Has anyone developed tremors as a result of polymyalgia/prednizone?

I too had a slight tremor. Once started on 60 mg prednisone for GCA , the tremor got much worse and couldn’t do fine motor skills, etc. I am now down to 10 mg and still have difficulty with fine motor skills mostly in am after taking prednisone. Also have hand and feet cramps.

Me too. I had noticed a tiny bit of hand tremor when I started noticing the PMR pain.
3-4 months later, I was started on 40mg/day of Prednisone and the hand tremor (especially left, I’m right handed) increased like crazy. Also, painful tingling and numbing in my fingers. Dropping stuff was frustrating.
I have just about every bad side effect of Prednisone. But, with the aid of diet, exercise, sleep and semi-monthly injections of Kevzara, I am down to 4 mg/day of Prednisone and my hand tremor has lessened. Other bad Prednidone side effects are reversing as well. I never though that I would have a “life goal” that was “ getting off of Prednisone.” But, that is my new goal in life. At least for now.
Magnesium carbonate 450mg/day, lots of water daily, and stretching and flexing has really helped reduce my severe hand and feet cramping. Ask your doctor about it.
Good luck. Keep us updated with what works for you.

Thank you… it’s interesting to me how the once amazing drug of prednisone has turned into the enemy. I am taking magnesium . Water and do tai chi… hopefully that will be enough to get me through this spell. It was encouraging to hear your words… and validating to hear that others on prednisone had similar symptoms. I do not want to go down the rabbit hole of looking for different causes and waiting to see different specialists…. If possible I do not want PMR to become my life.. just need to find the routes around the discomfort and pain.

Diagnosed with PMR October 2026, I was started on 20 mg of prednisone that I decreased to 10mg in 10 days because I wanted the lowest dosage possible without any symptom flares. All was well until my GCA diagnosis February 16th and the pred was increased to 40mg. That's when the am tremors started. They would diminish by noon. Now that my Rheumy has tapered the pred to 7.5mg and the addition of weekly self injections of Tyenne, the tremors have fully resolved. As we know, pred is a miracle drug with many, often major, side effects. I am thankful for it, but very grateful to be tapering off. If all goes well, I'll be off the pred by October! For decades, I perform a 40 minute am weight workout and pm yoga that had to be severely modified when PMR pain began. The pred allowed me to return to my original routines. Magnesium is in my multi vitamin. For decades I have drank 48oz of water daily and in my morning smoothie I include fruit, walnuts, cinnamon, turmeric, chia, collagen peptides, ground flax, protein powder, HTB tea and bee pollen. I think this has helped manage my symptoms, too.
I am sad for the severity of your symptoms and pray you find a remedy that helps you meet your goals. There are diet and recipe books for PMR that may offer helpful recommendations.
God speed to you and others on this forum!

Thank you Kayept. Your response is inspirational. Presently my exercise routine only includes gentle tai chi and I must admit I have been delinquent in paying attention to my food other than drowning myself with carbs. Back on the wagon today!!!!

I hope you get some answers. I have not had tremors in my hands or anywhere else from Prednisone. I am on 10mg right now.

I had essestial tremor for a decade. Prednisone makes it worse. I clean up more self-made mess as aa result!

Like some of the above, and you, I had a slight tremor before my pmr journey began. It would show up when doing fine motor skills. (Sottering wires, getting a screwdriver into a small screw, I would bet threading a needle would have been a challange) but then gca/pmr 60mg of pred. Could hardly feed myself, had to hold silverware in my fist like a baby. The lower I went the better the tremors. I started 1 mg today . My tremors have very slowly gotten better, (but not until I got to small numbers .. under 10) I have read that it could take several years for them to completly go away (if they ever do)

Thank you Ron. It is at least reassuring that they will probably decrease with my dosage. What a crazy ride we are on!

@terryartist one more thing, I've found if I'm nervous or upset or in a hurry, it makes it worse. Or especially if I've worked outside with a string trimmer...... 2nd day at 1mg, so far so good.