How to stop heart palpitations from prednisone?
Prednisone is a corticosteroid that can cause heart palpitations. When the side effect is mild, you can use several strategies.
However, when the heart palpitations after prednisone are severe, continuous, or accompanied by chest pain, you should see a doctor.
One of the easiest methods to stop heart palpitations is through relaxation techniques. They might not work on everyone. However, if they do, they can ease stress and calm your heart. Among the common techniques are meditation, tai chi, and yoga. Also, breathing training can help you control a faster heartbeat [1].
A crucial part of heart palpitation control is avoiding stimulants. Do not drink caffeinated beverages or alcohol or take illegal drugs. Also, you should not smoke [1].
Additionally, when experiencing heart palpitations, you should stay hydrated. It is easier for the heart to pump thinner blood than thicker [1].
When experiencing heart palpitation after prednisone try to restore the potassium concentration. Prednisone can lower the potassium in the organism. Among good sources of potassium are bananas, avocados, spinach, and potatoes [2].
Why is prednisone causing heart palpitations?
The exact mechanism by which prednisone leads to heart palpitations is not known.
Prednisone can lead to a slower, faster, or irregular rhythm. One of the possible reasons for this condition is hypokalemia [3].
The use of prednisone can lead to lower levels of potassium. The heart needs to have normal potassium levels for proper function. When the levels of this ion fall, the possibility of abnormal rhythms increases.
Additionally, prednisone influences the autonomic nervous regulation of the heart. Its use can increase the heart rate and the blood pressure. You can experience a fast heart rate as palpitation [4].
What are other risk of prednisone?
The use of prednisone can also lead to other side effects than heart palpitations. Among them are:
- changes in mood and personality,
- riks of osteoporosis,
- vision problems,
- increased risk of cardiovascular disease,
- bulging eyes,
- increased risk of infections,
- vomiting,
- heartburn,
- peptic ulcers [5, 6].
In rare cases, the use of prednisone can lead to Kaposi’s sarcoma [5].
When should I stop prednisone?
Never stop prednisone treatment on your own. Corticosteroid treatment has to be stopped under the control of a doctor.
Only in cases where your prednisone treatment is short will you be able to stop using it at once. However, you should ask your physician whether you can do so [7].
When you take a high dose of prednisone long-term, you can develop dependency. Fast withdrawal can cause withdrawal symptoms. Among them are weakness, pains, and severe tiredness [7].
The usual approach to safely stop prednisone is to lower the dose over time. Your doctor will gradually adjust the dosage so that the chance of you getting withdrawal symptoms is the lowest [7].
Typically, the dose is reduced daily by 5 to 10 mg [8].
Remember, everyone is different. Some people will need more, and others will need less time to stop prednisone.