Speeded and restless side effect of Prednisolone?

[krillemy]

I take 15 mg prednisolone at 6.30 PM with some yogurt, as I can´t eat first thing in the morning. A few hours later I am speeded and restless like after too much coffee. My hubby says I easily snap at him, and my mood is down. It does go away in the afternoon, and if I am out and about, I don´t feel it so much.

Any advice on this annoying side effect? Can I take the dose differently or split it or something?

[123-go]

Others will advise you on split doses but I will say that I was Mrs Jekyll and Ms Hyde on 15mg Prednisolone. My husband took a battering-nothing physical I hasten to add but verbally. I'm sure I bordered on slightly manic at times. In company I'd be chatting and laughing but as soon as friends or family had left I'd revert to angry. OH is no push-over but he tolerated my moods: he kind of knew it was the meds messing with my emotions.Please be assured that this effect will pass as you reduce your dose but it is horrible because you know that the person on the receiving end-the one closest to you-doesn't deserve what you're dishing out.

Take a look at these:

prednisonepharmacist.com/ed...

blogs.webmd.com/from-our-ar...

[krillemy in reply to 123-go]

Well - that second blog is just describing me! I just do not remember this side effect from my last time on pred., but I was also more sick to begin with then. I start taper soon. I showed this to my hubby - he laughed - so with all the good things pred. does for me, I will get through it and he will be patient, and go to work instead of staying home and work . Now today at 12, I am already past it...

[123-go in reply to krillemy]

Brilliant! Laughter is the best medicine but that uncontrollable anger is not 'you' and will pass.🤞🏼🙂

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Ah - good old 'roid rage!!! I don't THINK I am too bad - I have always had a reputation for not suffering fools gladly anyway and that certainly still applies!!! Maybe a bit quicker to bite ... But I was far worse after a few years with unmanaged PMR.

At least your husband laughed!!!

It might help to split the dose - but we don't usually recommend it until the starting dose has got the symptoms well under control and you start to taper. It may improve as you get to a lower dose - and often these early effects calm down after a few weeks as your body gets the hang of being on steroids.

[krillemy in reply to PMRpro]

I feel less worried about is now - I do also have a temper already, so it just that little extra, and the feeling of a little anxiety. I start tapering Saturday I am all well except the swelling of hands and feet, but as you mentioned it took some time for you to resolve that to.

[AncientMariner]

I was on 60 mg and redecorated the hall at 3:00 am and was seriously considering buying a LOTUS, thank god I never signed anything. I can only thank my poor friends for their forbearance when receiving endless TXT messages about my latest "Great" idea and hope like me they can look back on it with some humour now I am on 8mg and decidedly more rational.

[Sharitone]

🤣 I once went on a mental health training course, where the trainer was bipolar. All his local garages had a photo of him, because when he was on a high, he kept going and buying Aston Martins (which he couldn't afford).

[orangemax]

Yeah, I remember those days! I guess my husband does love me! I was a mess!! But it got better once the dose came down! You two hang in there!!

[HeronNS]

You *might* be able to tweak the time you take your dose so that you are actually already asleep before the energy kicks in. You'll still have to take it with food, but could you consider taking it an hour or 90 minutes before bedtime so it has time to settle before you lie down to sleep? Many of us find yoghurt is a very good thing to have with pred, so if you like it you could include that as part of your snack. I think it improves the digestion as well as protecting the stomach.

[krillemy in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks. So you mean take it in the evening? I thought everybody took in first thing in the morning?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to krillemy]

That’s the recommendation initially certainly , but sometimes things have to be tweaked to what best suits you and your illness whether that be the time or the splitting of doses. It’s a bit trial and error for some people -but whatever you decide -do let your doctor know what you’ve done and if it works.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to krillemy]

Can you get them to prescribe Lodotra? It is used over much of mainland Europe and is the form of pred I use - taken at 10pm within 3 hours of a main meal or with a substantial snack (bread and ham or cheese, very German) so that the outer coating breaks down at 2am, the ideal time for taking prednisone for maximum relief of morning symptoms. It has been used for RA for some years and is also touted for PMR.

[HeronNS in reply to krillemy]

Well, actually, if you look at your post you'll see you said 6 PM! Had I read more carefully I would have noticed you referred to calming down in the afternoon. Oops. I guess you meant 6 AM. Forget what I said! I was trying to help you get to sleep, thinking you had crazy, wakeful nights....

[krillemy in reply to HeronNS]

Sorry yes I did mean 6 PM But thanks anyway