Prednisone and Depression: What Users Say

• chi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 26, 2020

For Polymyalgia Rheumatica "I was diagnosed in January 2020 and prescribed prednisone 10 mg daily by my specialist. It took a week for me to feel 100% relief. I felt like an energetic bunny. By February, I began tapering. By April, I had a setback and became ill because I was tapering too quickly. The doctor adjusted my dose, and the symptoms went away. Yet, I developed elevated blood pressure and BPM, a tingling sensation in my left arm, constipation with bloating and gas, causing gastritis. I was prescribed Metoprolol beta blocker and Prilosec. I finally finished my prednisone regimen at the beginning of August 2020. I stopped the beta blocker a month later. I felt my adrenals take over. My old arthritis in my lower back and knee returned. Now I am recovering from pain in my mid-back area. My mood is not good. I'm feeling anxiety and depression because of these new symptoms. I do not want to ever take prednisone again."

• Pmr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 31, 2017

For Inflammatory Conditions "For my polymyalgia rheumatica, I was taking four ibuprofen three times per day, which provided only some relief from the joint and muscle pain. I had severe pain in my wrists and pain and stiffness in my shoulders, back, and legs. I started on 25 mg/day, and most of my symptoms disappeared. I have been tapering for six months now and am down to 8 mg/day. Some symptoms have returned but at a very manageable level. I have experienced some weight gain, maybe 5-7 pounds. At times, I feel a bit of anxiety and possibly a little depression that may be related to the prednisone. No other side effects at this point."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2017

For Inflammatory Conditions "My experience was okay. I took 10 mg of prednisone for about two weeks when I started taking isotretinoin for my severe acne. It reduced my inflammation very well but caused uncomfortable bloating and very mild muscle soreness. It also caused me to have significant mood swings, from having a lot of energy and excitement to being very depressed and having suicidal thoughts. In some cases, it made me a tad bit aggressive. So, it did the job well, but the mental effects were kind of unenjoyable, in my opinion. Personally, I won't say the drug is bad, but I do highly advise you to take caution and monitor the mental health of whoever is taking the medicine."

• F33...
• April 19, 2016

For Inflammatory Conditions "I have Major Depressive Disorder and have been through a lot to get the right combination of anti-depressants to actually help me. I was put on Prednisone for systemic inflammation. The second day, my mood just dropped. It felt like I had no anti-depressants in my system at all. It was awful. My PCP and therapist helped me through the worst part, but I don't think I will ever take Prednisone again. My taper was finished yesterday, and today the pain is back. I'd rather deal with the physical pain than the depression. Nasty side effect. On the bright side, it did help with the inflammation and pain, even though it was temporary."

• Apr...
• October 13, 2011

For Ulcerative Colitis "10 out of 10 for controlling the colitis and getting the healing process going, but 0 out of 10 for the side effects. Thus, a 5/10 average. Been on prednisone for about 4 months at a variety of doses (40 mg to start, then 30, 20, 15, 10, 5). Has alleviated many of the colitis symptoms and allowed for semi-normal bathroom habits. Used in conjunction with mesalamine, Canasa, and vancomycin for a stubborn C. diff infection. Side effects: stimulant effects at first (like too much coffee), elevated mood and MASSIVE appetite, puffy face. During the taper process: insomnia, anxiety, depression, rapid heartbeat. NOT FUN."

• Iha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 5, 2018

For COPD "Unfortunately, I was an inpatient for 4 days for COPD and got hooked up to Pred in my IV, too sick to do anything. I was sent home taking 60 mg of the stuff! I was never warned about side effects, its contraindication with a MDD diagnosis, how it would destroy my fibromyalgia, anxiety, Inattentive ADD medication regimen efficacy, or that it would have to be slowly tapered down. I've put on 30 lbs of weight in areas I never have before, like my neck and upper back. I have no idea how I'll lose it in time for my wedding in 6 months. After tapering down to 10 mg and just wanted to be done with it for good, I went off CT and 7 days in I couldn't urinate, eat, sleep, walk, lift anything, or breathe. My hands, feet, and calves swelled to 2 times their normal size during this time. Having no other option, I went back on the Pred and within a day lost 15 lbs of fluid that my body held in during withdrawal. The depression, fear of becoming an invalid, and excruciating pain of that week put me in a dark place."

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 2, 2024

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "This is the best medicine for me: I have RA for about 4 years. The doctors and professors gave me a lot of different medicine. I was so sore in my joints and had swelling (my entire body), also got depression about it that I did not want to be alive anymore. Then one GP gave me prednisone, I started with 10 a day, went down to 2 a day. Now I am taking 1 or 2 a day after I had breakfast, depending on the stiffness and pain in the morning. Some days, like maybe 1 a month or in 2 months, I will take 3 or 4 for 1 or 2 days when I have a flare-up. I only take one other medication with it. I am so happy about it and will keep on until I'm not here anymore! I believe, because my daily intake is not high, I am OK for all the other negative side effects. I do not gain weight at all."

• a...
• April 20, 2020

For Allergic Reactions "I took prednisone for about three days out of the five because my symptoms began to lessen. The first day I felt so emotional and wanted to cry but was confused why I was so sad/angry. Medically speaking, the swelling subsided, and I could breathe. Day 2 I wake up feeling INCREDIBLE. I have so much energy and can’t stop smiling, plus my eyes are white as could be, and no swelling. I stay up almost all night because I can’t stop working. Day 3 I feel even better today and easily run 4 miles, complete a five-hour case, work through the night, and my eyes are perfectly normal. On day 4 I decide to stop taking prednisone because my eyes are no longer swollen or red. On this day I felt weak, tired, and depressed. Day 5 my eyes become a little bloodshot again but no puffiness. Overall, I think the drug was a miracle for me, but it definitely has an effect on your mind. For me, this was a bonus because I became much more productive and only had one day of negative emotions while taking."

• Ice...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2018

For Sinusitis "I was prescribed this for sinus inflammation. While it did get rid of the inflammation within a day, the side effects made it not worth it. This is the worst drug I have ever taken in my life. Unless it's life or death, I do NOT recommend taking this. It initially gave me a sense of euphoria, which only lasted a few days, and then I experienced the worst anxiety/depression in my life. I had no appetite. Couldn't function. Was scared to be alone, was so depressed. The worst part was that the nurse who prescribed it to me didn't inform me of these possible side effects. Many people say they take it and have no adverse reactions, but I was lucky enough to be prone to the adverse reactions, and they are AWFUL."

• ALE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2016

For Lichen Planus "I had an 8-week course of pred. While it erased my lichen rash, it made me gain weight, my face was unrecognizable (fat), and I constantly was eating. Also, I don't know if anyone felt tipsy on these meds? I began being clumsy and couldn't sleep. After 8 weeks of taking, 4 days after stopping, the rash came back. I was told to take 1 a day! Still on them, but now I'm getting bad joint pains, depression, and a short fuse (mood swings, excessive sweating)."

• Pol...
• January 15, 2017

For Inflammatory Conditions "Started with 48 mg a day. The fever started dropping down, but still had chills. After a week, the pain was gone, but I started being deaf in one ear, depressed, had tremors inside of me, sleepless nights, and a salty metallic taste in my mouth. So I had to reduce the dose to 10-15 mg a day for 2.5 months. The pain is back, the neck is stiff. It seems like someone is twisting my arms and shoulders. I have my legs swollen from night to morning, terrible stomach pain. I need to get off it. The only drug that might help is Actemra. Now waiting for insurance approval. If I don't get it, I will go on cannabis. Hopefully, the law will get through by the end of Jan 2017 in NY. Suffer from terrible pain in my neck and both shoulders."

• Kat...
• January 17, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "Put on Solumedrol IV and then take home prednisone, 60 mg, weaned down to 20 now. Reason for taking was not my fibro, but acute respiratory failure with hypoxia, sepsis, bilateral pneumonia, exacerbation of COPD, abnormal CT lungs. This is the WORST medication. I am even more depressed, anxious, hyped up, insomnia worse, no appetite, anxiety attacks, nightmare with terrors, upset stomach, indigestion worse than normal achalasia and GERD, post-op myotomy, Nissen fundo. I feel like dying! I still have some pain, even if all pain from severe DDD, fibro, CMPS, could not tolerate this med. Feel like I am dying. Any suggestions on how to cope? My future will hold many rounds of med with repeated pneumonias, COPD."

• Ay ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2017

For Asthma "I wish I could give this and my doctor zero stars. I told her I was doing just fine taking Loratadine and Montelukast, but she insisted that I take this because 'I need it,' so I started taking this at 20 mg thinking it would help. About a day after I got prescribed this garbage, I got this nasty cough. It made my asthma much worse, I constantly wheeze and cough yuck stuff up now. Then, after about 5 days, I started pooping blood. I'm not talking a little, but a lot. Like half my stool is blood. And now, I'm totally depressed (and pooping blood, and completely congested). I literally don't want to do anything but die in my sleep. Sorry for the language, I'm in an awful mood. I didn't finish it either, I threw the rest of it away."

• Ang...
• September 1, 2017

For Asthma "I took this medication last year while going through a bad bout of asthma. I was prescribed 30 mg a day (with tapering, so about a week total). After the third day, the anxiety and crushing depression I was feeling with the medication caused me to go back to the doctor, and she told me to come off it immediately. I was not told to taper off, which I now know is a bad idea. I spent a good 10 days suffering withdrawal effects and had dark thoughts. It took me 9 months to start feeling like myself again. I had debilitating joint pain, so much so that I was tested for lupus, RA, and other joint/connective tissue disorders. I was also very depressed. I had taken prednisone before, with bad reactions, this was the worst yet. Never again."

• Cry...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2017

For Ulcerative Colitis "Brought my severe pancolitis into remission. Had to have 40 mg through the vein, then moved on to tablets to wean off. Prednisone saved my life but also has the worst side effects I have ever experienced. Use with caution and only in dire circumstances. Side effects for me included a massive moon face (this facial swelling goes down after you start reducing the dose), face and body acne, severe and shocking anxiety and depression, paranoia and psychosis, joint pain, hot flushes, trouble sleeping, and tons of nervous energy. It is worse the higher the dose. Wean off slowly. Withdrawal symptoms are just as bad, if not worse."

• Kev...
• July 31, 2017

For Ulcerative Colitis "I was diagnosed with UC and had my first flare-up in March and suffered greatly. Lialda, Budesonide, and Rowasa made everything worse for me and caused inflammation in my pancreas. I was hospitalized and put solely on prednisone and saw immediate relief of all symptoms. This steroid gave me my life back, albeit with unfortunate side effects (acne, mood swings, depression). I started with just 30 mg and have tapered down to 5 mg and hope to be free of it in a week or two. I am thankful for prednisone and wish I would have been on it from the onset."

• Pli...
• September 2, 2020

For Allergic Reactions "Was put on 60 mg prednisone for 4 days due to an allergic reaction to penicillin. Day one was okay, day two insomnia, increased anxiety, and hot flashes. Day three mental mood changes including depressed mood, a crying spell, and more severe anxiety to the point I thought I was going crazy, my heart rate was elevated as well. Stopped the medication, and over the course of 2 days, I’m slowly feeling better, perhaps a lower dose would have been better."

• Hur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2017

For Cluster Headaches "Have had clusters for 45 years, remember the first one. Ergotamine inhaler worked almost instantaneously but gave me a nasty depression. I take prednisone 2 (10 mg) at breakfast, 1 (10 mg) at dinner. Tried taking less and headaches come back with a vengeance! They mess with my digestive tract some, and a sharp increase in appetite, and an increase in sexual desire. It is not supposed to do that. I will stay on this medication till the cluster cycle ends."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2017

For Sinusitis "Doctor gave this as an antibiotic for a sinus infection, 20 mg once a day for 10 days. First couple of days of taking it, started having severe dissociation and racing thoughts, anxiety went up to an all-time high. (I've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder/anxiety since I was 6.) Started to develop depression so bad that I couldn't think or even go to work, suffered from intense panic attacks, all the while not realizing what was causing me all these problems. I thought I was going mentally insane until on the 6th day of taking this hell drug, I then googled searched the side effects and realized what had been causing my horrible mental breakdown. Immediately stopped taking it, and after two days (and two charcoal detoxes), I feel somewhat normal."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 19, 2022

For Immunosuppression "I took this for a transplant, and for me, it didn’t work. I have been on very high and very low doses. The side effects were horrible, in my personal experience. Horrible depression at times, acne, weight gain, dry skin, and consistently feeling sick and itchy."

• Pet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2023

For Sinusitis "I am currently experiencing a terrible bout of sinusitis and am unable to breathe through my nose, which causes me a great deal of anxiety as I am not a mouth breather. I was unable to get any meaningful sleep. My doctor put me on an 8-day plan of prednisone with a dosage of 4-10 mg for 2 days, followed by 3-10 mg for 2 days. I am on day 4 of the treatment, and my breathing has improved greatly. The side effects can be tough for a few days, including anxiety, depression, and lack of sleep. I have not slept in 30 hours and took 2 lorazepam to calm my anxiety, which seems to be working. I am hoping to have a decent night's sleep. If I ever have to take this treatment again, I will because I cannot tolerate the symptoms of not being able to breathe."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 27, 2015

"This is the most effective drug, but also the most physically and mentally deteriorating drug. I experienced acne, moon face, hair loss, depression, anxiety, increased appetite, but no weight gain. I recommend this but think of the side effects before you take it."

• Dee...
• March 27, 2017

For Asthma "The medication works when you can't breathe, but the side effects are horrible! I feel very disoriented and depressed. Not for me."