Tapering Prednisone and Migraines?

You can try an alternating dosage or do a smaller taper.

If your sinuses are wonky at this time, maybe try something like sudafed and a NeilMed sinus wash squirt thingie..

Does weather affect your migranes? Does coffee help?

Are you expecting your period at this time?

I hope something helps you soon...ugh.

q

Hi MNBeachgal,
Yes! I have had migraine activity increase when I am tapering prednisone!

I really like the list of variables mentioned by quincy though! Other irritants, migraine triggers, may be co-occurring with the prednisone taper? Quincy shared a good list of possibilities for this! Also maybe seasonal pollens adding to the mix? Other possibilities for you?

I have often had to decrease more slowly when tapering down from 20 mg.
That is just my own experience. If you have a tendency toward migraines anyway, please remember that migraineurs tend to be more sensitive to even small changes, as you likely know all too well! My Rheumatologist is always reminding me of how my central nervous system, in general, is just more sensitive than the average person's CNS and I need to adjust accordingly, in all I do... including drug tapers, etc.

I hope you find the best solution for you and also hope you feel better pronto!
Hope to hear an update!

In Gratitude~

Thanks everybody for the replies.

SoCal - I''m tapering by 5mg a week - so I was at 20mg for 1 week before tapering. I had been feeling fine before the taper and my body had seemed to even out after about 3 days from the previous weeks taper to 20mg.

quincy - thanks for the advice. I actually do use Ocean spray sinus cleanse and was using it like mad the past few days :)  I also take Mucinex (the Walgreens generic version) sinus decongestion pills when needed.  I'm not anywhere near my period and wont' be for a looooong time. I actually take my birth control pill packs back-to-back to avoid monthly periods.  Also, the last time I had my period in April it got my UC going again and my obgyn told me just to wait till I'm off the Prednisone and clearly on my way to remission before I have another period.  The Prednisone really screws up my period anyway.

I don't drink coffee but did totally forget about the caffiene thing for migraines. I'll have to go get some iced tea tonight and maybe drink that for a few days.  Thanks for the reminder on that one! 

Weather does affect my sinuses, which in turn can give me a migraine.  The neurologist I've been to has told me that some people can get sinus headaches that turn into migraines. Then once I've got one, there are certain scents that just make it much worse (perfume, smoke, car fumes). 

I was going to start tapering by 2.5mg once I hit 10mg - maybe I'll have to do that next week instead of going to 10mg.  So far the headache seems to be gone. I've got hot yoga tonight which seems to really help clear up my head - hopefully that might help a bit too!

 

I actually do take Zyrtec for my indoor allergies. I used to take Singulair but for some reason it didn't seem to work as well on my allergies.  Maybe I'll try going back to it - I do have an appt with my allergist in a few weeks and I'll mention it to him and see what he says.

You'd be surprised at the hot yoga - it gets to about 85 degrees in the room (not for the whole class though). It really helps loosen the muscles and relaxes them too, I feel soooo much better after I leave the class! It seems to help with the aches from the Prednisone taper too.

Are you back on Imuran? How are your UC sxs? I have heard of major headaches with the taper. I don't get them, but I know SheilaSuperstar had trouble with headaches. Are you taking Dhea or licorice root. I know my naturopath has me take these to help with the taper. I was going down by 5mg every 2 weeks but now I'm going down 2.5 every 2 weeks. Hate being on the Prednisone but want to go slow. I'm at 7.5mg now. 6mp seems to be working. NOt total remission but I see major symptom improvement from where I was at. Let me know how it's going on the Imuran... take care