My Experiences Over the Last Month With Steroids
I was prescribed MethylPREDNISolone 4mg in December for severe allergies and sinusitis. I went through all 6 days with what I thought were symptoms of my sinuses. Facial swelling, increased BPs and a feeling of paranoia that I was going to die (attributed that to my mother's death at 43 from asthma). Fast forward to January I had an Orthopedic appointment about a shoulder injury I'd been putting off. He prescribed me MethylPREDNISolone 4mg along with 600mg Ibprofen 3x day. From day 1 I was miserable! I couldn't sleep, my face & tongue swelled up and went numb! I went to the ER thinking I was having a stroke. They were no help except to point out it wasn't a stroke which I was grateful but said there was no way it was the steroids! What? The package insert lists the symptoms I had as severe reactions!!! I was furious, and even more so when they prescribed Xanax because they said it was a panic/anxiety attack. But they insisted I finish it, since I was just coming off a medication for my HR that caused problems they said it was that. After 3 weeks I felt better. ... more »
I was prescribed MethylPREDNISolone 4mg in December for severe allergies and sinusitis. I went through all 6 days with what I thought were symptoms of my sinuses. Facial swelling, increased BPs and a feeling of paranoia that I was going to die (attributed that to my mother's death at 43 from asthma). Fast forward to January I had an Orthopedic appointment about a shoulder injury I'd been putting off. He prescribed me MethylPREDNISolone 4mg along with 600mg Ibprofen 3x day. From day 1 I was miserable! I couldn't sleep, my face & tongue swelled up and went numb! I went to the ER thinking I was having a stroke. They were no help except to point out it wasn't a stroke which I was grateful but said there was no way it was the steroids! What? The package insert lists the symptoms I had as severe reactions!!! I was furious, and even more so when they prescribed Xanax because they said it was a panic/anxiety attack. But they insisted I finish it, since I was just coming off a medication for my HR that caused problems they said it was that. After 3 weeks I felt better.
Went to see the Orthopedic doctor this past Thursday. He too thought it was the HR medication and since my shoulder still hurt prescribed me MethylPREDNISolone 4mg. Now you might be asking yourself what I have been asking for the past 12 hours, why did I take it? I have no idea, trust in medical system I guess.
First day was fine. Second day I was irritable, BP's were off, anxiety was coming on and I had a 'taste' in my mouth I could not get rid of no matter what I did or how many times I brushed my teeth.
Day 3 This morning I woke up with dangerously high BP's (180/99) and my heart rate was only 57 (NOT normal for my weight/activity level or age ~ 65 is usually normal and feels right to me.) I was dizzy and had nausea. I went back to bed, propped up my feet and sat back a couple hours. BPs came down some, HR stayed down (doesn't even come up much when I walk!) and I woke up with the shakes from head to toe. As soon as I got up, BPs are back through the roof (I72/77) didn't take any of day 3 and do not plan on it. I think something should be done to better educate doctor's of the dangerous side effects and alert them that not everyone is alike as they seem to think.
A bit of insight on me: I'm a 41yr old female, overweight but active, BP's normally are 127/62 or in that range. I have no other medical issues besides allergies which are usually seasonal/easily controlled.
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