Lowering prednisalone

[Shandon1]

I have lowered prednisalone from 4 to 3mg. Have severe depression. Any connection?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You may have gone too far down and the PMR is resurfacing. You aren't heading relentlessly to zero - you are looking for the lowest dose that manages the symptoms well.

Did you drop from 4 to 3 "overnight"? If so, that is a 25% reduction in the dose your body was used to - it has to learn to cope with a LOT less than it is used to.

[Shandon1 in reply to PMRpro]

Took a 1mg pred this afternoon and the depression lifted. Maybe in future 3mg in morning and 1mg in afternoon for a while.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Shandon1]

Try this approach since it does look as if the sudden change was too much:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[daveD]

LO. Dubliner1. when i got down to 5mg i reduced by 1/2mg useing the reduction plan reccomened by PMRpro,with good results.But as been said many times we are all differant.Good Luck

[nissanjean]

HI

A consultant told me that prednisolone can cause depression.

[Tski in reply to nissanjean]

My rheumi asked if I was depressed. I told her "No, only when I'm in pain." Waking up every morning feeling as though I've been beaten with basellball bats IS going to affect anyone's mood!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to nissanjean]

It can yes - but not usually as you REDUCE the dose which was the case here.

[evafel]

I had to give up on pred because of depression

[Anna135]

I would say it is connected. I became very emotional and depressed with each drop I made under 15mg, and it took about 2 months to re-stabilise my emotions after stopping at 8mg.