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Prednisone and cholesterol levels
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 6 hours ago | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
I was on 10mg pred for PMR from Oct. 9 until February 23rd when I was increased to 40mg due to GCA diagnosis. I have seen my BP alarmingly increase from my normal 110/60 to an inconsistent 180/90 range! Also, my Cholesterol has been trending upward. My recent bloodwork April 20 shows a total Cholesterol of 320! However; my manual BP that day was 110/60- I did say the elevated BP is inconsistent. My research shows that prednisone can cause increased BP as well as elevated cholesterol. My PCP has ordered a Cardiac Calcium Score CT. I am tapering my prednisone now that I am on the Tyenne autopen injections and am now down to 15mg. Also with my recent bloodwork, my ESR and CRP are down to 1 and 2 respectively! I am so pleased that it appears the Tyenne is working for me so far (2 injections) and 1 Actemra infusions prior to the Tyenne.
Like many of you, I have an am weight routine 5-6 days per week and yoga practice 3-4 nights. I have been a vegetarian that eats dairy and fish since 1979. I also avoid all refined sugar, no carbonated beverages, no fast food since 1979. I am 66yo, 5'5" and weigh 109#.
I pray all of us on this autoimmune disease wild mouse ride will find the best Rheumy and be our own self educated advocates. This Mayo Clinic Forum is a great blessing! Thanks to all who share and respond!
Replies to "I was on 10mg pred for PMR from Oct. 9 until February 23rd when I was..."
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Don't let anyone brush off an "inconsistent" blood pressure of 180/90 when your normal is 110/60. I had the experience of getting a reading of 210/110 on my home blood pressure machine. I thought my machine malfunctioned so decided to check it again at the hospital where I worked. I asked a nurse to check it and the 210/110 I got at home was accurate. I was taken to the emergency room and the triage nurse got the same reading. I was hooked up to telemetry with every 15 minute blood pressures. It took maybe an hour for my blood pressure to drift back down to my normal 120/80.
A doctor came in and asked me what I was doing to get the high blood pressure readings. I tried to explain that my primary care doctor wanted me to check my blood pressure more frequently because of an abnormal EKG. The emergency room doctor suggested that I not check my blood pressure so often because that was causing me to have anxiety and sent me home. I'm a calm person and it takes more than a high blood pressure reading to make me anxious.
My primary care doctor got a report and wanted me to have more testing done. Another EKG showed that I had left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) which is usually caused by chronic high pressure.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/left-ventricular-hypertrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20374314
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My blood pressure was labile on Prednisone ... 210/110 sometimes and 120/80 the next. A cardiologist said my blood pressure wasn't being regulated well because of prednisone and started me on 3 blood pressure medications.
https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/prednisone-raise-blood-pressure-3562473/
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I wound up taking atorvastatin for 10 years for similar reasons related to my cholesterol level. It took me 12 years to get off Prednisone which was when Actemra was tried. Now I'm off prednisone, off all my blood pressure medications and off atorvastatin.