Is this prednisone withdrawal side effect or what?

Globetrotter

Regular Member

Joined : May 2016

Posts : 49

Posted 11/18/2016 4:21 AM (GMT -5)

I have tapered down prednisone (Medrol) to 2.5 mg a day. What bugs me is that for the past 2-3 days I'm having strange chest, neck and jaw pain more on the right side that goes up to the tooth. Today the pain is pretty strong and it's hard not to think about it as it's disturbing pain. I remember I had similar chest pain when I was in hospital and was taken off IV hydrocortisone high dose and put on oral prednisone 40 mg. Has anyone experienced anything like this?

Though I know that chest pain is ER symptom, I really doubt it is anything heart related since I am runner and have been running consistently. Yesterday had interval session and did not felt any problems, infact running seems to remove all the pain.

iPoop

Forum Moderator

Joined : Aug 2012

Posts : 16495

Posted 11/18/2016 7:50 AM (GMT -5)

Generally body aches and fatigue are prednisone withdrawal symptom, not pains. Prednisone is synthetic Cortisol. Your adrenal system normally produces cortisol which is a minor pain reliever and your highest levels of cortisol are in the morning to wake you up, while you're on prednisone the adrenal system is shut down and should begin awakening as you lower your prednisone (Medrol) dose. Prednisone withdrawal is when the adrenal system isn't awake or at least not producing enough cortisol on it's own, your body has less cortisol than it needs to function and you therefore experience symptoms.

Chest pains could be something else entirely and I'd recommend checking with a doctor or nurse.

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