I'm on 20mg of prednisone for large vessel vasculitis. I have some of the typical side effects - insomnia, brain fog, irritability - but none of them too bad.
One atypical symptom, though, is feeling a bit paranoid. Now, this doesn't mean thinking that the CIA is directing my thoughts or anything like that.
It just means things like office politics are considerably sharpened, a spouse's being a little distant has all sorts of nefarious possibilities, a friend's not getting back to means we're definitely on the outs ...
There's a fair amount of literature out there on people having actual psychotic breaks (usually with paranoia) on corticosteroids. Anything out there on much milder cases? Anything like this you've ever experienced yourself?
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winfong
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I know that I am hypersensitive, like you describe. A rational part of me does try to reason with the walking open wound side. We are not very well remember, it makes us feel vulnerable. PMR/GCA/LVV.
Are you younger that the majority of us on the Forum ? My worst symptoms were crying and irritability for no apparent reason. I haven't experienced any paranoia though, thank goodness. So many different side affects from taking Prednisone. Fortunately, as I've tapered to 10 mg they're becoming milder. I do get very hot soon after taking them, my nails are awful, dented and ridged, hair not too good either, but hunger pangs getting less.
Young then....wish I was 61 again. I'm 73 but consider myself a young 73 compared to when our parents were the same age. Hard to believe it's a year today I was diagnosed, seems like yesterday. And with the virus and being stuck in, time I thought would stand still, but the days, weeks and months are whizzing by so fast. Really hoping by Sept 2021 I'll be finished with the steroids....keeping everything crossed. Unlike many of the ladies on this forum that suffer other illnesses, apart from suffering sinus issues and asthma (that's completely controlled) I'm healthy. If one can call having PMR/GCA being healthy.
I can relate. Before PMR I was a young 75 guy, now I’m an old 76 grandpa. I was taking Wellbutrin for ADHD induced depression for many years prior to PMR but some interaction with Prednisone fouled up the chemistry and I had to stop the Wellbutrin. I haven’t been doing well since. Hadn’t used paranoia to describe my issues but it’s close.
Since Covid-19 we are moving ever closer to “socialized medicine” conditions here in the US and I have been unable to get an appointment with a psychiatrist since I started Prednisone. My rheumatologist finally managed to arrange a “tele-med” appointment with a psychiatrist I’ve never met who hopefully will prescribe Adderall (my Rheumy’s choice) which has no known interaction with Prednisone. I’ve already waited 7 weeks for a phone call which my insurance will pay for, I’ll let you know after Dec 30 if it helps. I’m a retired Dentist by the way - wonder if dentists are getting away with this never have to see patients again scam! Just call in a prescription! Bedside manner - who cares!
Sorry for the rant. Regardless of age none of us asked for this and most of us didn’t even know it existed. Without Prednisone I can’t function at all so I’m grateful. Hopefully this will eventually settle down into a manageable life again. My 4 year old twin granddaughters deserve a 76 years young grandpa again - and I’m working on it.
That sounds horrid but how brilliant you are aware that it’s ‘fake news’. Perhaps you need a mantra? Like ‘step back, see clearly’ - or ‘take a breath, look again’. The important thing is to give yourself a chance to stop your instinctive response to the fear and kick in the rational self you clearly have. I do hope you get this under control as you have enough to be managing! 🌺
I find that my mental health is badly affected by steroids and I can relate to what you say for sure. I keep reminding myself it will improve as I get lower but I really would speak to your doctor if it's more than you can manage with x
Just to add to that, when I'm flaring or having a bad day the anxiety get worse too. I'm not sure if it's inflammation that causes anxiety (I think so) or the other way round.
As Sheffieldjane says, we are still poorly behind the pred and it manifests in strange ways.
My sense of the emotional/paranoid stuff is that it is a kind of flare but of course perfectly happy to be corrected - I am speaking from 20mg (yes my 6 weeks of gentle tapering has gone up again). At 60 mg a whole different set of rules may come into play. Basically we are not resting enough. Last Sunday I had anxiety sufficient that after dialling 111 and having a clinician call back I was directed to go to A&E; I was having to do long outbreaths to keep the heart calmer. After ECGs and a blood test it was diagnosed as heartburn which in turn can be exacerbated by said anxiety - too much emphasis on fight flight/adrenals and not enough focusing on nurturing the parasympathetics which help us to digest, calm etc. Other emotions I have experienced rencently are anger or being on the edge of tears. Anything to soothe solar plexus, take things calmly etc. is good.
Were you not given omeprazole or something similar when given high dose pred? That should deal with heartburn - unless you happen to be one of third of people they don;t work for.
Of course. But I don't want any more meds. PPI's don't agree with me - that's why I use herbs. Even the doctor who attended me in the hospital described them as "dirty" drugs as clearly they have issues (there is no such thing as a free lunch as we know). Also they are involved in increasing risk of diabetes (already a possibility with steroids) and other issues. gut.bmj.com/content/early/2... am aware that that my leaky gut is probably contributory to my PMR (been issues for several years) and in turn that is the result of a stressful lifestyle (i.e. not stopping). So am taking your very sensible and of course difficult to follow advice - habits are hard to break!! - of some weeks ago to heart and really working on calming my system and actually looking forward to a quiet Christmas.
And a very Happy Christmas to you PMRpro and all those other wonderful informants on this website. It has been a godsend. Bless you all.
I am a newbie to this. I can relate. I misunderstand what my wife says and get ratty then even start an argument only to realise later I was being stupid and have to apologise. It's yet another thing for her to try and understand. I told her just to ignore me.....she laughed and said she'd been doing that for donkey's years.
I think it is our differences that keep us together. We do things towards the same goal but in different ways. Synergy. 1+1 =2+. Complementary but some serious disagreements at times.
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After 44 years you'd think I would know.
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Paranoia postponed. 
