Tapering off prednisone and hike in blood pressure

[Guest guest]

Can tapering off prednisone for RA cause a sudden increase in blood

pressure? I awakened this morning with vertigo and blood pressure of

220/120. I have never had such high BP before. I thought I might be

at risk of having a stroke. I saw my primary care physician who

wasn't very talkative since he fit me in in an emergency. He

prescribed a diuretic, HCTZ, and increased the Toprol from 150mg to

200mg. He told me that many people are having vertigo and stuffiness

(I am recovering from a cold). I am still curious about the stroke

risk factor and can it be increased from tapering off prednisone.

Thank you very much. Maxine