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Statins - side-effects, PMR, Giant Cell Arteritis
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: May 26 11:42am | Replies (22)Comment receiving replies
"Prednisone is incredibly effective in reining in inflammation but can also quickly and sometimes dramatically raise LDL levels and lower HDL levels. Studies suggest that high-dose prednisone can cause this in a matter of weeks and increase your systolic blood pressure at the same time"
https://www.verywellhealth.com/which-drugs-can-raise-cholesterol-levels-698229#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20drugs%20that,%2C%20anabolic%20steroids%2C%20and%20more.
This happened to my cholesterol levels after I was on moderately high doses of prednisone daily for PMR. It was all part of the increased risk of metabolic syndrome for people on Prednisone.
https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/news/corticosteroids-linked-to-increased-metabolic-syndrome-risk/
I think doctors are too proactive sometimes and prescribe "preventative medications" for known Prednisone side effects.
My cholesterol levels and blood pressure skyrocketed after PMR was diagnosed. I went from no cardiac history to 3 blood pressure medications and a statin soon followed. All these medications were started by a cardiologist when I suddenly developed a cardiac arrhythmia and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/left-ventricular-hypertrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20374314#:~:text=Left%20ventricular%20hypertrophy%20is%20a,cause%20is%20high%20blood%20pressure.
Until this time, I was riding my bicycle regularly and was very fit and trim --- all muscle and no fat. I loved to exercise. Prednisone made me the opposite. One of my first complaints after being on Prednisone for a year was "exercise intolerance." My primary care doctor ordered an exercise tolerance test but it was "normal." I maintained my exercise intolerance wasn't normal for me. A few months later I was out doing a 30 mile bicycle ride and nearly collapsed from exhaustion. That was when the heart arrhythmia was found.
Many years later, after I got off Prednisone, my blood pressure medications were stopped one by one because I was getting dizzy and light headed all the time. My cholesterol levels were being monitored because I was on Actemra. My rheumatologist became concerned that my cholesterol levels were too low so he stopped atorvastatin.
Replies to ""Prednisone is incredibly effective in reining in inflammation but can also quickly and sometimes dramatically raise..."
Wow!! You have been through it all!! That sounds awful! I will make sure that his labs are checked regularly not just for the inflammation but also for his cholesterol. It has gone up a little but his good cholesterol is low so the doctor said they balanced each other out. I hope he's right.
I just checked my husband's numbers:
Date Total Cholesterol HDL LDL
2019 219 66 129
1/2024 186 59 115
5/2024 256 110 138
They've made so many mistakes along the way. It's sad really. I get they have a lot of patients and there are lots and lots of diseases but you'd think they could at the very least get the basics right. If I had not done a ton of research, and found all of you on here, I don't know where we'd be. He could be blind, could have had a stroke or a wide number of things because of the GCA.
Thank you for sharing the links. I will definitely check them out.
We were left feeling that the only treatment option for him was high-dose prednisone. And we were not told of the host of side-effects that were quite likely - he's developed osteoporosis, has a swollen face, bruises and bleeds easily, horrible shakiness (when he was on the higher doses, this is getting better the more we taper),
Thanks for mentioning the blood pressure. His was normal last time but at one point it went really high. I'll monitor it more closely at home. I can't believe you had to take so many meds!
I'm so sorry you went through all of that. It's so hard going from being so active and physically fit to having no energy to do anything. My husband was always active too, physical too, and now he spends most of the day lazying around the house. Some of that is due to low back pain he's had on and off the past month or so. It seems to be improving. Also, his high doses of prednisone messed with his sleep and he was getting 4 or 5 hours per night. He's now up to 5 to 6 as we taper.
So now you're off the prednisone (yeah!!) and still taking Actemra? My husband is also on Actemra, down from 80 mg to 30 mg prednisone at the moment. And doing well with inflammation levels. How are you doing now? What a roller-coaster nightmare you've been on! I'm really sorry and hoping for better days ahead!
ps my little chart didn't work in my last. post so I'll do it again here differently.
Cholesterol levels:
2019 his total cholesterol was 219, his HDL was 66 and LDL was 129
1/2024 total was 186, HDL was 59 and LDL was 115
5/2024 total was 256, HDL was 110 and LDL was 138 (after high doses of prednisone starting 2/2024)
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Well damn. Learned something new today! I have my own side effects from my statin but i didn’t know cold symptoms were among those documented.