Excessive cold clammy sweats while tapering prednisone

Posted by staylorrn2000 @staylorrn2000, 4 days ago

Hello. I am new here. I’ve been put on multiple rounds of high dose prednisone this past 6 months with varying tapers that were successful until this last course of prednisone. In the past while on high doses I’ve had warm flushes to my face but never cold clammy skin until this last round and taper. Since I have been decreased to 5 mg daily I have pale cold clammy skin with excessive sweating constantly. Has anyone else experienced this while tapering and if so how long did your symptoms last?

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lluth412 | @lluth412 | 3 days ago

I’ve heard prednisone described as a pharmaceutical sledgehammer. It definitely does its job but it leaves destruction in its wake. I’ve been on prednisone for chronic eosinophilic pneumonia for 10 months. Anytime I dip below 10 mg my lungs get super angry and I have to go back up. Every taper is a drama of crazy symptoms - I’ve had the excessive sweating but not the cold to follow it. Depending on the level of taper, my symptoms last from 1 -5 days. I’d give it another day and see if it gets better and if not check in with your Dr to make sure you are not relapsing on whatever the prednisone was fixing or your adrenal system is not picking up the slack from less prednisone. Hang in there - I know how you feel and it’s miserable but there is an end in sight!

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 3 days ago

Hi @staylorrn2000, there are many discussions regarding tapering off prednisone. I'd like to connect you with the relevant discussions and members. To help me connect you, can you share why you are taking prednisone?

staylorrn2000 | @staylorrn2000 | 3 days ago

In reply to @lluth412 "I’ve heard prednisone described as a pharmaceutical sledgehammer. It definitely does its job but it leaves..." + (show)

Thank you for your response. Wishing you well!

staylorrn2000 | @staylorrn2000 | 3 days ago

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @staylorrn2000, there are many discussions regarding tapering off prednisone. I'd like to connect you with..." + (show)

Hello. I have had many rounds of it for, at first acute sinusitis that has turned into chronic sinusitis, asthma flare, bronchitis, and the metapneumovirus.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 3 days ago

In reply to @staylorrn2000 "Hello. I have had many rounds of it for, at first acute sinusitis that has turned..." + (show)

@otter2154 mentioned a similar situation in this related discussion:
- Prednisone taper: Having trouble getting my Asthma under control
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/prednisone-2/
@ogmom @mpeters @lisalucier may have prednisone experiences to share in addition to @lluth412's helpful post.

I've heard others talk about a taper getting more challenging as the dose is lowered. @staylorrn2000, have you talked to your specialist about the challenges you're facing with this particular taper and the taper schedule?

staylorrn2000 | @staylorrn2000 | 3 days ago

In reply to @colleenyoung "@otter2154 mentioned a similar situation in this related discussion: - Prednisone taper: Having trouble getting my..." + (show)

I have two concerns, one is, has this put me into adrenal insufficiency, or is this steroid withdrawal. Because my Cortisol and ACTH blood levels came back normal after being off of the prednisone for 2 days, the Endo says it can’t be adrenal insufficiency. I’m not sure about that though because I’ve read you can have a normal Cortisol and ACTH level if it’s the pituitary that isn’t functioning properly. They have not done an ACTH stimulation/challenge test, which as I understand it, is the only way to accurately r/o adrenal insufficiency. I will be seeing the doctor on Friday so I’ll see what she says. Now anything below 10 mg brings on all kinds of nasty symptoms so I want to get the bottom of this sooner than later. I want more than anything to get off of this horrible drug as soon as possible; it’s wrecking my life.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | 2 days ago

Hi @staylorrn2000. I'm sorry to hear about the pale, cold and clammy skin and constant excessive sweating with this round of the taper. It sounds frustrating to sweat a lot when you're not exercising.

Though I have experience taking prednisone, I don't have experience with high doses and needing to taper. I've taken 20 mg prednisone for 5 days as needed for an asthma flare, often occurring right after I'm out of town. I have stopped the prednisone after five days with no taper, and it's gone fine.

As @lluth412 mentioned, prednisone definitely seems to do its job and calms the flare. However, my reactions become more unfiltered, and I sleep about 4 hours per night while on it.

Glad to hear you're seeing your doctor soon. I trust they will get your symptoms sorted out and provide you with a plan to avoid unpleasant effects. I've found with other medications where I tapered that doctors have appreciated my feedback on how the taper was going to help make any adjustments, as it appears to vary for each patient.

Since you mentioned any dose below 10 mg brings on all kinds of nasty symptoms, have you returned to the 10 mg dose in your taper? How are you feeling today?

staylorrn2000 | @staylorrn2000 | 2 days ago

Hello Lisa. I have not returned to 10 mg. I’m suffering through until I see the doctor tomorrow to see what she advises. Hopefully she’ll be able to figure out if this is adrenal insufficiency or steroid withdrawal so I can get the proper treatment and get off of this horrible medication. that is definitely a double edge sword.

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