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Prednisone and Mood Swings

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Posted 3/18/2008 10:28 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on prednisone on and off for the past two years for UC and UC related arthritis. I am taking the drug for 10 days or so since I have an arthritis flare right now. I've noticed myself being very snipy towards my wonderful boyfriend, family, students, etc. Also, I take everything SO seriously and cannot relax or "let it go" when someone says something sarcastically. Normally it does not bother me when someone says something in a sarcastic manner, but I've taken it to heart. My boyfriend said he feels he has to watch what he says around me. He's experienced this with me before when I was on the drug the last time. He's so understanding about it, but it bothers me knowing I am treating people without realizing this!!! Is this normal when on prednisone?

Heather

Posted 3/18/2008 11:04 AM (GMT 0)

It's normal!!! I currently am on Predinsone 30mg. Just got off a short taper with no results. I am very moody. devil My hubby walks on eggshells with me. He said I take everything so seriously. I do. I am doing the best I can, but like you it bothers me that I can be so short with people. Sometimes I feel like I am going crazy. I feel now that I have been on it a week this time that my moods are leveling off. Not so moody and short with people as time goes on. I feel it could really be worse! Hang in there it will get better.

jan

Posted 3/18/2008 11:39 AM (GMT 0)
Totally normal! I would cry at the drop of a hat while on pred (not like me) one minute and then be yelling the next!
Posted 3/18/2008 12:35 PM (GMT 0)
I have 'roid rage on Pred. I screamed at my kids the other day for interrupting me while typing an e-mail. I knew it was foolish, just could not stop myself. Got so mad, then cried, then had to apologize. The swings are killers. Hang in there, and I hope you feel better soon.
Posted 3/18/2008 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately - it's "normal". I would be euphoric one moment, mad at the world the next, and bawling in the third. Everything was out of whack...

I found myself really evaluating why I was mad about something. Was it something worth being angry about? Was it trivial (and this was skewed due to the pred) and I should let it go?

Hang in there! Thank you bf for being SO understanding. Warn friends and collegues...
Posted 3/18/2008 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I was a total maniac when I was on prednisone. Terrible mood swings, snapping at people, crying all the time and getting agressive. It scared me alot and I also felt terrible that I was mistreating people. However, once my dosage got below 20mg I just started to feel majorly depressed without any mood swings. Hang in there and know that this is very typical on pred. Things will go back to normal once you're done with it.
Posted 3/18/2008 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your advice everyone! It does make me feel better knowing that I am not alone in this! I think I will give my bf a big thank you kiss when I see him next for being SO understanding. Thanks again! :-D

Heather
Posted 3/25/2009 10:07 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on 60mg of pred for a week and today started the mood swings i lost it big time with kids and then started crying just befoe taking them to school now i feel so guilty as it is not there fault hubby just gave me big hugs and started laughing saying they have started be nice to mummy she's poorly which at the time made me cry more as i did not think it funny have weeks left on pred hopefully it will get better on smller doses know it will get worse firt and that scares me.
Posted 3/25/2009 1:46 PM (GMT 0)

I was prescribed Xanax about a year before diagnosis with UC (doc thought most of my problems were from anxiety).  I took it only when needed - under stress, etc.  I tried two other anxiety pills before that only made me "loopy". 

So, when starting prednisone my NP told me to take it in small doses on a regular basis if I got moody.  I take 1/2 smallest dose - .025 about every 4 to six hours and it evens out the moods.  I know it can be addictive but at this point I need it.  I remember when my husband was on prednisone a few years back that the mood swings were terrible and he yelled at me (which after 48 years he never does) and then cried as to why he did.

Hang in there!  Be aware and it will work out.

ElaineNY

Posted 3/25/2009 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I think I pissed of the entire city of Raleigh, NC with my Pred. induced road rage. It was VERY bad. It wore off after 2 weeks or so. It was scary though...I felt a bit manic.
Posted 3/25/2009 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
OMG yes! I am tapering right now. For the first 6 days I felt great! Then bam, I was sad and moody. I took a zoloft and it made me feel so much worse. My husband was supposed to fly out of town for work Monday morning and I wouldn't let him, I thought I needed to go to the hospital. I wanted to jump out of my skin. Major anxiety attack. I have 2 little ones to take care of. Thankfully, my MIL was coming anyway to help out while my husband was out of town. I feel better now that the zoloft is out of my system and I have tapered. This morning I woke up with a sore throat, hope this doesn't mean anything bad? I'm down to 15mg this morning.
Posted 3/25/2009 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes i still have pred mood swings and i've been off it for a long long time. it's horrible. but maybe when you have a 3 yo putting a handful of dirt on your hair and spilling salsa all over the carpet 30 minutes after that you kind of want to be in a bad mood. (that's what happened to me yesterday with my lil girl.hehe. but she took a nap and woke up and apoligized.) but seriously i still think i have mood swings b/c i was on the pred rollorcoaster for way too long and i wish i had never ever been on it at all.
Posted 3/25/2009 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't think so, but then I did yell curses into the phone yesterday because the pharmacy's voice recognition system couldn't understand me.... yeah, that worked really well.

I had to put out a few fires in managing our household, and got really irritated, really easy. I asked my hubby to please help shield me from anything else that would cause me aggravation...

And I've upped my prednisone and am bummed about that. I'm hoping to hear about Hurima today...they said "really soon" on Monday...
Posted 3/25/2009 2:52 PM (GMT 0)

I would like to comment from our experience here.  My husband and I both on Xanax for anxiety AND my husband has PTSD and is on Zoloft for DEPRESSION.  Maybe that is why you reacted to the Zoloft.  Not sure but wanted to tell you!

ElaineNY

Posted 3/25/2009 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
ok i just have to make a comment... not only does prednisone give me horrible mood swings... i've noticed it seriously draws out my anger too.. like i'll get angry over stupid things and i can't get rid of the anger easily... even if i know it's a totally stupid reason to be angry... the rage sticks.

I normally get over things fast... but not on pred.
Posted 3/25/2009 5:41 PM (GMT 0)

kops2da said...
I would like to comment from our experience here. My husband and I both on Xanax for anxiety AND my husband has PTSD and is on Zoloft for DEPRESSION. Maybe that is why you reacted to the Zoloft. Not sure but wanted to tell you!

ElaineNY

I just got Xanax today! Just to have on hand for the future. I don't ever want to have that feeling again.
Posted 3/26/2009 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
I've noticed I have the same problem, though initially I though it was just anxiety due to graduating college in may, being rejected by a few of the ph.d programs I applied to and not having a job lined up.

Then when I went for a follow-up with my GI he was like "Oh, are you by any chance having mood swings?"

Which explained a lot.
Posted 3/29/2011 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
I have to say thank you. As with all of you, Prednisone takes over my life and turns me into Hyde.. I watch the horror on my family's faces and yet, roid rage wins. I cry and cry after and then have to go and apologize. It's a horrible way to have get better. It is such a comfort to know that I'm not the only one that watches their family's faces in horror as the meds take control.

So my thank you.

The smile on this board i'll bet everyone had..the way we all feel at some point on this medication......

"I think I pissed of the entire city of Raleigh, NC"

I laughed. you have to.

xanax can help. for me it puts me to sleep. which i guess if the option is crazy or sleeping, sleeping would win but at the same time, my house would explode (and wait for me to get better), kids would eat donuts til they exploded, and i can't do homework that way.

Prednisone = both rock and hard place
Posted 4/7/2011 5:22 AM (GMT 0)

iluvsunflowers15 said...
Also, I take everything SO seriously and cannot relax or "let it go" when someone says something sarcastically. Normally it does not bother me when someone says something in a sarcastic manner, but I've taken it to heart.

Exactly what happens to me. I'm currently taking 50mg a day, and I get mad over nothing. Literally nothing. Sometimes I'll be at fault, my girlfriend should be the one that's mad, yet I snap at her for no darn reason. The anger will linger for a while and then I'll feel extreme guilt.

It's tough because I feel like nobody around me will really understand what the prednisone is actually doing to my temperament. It's a bit frustrating and makes me want to lock myself in my room while I'm on the med. Blowing up at people is no good, especially when they've done nothing wrong. And my face is turning into a moon. It does take care of my UC symptoms, but I'm starting to question whether the trade off is worth it.
Posted 4/9/2011 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
Nice One !!
Swings are really very wonderful. In my childhood there was a playground near my home, there were swings I used to go there with my friends and enjoyed a lot there. Those days of childhood were amazing..............

_____________________________________


Looking for the best toys for your kids (Sorry, but advertising in the forums is not allowed)

Post Edited By Moderator (Judy2) : 4/9/2011 7:30:28 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/9/2011 9:21 AM (GMT 0)
I was crying all the time, and saying "I can't believe this is happening to me", often referring to the UC symptoms, not the prednisone.
Posted 10/4/2011 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
I am having such bad roid rage. I am so serious, yet totally distracted, then super angry, then super sad and mad I am so angry. Xanax has helped me in the past but with nursing I cannot take that, I try telling myself it is temporary, but....

And the racing thoughts. As soon as I calm myself down on how rediculous it is to get mad, I am onto the next sad mad thought. This stupid moon face and belly. People r totally gonna think I am preg again, but the. I know, who cares about my weight, focus on my health... then onto the next crazy thought...

I am on 30 tapering down by 5 each week or ten days, depending. I want to be off, but not to be back on. I was on 40 wk, 30 wk, 20 10 dys, 40 10 day, 35 wk finally uc better, I give credit to canasa, now 30. I want it to end...
Posted 10/4/2011 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
Pred is definitely a culprit for mood swings...taking omegas helps tons! Feel better soon!
Posted 10/4/2011 9:57 AM (GMT 0)
Totally normal on prednisone. I am the same way, alternating with feeling incredibly sad/crying over everything. It's basically like PMS when I'm on prednisone!
Posted 2/17/2012 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
I just love these kinds of forum sites. It serves as an avenue for talking about depression and more information about it. I think it's important to talk about what we're going through and ask for other people's opinion. Looking at a situation for another's perspective and learning from their experiences could help us avoid making the wrong decisions or from a Paxil lawsuit.

Post Edited By Moderator (Red_34) : 2/17/2012 1:26:26 PM (GMT-7)

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