How do you deal with dizziness from PMR meds?

Which medications are you taking for PMR, and which do you suspect may be causing the dizziness?

I was taking methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine. neither medication even helped my PMR. Methotrexate only made me feel sick and lightheaded until it turned into dizziness after three months.

I was in the same boat taking Methotrexate and Prednisone at the same time. Sent me to neurologists, cardiologist, ENT, etc. and they ran every test they could I believe. All were inconclusive for cause of dizziness. Quit the methotrexate and dizziness got a little better. Rheumatologist said to try another cup of coffee? Started Kevzara about 5 weeks ago while tapering Prednisone. Currently down to 6 mg Prednisone and still have dizziness but less frequent and severe.

I just started Methotrexate 10 days ago and I have taken it two Friday/Saturdays so far. This weekend I attended a convention at an indoor stadium. I feel mushy headed with head pressure (not sure I would call it a full blown headache) since I started the Methotrexate. Especially the next two days after taking it. Yesterday, when I sat down in my seat after walking a little after my lunch, I thought I was going to pass out. Very light-headed and nearly blacked out. Scary, since I had to drive home for over two hours after the convention. I also had quite a bit of pain yesterday. I am also on 10mg of prednisone daily.

Wow I appreciate your comment so so so very much!!! it was extremely helpful for me to hear your situation. Right now I have seen many doctors also I have been in the ER and not that one doctor had any idea what was causing my dizziness! Again thank you so very much for relating your story to me it is so super helpful to hear that someone else has the same problem also. Wishing you the very very best going forward!!!

I have been taking 15 mg Prednisone for 6 weeks & 3 weeks into it started getting headaches & feeling dizzy or like I was going to pass out. It happens if I bend down & stand up or if I stand from sitting. The rheumatologist said to see a neurologist, he doesn’t think Prednisone & Tylenol are causing it. Could it be from the PMR? I don’t feel like I am getting answers to my questions. I almost passed out at the hardware store & now I am concerned about driving.

I can relate to some of the things you were saying about how you deal with certain medication’s. Every single person reacts differently to each and every medication no two people will react the same. I react very very badly to every medication that I took for PMR not one medication worked for me. Presently I got A very bad reaction to methotrexate!!! I am dizzy most of the time and gotten seen by many many doctors and nobody can figure out why I’m so dizzy most of the time. I was checked out at the ER and went to several more doctors and right now I’m taking one day at a time and hoping for the best. I can relate to my situation when I was taking prednisone. April 2023 is when I got PMR. My rheumatologist started me at 10 mg of prednisone which for most people is no big deal but for me I had a situation with anything over 8 mg of prednisone. I can’t remember how the prednisone made my joints feel really really great I was so happy with that but I always felt lightheaded and never connected it I feel like I was going to faint every time I walked because I was like unsteady on my feet didn’t put two into together until way later. Other people could take 40 and 50 mg of prednisone with no problems at all. So the bottom line is everybody reacts differently to each and every medication and I learned that if it’s really getting you sick speak to your doctor immediately it can’t hurt. My very very best wishes to you moving forward!!!