Posted 3/17/2018 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Two 5 mg prednisone is supposed to be only a replacement dose - to replace the lost corticosteroids. That happens because Zytiga shuts down an enzyme that your adrenal glands use to manufacture corticosteroids. Without the prednisone, your pituitary would generate ACTH, a hormone that tells the adrenals to manufacture MORE corticosteroids and mineralocorticoids. Thus, by not taking the proper replacement amount, you wind up with an excess of cortisol and aldosterone. The cortisol suppresses the immune system and breaks down tissue; the aldosterone raises blood pressure, lowers potassium, and raises sodium, which causes fluid accumulation and impairment of nerve, muscle and heart function. So this is a balancing act - either too much or too little prednisone puts you in the same situation. If you have a home blood pressure cuff, you may want to monitor it closely.