Depression?

[Rubyroo1]

Has anyone been affected by depression due to prednisolone ? Apparently according to my hubbie - I am very negative about everything and have been for the last six months. I haven’t been aware of it but now it seems as though my marriage is at risk ?! I know it’s not all my fault as he has his own issues with work stress and he has been out a lot recently which I have moaned at him for , think I may have a little depression which isn’t helped by him - I think he is having a bit of a midlife crises! Anyway if anyone has experienced a change of mood - has a reduction in steroids helped ? I wasn’t aware that it could cause such issues until I saw my gp yesterday. TIA

[medway-lady]

I don't know but have been taking a high dose for nearly 6 months and not noticed anything but they can make people a bit hyper so it migt be they have heightened an allready existing issue. But to be honest having RA can make some people depressed and the NRAS do publish a leaflet about it. You must not just stop steriods but taper down so whatever you do take medical advice before stopping taking them. I'd be careful not to just accept any issues like this are not just down to your state of mind, because in reality a number of factors play a role. Even getting a diagnosis of a life long condition can be depressing. It might be an idea to speak to a counsellor and your friends too. I wish you well and suggest some support from him might help too. RA affects both partners in any relationship and does he understand much about the condition if not ask him to come to your next apointment.

[Rubyroo1 in reply to medway-lady]

Thanks - we are going to make a marriage guidance appointment so hopefully we can work it out . He has read some stuff but I think now he is think about how it may effect his life going forward. He has said to speak to my friends about it , not bothered to offer for me to talk to him 🙄. I have spoken to the GP and Rheumy nurse about reducing my dose . Been on 7.5 / 5mgs for about a year now ...... trying now to go down to 2.5 from 5 but slowly dropping down 1mg at a time. Going to see if that helps . What shocks me is the potential lack of support in the long term - at the moment I am wondering if he really meant the “in sickness and in health “ bit - I guess only time will tell .......

[medway-lady in reply to Rubyroo1]

7.5 is nothing really I was on 40 its easy to blame a medication for all sorts of ills. I think you must put yourself first and hopefully Marriage Guidence will help if not then what happens next is up to you as well as him. Your priority must be to look after your health but RA is not a death sentance there are a lot of medications that work very well and will give you a normal life. Have you been given any RA meds yet? if not you should ask for a referral to see a Consultant and get some proper medication to hold back the RA and acheive remmission.

[Stayloose in reply to Rubyroo1]

I am sorry that you are unsupported and hope counselling is really helpful. It does sound as if it's him that really needs to speak to friends and get support for himself. In sickness. etc is easy to say when you are all loved up and think of a 48hr illness. Sadly the NHS never ask how partners are adapting to the upheaval and worry of chronic illness. Not that they ask the patient either when I think about it!!!

[charisma]

Hi Rubyroo1

Sorry you are going through such stress. I see we welcomed you here a year ago.

Stress tends to make us short tempered so maybe that is a factor for you both, RA being stressful in different ways for each of you.

I have never had steroids long term but they did not cause depression, just mild insomnia ie waking up at night.

My marriage broke up after my diagnosis but it was not going to survive anyway. There was no real understanding of the pain I was enduring, even saying I was running in the park... I had been walking fairly quickly, and only thanks to a short steroid taper kicking in.

I am glad you will try marriage counselling. Maybe the counsellor will benefit from some proper info on RA, a leaflet or whatever, to tell it as it is.

Wishing you the best outcome all round. Angela,

[Rubyroo1 in reply to charisma]

Thanks I will remember to take a leaflet with me on the day - 2.5 weeks away now 🙄, oh well just will have to wait , fingers crossed it helps !

[Allie44]

Yes, my mood changes drastically! I have taken only small doses for only several days and have turned into a nightmare at home! It is now on my chart not to take this med. My husband and kids pointed this out to me. I felt good and was getting tons done as it made me hyper. My house was clean but family was miserable!

[dwsurquhart]

I would not say i was depressed from predisone but I sure had a hair trigger for anger. The slightest things set me off. Got off the drug and everything went back to normal. I am now back to my happy go lucky self. My family sure appreciates that I no longer take it.

[Lals01]

Yes, I was on 80ml a day and it certainly does effect your mood. Sometimes I was so irritable I could snap at a chair if I thought it was in the way. I couldn't sleep, was so sweaty and couldn't regulate my body temperature. And I know I snapped at him more often & easily. It's not you, so don't be too hard on yourself. Your hubby needs to know how serious the drug is and how it effects everyone. You're not alone. Hang in there, it will get better. All the best to you!

[helixhelix]

Oral Prednisone is the drug from hell for me as it messes with my head. But as others have said it isn’t unusual to get depressed with RA, especially early on so as well as marriage counselling you might want to ask your GP about some counselling just for you.

Is the Cimzia not working which is why you are staying on pred? Maybe talk to rheumy about other options?

Anyway I hope the counselling is a help in working out the best way forward for you.

[Rubyroo1 in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks I have been taken off the Cimzia for the moment die to a heat rash 🙄, although I have now been off the Cimzia now for about 6 weeks and the rash is still with me - it was helping massively, still not as bad as I was this time last year physically, so that’s good - just really negative apparently 🙄! Hoping to be back in the Cimzia soon and then cutting right down on the steroids , fingers crossed 🤞

[Rubyroo1 in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks .

The Cimzia was working and was staring to work pretty well . I think it would have got better as I was only 2-2.5 months into the treatment but then I got a heat rash ..... so they have taken me off it for the meantime. 8-10 weeks on, I still have the heat rash and they are supposed to be putting me back on the Cimzia if the rash didn’t clear up .... just waiting for them to sort that out .... seems as though there is some confusion at the hospital. Rheumy wants me to see a dermatologist about the heat rash ..... although his letter said I can restart the Cimzia whilst waiting for that appointment. The nurse has other ideas and has interpreted his letter as meaning I have to see the dermatologist first before restarting the Cimzia . I have no idea if anyone has referred me to dermatology or not - nurse couldn’t tell me and my GP surgery says to check this with the hospital- I don’t think they have done this.So a little stuck at the moment🙄 . Waiting for a phone appointment with the consultant....... which should have been this week - nothing as yet .....

I have told the nurse I am going in holiday in September so wanted to be back on the Cimzia well ahead of that ...... will call the hospital next week again and see what they say ...... the waiting is irritating, but nothing more to be done than that and keeping calling them.

[Hidden]

Sending best wishes to you, we've all been there, stay strong 🤗X

[Siri84]

I was on 20mg for years altogether - even right after I got married . Really can’t only blame Prednisone /

Methotrexate but my life was hell with all the mood swings from the medication .

A little context - I was diagnosed when I was 17 and got married when I was 28 . We’d be shortly completing our 5th anniversary . My husband thought he knew what RA is because he had a colleague with RA ( he saw her like 15 hrs/week during work )and she was doing fine and he thought life will be a bed of roses . It took a lot of time for him to understand that what he thinks RA entails and the actual reality of living with someone who has RA is different .

I believe that RA changes our perception of reality and who we are - it is very difficult for partners to understand this .

My husband is a kind , gentle person who never knew what suffering or constant pain is - he thought he was motivating me when talking about how much Venus Williams achieved despite an autoimmune disease. Took him eons to understand that each person and their body is very different and the disease progression isn’t linear - so there is no comparison . Now he doesn’t come to me with any such stories .

I really wish you peace and hope that things get sorted between you both .

Love ,

Siri

[Gnarli]

You both seem to be in a nasty place emotionally and I'm sorry for it. Speaking from bitter experience I can only say to please keep talking honestly to each other and, maybe, a councillor each. We all need a safety valve from time to time. Hugs to you both

[Troygirl]

I can see why prednisone could cause depression.

When on long term it does TERRIBLE things to your body!

Weight gain very quickly

Hair breaking off & thinning

Fluid retention

Shortness of breath

Stomach area gets huge & makes you look pregnant

Bruise super easily

Round Fat pads around your neck

A condition called Cushingoid

Believe me I know because I have ALL of these side effects from long term prednisone!

Thankfully, I will not let this crap get hold of my mental state.

It is hard because I know prednisone is the only thing that has helped me live through these 7 month long agonizing flares!

Without it I would be immobilized, would not be able to go to work and would have to stay in bed and not move day after day!

Now that would cause me depression!

Believe me I want off prednisone as quickly as possible & my RA dr says "Be Patient" looking for the correct RA biological to work.

Just started IV Infusion Acterma because NOTHING else has worked (tried 3 others already with no luck)

Be Patient? Prednisone is doing more HARM to body than the actual RA!!

[pd118]

got little smily sticker in bathroom and my door thus smiles and laughs

[mickam]

Hi Rubyroo1. Sorry to hear about your problems. I think it is unlikely that the dosage of prednisilone you are on would cause depression. The side effects of drugs are often the first thing we think of when something new goes wrong, particularly something like depression but it is important to remember that chronic conditions like RA can themselves be the cause of problems like this.

[Stardust2019]

Yes, while I was on Prednisone it made me very moody. My husband recognized it the most. My doctor said it can cause this.

[Rubyroo1]

Thanks everyone for your advice/ suggestions/ the effects you have had. I don’t think it’s just me, my mood and my RA , he has work stress too , think he takes it out on me , he has to be happy and chatty at work but can be him at home . Him not being here very often doesn’t help and I have moaned at him for that too. Faults on both sides in sure, hoping that counselling will help - 2.5 weeks to get through until our first appointment. 🤞🤞🤞 thanks again x

[Basilly]

Yes I was on it for a year and I believe that it effects my mood. Each week I am off it, I feel a little better mentally, but sadly worse physically. Hope everything gets better for you x