I have been on prednisone 3 times this summer. Close together and longer periods each time. This last time I stayed on for about 8 weeks before final weaning. I had severe gastric issues this time and depression , which I have
Had but WAS UNDER CONTROL . It made my acid reflux unbearable. Nausea, throwing up , bloating. And my depression is horrid!!! The anger I am feeling! Ugh! I have been off 5 days , but my depression is still so severe! I'm mean, not my self, argumentive and hopeless. My stomach is improving slowly. Is this normal that I would have these side effects only on the longest time on prednisone and that I still have them even after I'm off. How long should I have to suffer. Or am I permanently crazy? I'm in hiding in my bedroom. My family thinks I've lost it for good. Maybe I have. Any one have experience with this ?
Horrid depression and anger after prednisone?
Question posted by HelpWanted71 on 24 Aug 2014
Last updated on 23 October 2018
Just to clarify, I followed doctor's orders on amount and how to wean each time.
8 Answers
Your depression and anger are absolutely side effects of prednisone. Even if you taper according to your doctors orders you may need to go slower and by smaller increments. I went through the same thing and slowed my dosage as low as 2.5mg per day for two weeks at the end. It took me 3 months to go from 30mg to none.
As for the gastric issues, taking a probiotic like Florastor helps tremendously, as does eating yogurt.
You have to get the bacteria in your gut back to normal.
In the future let your doctor know how prednisone affects you and ask for lower doses for shorter periods.
I hope this helps. Prednisone is a very dangerous drug especially if used long term. I'm still suffering from immune system imbalance from it. It really comprimises your immune system.
I took it for 2 days and a little triamcinolone injection. 9 months ago. depression anger dizzy brain fog eye site very week . after about 6 months i started feeling a little better but then it would be very bad 2 days better 1 day off and on witch mayed me think i would never get better. this stuff is poison to me. i took it for a rash and some swelling do to a product i used. so any one going through this is the steroids doing it. 9 months and feeling better but still tire out quik and i am or was very healthy but not so much now. but there is light at the end of all this hell. my family and dr still sort of do not understand. i herd steroids are made in the north east and some not aproved by the FDA
How long did it take to recover from the side effects?
I'm on my final week of pred after being on it for the last 11 weeks, started off on 40mg tapering but two weeks in I was admitted to hospital and put on 100mg a day, when I was released I was put back on 40mg.
Throughout the tapering I've been a total d*ck to so many loved ones, my mouth is usually pretty quick with jokes but on pred it's been quick with hurtful things And I lose my rag really quickly, aside from a hideous temper I've also had really great highs where I felt like I could conquer the world (if only my body wasn't so exhausted), I've also had terrible insomnia staying up to 4/5am and only sleeping for a few hours, I have a chubby face and I've put on some weight which I'm going to try shift as soon as I'm off the pred, the worst side effect is depression, prior to pred I would say I had normal feelings of sadness at times but during pred I've experienced manic episodes, feeling deeply sad and hopeless, sobbing for hours. I'm on 5gm at the moment with a few days to go but the depression is disabling me, I don't want to go out or see anyone, can't bring myself to do anything other than mope around which is really unlike me, usually on the go. The whole illness and meds have really knocked my confidence and I feel terribly lonely. I'm hoping that after a few weeks it will subside I don't want anti depressants if I can help it. So don't worry your not the only crazy out there! You'll be ok I'm confident we can pull through. x
Hi Mamckenzie,
Did your symptoms of depression subside over time after you completed the prednisone taper?
The reason im looking into this is because of my husband. Every single time he gets put on this medication he gets so so angry. he can't control his feelings or his mouth. He is telling me its because of the prednisone. Im looking into this to see if it is really just the medication or not. But unfortunatly he is on it again, so the grumpy has begun. But he gets grumpy while he is on it, and for a while after too.
I have to take prednisone sometimes for a long time for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. I hate it but it has saves my vision when I get Uveitis or inflammation of the eyes from the RA. I also had terrible gastric problems and I was prescribed 40mg of Protonix. I finally had to also take double strength pepto bismol because I was getting sour stomachs and so sick I could not work.
I was wondering if anyone has tried timed released prednisone? I notice I get my worse mood swings and anxiety begin in the afternoon about 8 hours after I take the dose in the morning and it continues into the evening. I take lorazepam and cymbalta, but it is a true roller coaster, and I know it is for my family members too.
Do you think it would be worth also seeing an endocrinologist when tapering? I have to taper very slow due to aches and pains, when I get to 10 mg a day I can only go down 1 mg every other week. Then when I got off I was so exhausted and it never improved. I wondered if the adrenals did not kick back in at all.
Yes, prednisone makes one very anxious. When on it be sure to take it half in morning and half at night with food. It helps. Secondly, be sure you are straight forward with your doctor. I told my rheumy a couple years ago that I was so angry I could rip the top of a can off with my teeth! That got attention! So I use a small dose of Xanax and an antidepressant to control the side effects, omeprazole for the stomach stuff. And always be sure you ate some real solid food with the prednisone. If you taper too swiftly you get a rebound effect that also causes anxiety. Not all docs are good at tapers. You may be tapering too swiftly for your body. We are all very different. I function worse at 15mg than I do at 20mg. At 40mg I am talkative, kinda hyper but not angry. So doses are dependent to the person. Been on it straight for 9.5 years. Also, watch for medication induced diabetes, poor blood sugar levels also makes one angry if too high or too low. And that is dangerous.
I use an endocrinologist. Be sure you get full blood tests.
Stop hiding. Your family ought to be supporting you. When you are able, let them know about the side effects. Hiding in the bedroom makes you feel sorry for your self and the family feel,unloved. Not your intent. You aren't a monster, just not getting all the treatment you need. Let them know you want to get help for the side effects. Let them help. And one isn't crazy if they are asking if they are. It is the one who thinks they are fine and everyone else is crazy? Lol. You can get help. Please do.
I too was on long dose of steroids had previous depression but was under control with meds. when weaned off of the steroids went into very deep depression, pdoc put me on lactimal took about 6 weeks before I was feeling better because you needed to go up slowly on lactimal. I am not recommending this drug but it worked me. hang in there I know it's hard when others don't understand
Pred is meant to be taken a directed, incrementally and then off until reevaluated. Suggest you consult the prescribing physician, report the irregular intake and the symptoms and he/she will be able to help, educate and get you some relief. No, not crazy, just not taking the med as it is intended.
I followed my doctor's orders exactly each time. That's why I wondered how long does this stuff stay in your system? I weaned off slowly each week. But had terrible side effects throughout the whole time. Just want to know why I still feel terrible even though I have finished weaning process. Do you think my doctor gave me wrong instructions? I have read many doctors argue over how slow to wean. I just want to know am I gonna get normal again and when??
And thank you balbanese for your input!!
you are very welcome
This whole weaning thing seems out of order. Nothing at all like I've seen it prescribed. Something ain't right here.
Related topics
depression, constipation, prednisone, inflammatory conditions, anger
Further information
- Prednisone uses and safety info
- Prednisone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Prednisone (detailed)
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