ 20mg. each.
My size is not very large and am a senior. And tend to be sensitive to many meds...
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