Steroid struggle

[amandajane76]

Does anyone else struggle mentally when steroids are upped

[Barnclown]

Hello...as far as I know, I've not taken high dose steroids, but I have regularly taken 10mg prednisolone 4 week tapers and the first 2 weeks are always a mental & emotional struggle: I'm more hyper/manic and assertive/aggressive than i usually am, and prone to even darker moods than usual. Because I've had bipolar tendencies all my life (I'm 61 & this condition runs in my paternal & maternal families) and had quite a lot of therapy, I'm fairly self aware and experienced managing these mood swings....just knowing this is how I react to steroids helps me be prepared to minimise the effects these pred-stimulated moods have in my family, friends, aquaintances & me.....not sure if this sort of thing is what your question is about, though. my husband was on pred for 30 years due to Crohn's disease....and my feeling is that he too was mentally & emotionally charged, especially on higher doses. My daily oral meds are myco & amitriptyline (I've had to stop hydroxy due to immunological investigations) and neither of these give me the mental struggles I get on pred

[amandajane76 in reply to Barnclown]

Thanks.i am sure its the med.i ve gone from 5 to 20 mg this week.when I wake my heart is racing

[Barnclown in reply to amandajane76]

Yes, my heart is racing a bit when am on 10mg even...but, hey, if I were new to this, I'd be phoning my GP &/or my specialist lupus nurse.... telling them something like: I'm just checking in about this symptom because it concerned me & I feel unsure if in my case it's significant....am sure you'll get some good replies from others here who are more steroid-experienced than I am

take care

[cuttysark]

My heart always races after I have my larger steroid injection but does settle down in a few weeks. 5mg to 20mg is a big jump, are you on a taper after a week or so? If not I would let Gp know if the heart racing is troublesome and keeps you awake or if you notice it during the day when you are up and about as well.

All the best C x

[amandajane76]

Ye tapering to 15, 10,and back to 5 then I will see rheumy again with view to immuno s.he did NT give me a firm diagnosis but I am guessing its heading towards sle

[tremarel]

I normally find when I decrease the steroids it makes me worse . I just hate having to increase because I know at some point I have to decrease. I've been taking them now for 35 years & are unable to come off them. They have been a life saver for me but I am having the effects now of being on them long term .

[amandajane76]

I just hate feeling anxious and bit nuts lol