hippie

[Hippie22]

hi can anyone please give any advice this week I have been feeling anxious can steroids make me feel like this on 8mg at moment

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

hi

Anxiety can be a sign of your adrenals struggling to start working again, which may be happening at around the level you are at. Maybe have a look at this link -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

But you have reduced quite quickly from 15mg which I think we covered in your previous post and suggested a slower tapering regime. A slower taper will also help in giving your adrenals a chance to get going again.

[Hippie22 in reply to DorsetLady]

thank you so much for advice I understand what you mean

[Hippie22 in reply to DorsetLady]

just read link very interesting I understand now thank you

[HeronNS]

When I got to 7 mg I had a vague feeling of panic for no reason. I think it lasted about three weeks and then faded away unnoticed. I had tapered to that level in December, having started pred 15 mg in June of that year.

[Hippie22]

hi so it did pass felling anxious not nice how are you now

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Can I just make a plea - don't use your user name as the title for your post. Use the title to give a clue to your question/problem. More people will take notice then.

[Hippie22 in reply to PMRpro]

Will do thank you

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hippie22]

re PMRpro comments please see this -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Burroughs123]

Anxiety has been the worst problem for me since diagnosis in March 2020. Worse than the aches and pains! It ebbs and flows now, and I know to expect it so I can talk myself away from it most of the time. If you accept that it is a part of the tapering and yet another steroid symptom it can help you manage it. I asked my rheumatologist about it and she said it is a very common side effect from the pred, and linked to the adrenal issues mentioned here, too. Hope you are feeling better v soon.

[Bedwell]

yes to that! Def higher levels of anxiety. Just gradually reducing from 7 to 6.5. I find tapping helps sometimes.. not always.

Blood tests tomorrow. Saw very good rheumy(privately as 8 month wait for nhs)she clarified that throbbing knees and feet at night not side effect of pred! Lower back issue. At least I know! She asked for X-rays of lower back and knees.

Such fun!!!!!!

[Hippie22 in reply to Bedwell]

did Doctor give any medication to help with anxiety

[Miserere in reply to Bedwell]

I experienced quite a lot of axiety on reaching 6mg. Due to other problems I then had a flare so am now on 9mg and having to reduce again. Good to know it is a side effect of pred and not purely me going mad. I shall try to be ready for it next time and ride the wave if I can. I'd prefer not to take any meds if possible. Good luck Hippie22.

[Bedwell]

Did suggest anti depressant at some point. But didn’t seem to help. So stopped. Some people do find it helps.?!

[Hippie22 in reply to Bedwell]

Got Doctor ringing to day I let you no how it goes thank you so much how long was you on 8mg for

[Bedwell]

started in July 2021 at 15mg. Been just going very slowly since then. Now on 6.5 one day and 7 the next . By next week will stay on 6.5 and then start alternating with 6.0! Exhausted a lot of the time! Thank goodness I have dog to walk! Beautiful day here in uk! Onwards!!!!

[Hippie22 in reply to Bedwell]

I start in March last year 15mg sounds good the way you are tapering yes weather uk lovely to day think that what I need to do go for walk may help fresh air

[Bedwell]

where are you in uk?

[Hippie22 in reply to Bedwell]

in Essex spoke to Doctor he’s put me on sertaline so hopefully these will help it not like me to feel like this I am all positive person

[Bedwell]

would love to go for a walk with someone who understood the pmr/ pred issues!! This post is so useful anyway!

[Bramble2000]

steroids make me feel terribly anxious.

[Hippie22]

I was fine it only when I tapered down to 8mg Doctor give me sum medication to help hopefully I can get back feeling ok

[Viveka in reply to Hippie22]

There are quite often vague senses of anxiety and fear at any level of pred and often no rationale behind it, unless it's adrenals. Like waking up with a terrible sense of dread for no reason. If nothing is happening in life or the illness to bring this feeling on and it came on suddenly then it's likely to be pred and will resolve itself when the dose stablises. If adrenals I believe you would also be feeling pretty tired. How long has it been going on? I'd suggest a symptom diary to monitor how you are feeling.

[Hippie22 in reply to Viveka]

hi yes feeling come on suddenly nothing happening in life or illness been feeling anxious for 1 week was not nice feeling I will do diary to monitor how I am feeling hopefully it will help thank you so much it all makes sense now

[Bedwell]

good luck with it! I’m in Herts ! Might be quite near? Potters bar!

Just off to cranial osteopath. Feeling very achey today ! Here’s hoping!!!

[KASHMIRI1]

I had a lot off anxiety at various times during the time l have been on pred. Which is nearly three years

[Hippie22 in reply to KASHMIRI1]

I see messages I am relieved in one way anxiety with prednisone can do this

[KASHMIRI1 in reply to Hippie22]

I found it difficult but eventually got my head round the fact that it's just the drugs and gradually got used to it and tried some diverting tactics.