Prednisone/Mestinon and moodiness
 

I have only been on steroids for three days now. I don't even know if this is enough time to take effect, but I haven't noticed a decrease in symptoms and I actually feel like some of my older symptoms (breathing) were showing up a little bit. That isn't severe and I know if I start having breathing problems I need to go to the ER to be safe. What I am a little conerned about is my moodiness. I am still battling some depression and anxiety, but I feel like I'm being snippy/agitated. I even admitted this to my girlfriend last night because she could tell I was being impatient with things that I normally wouldn't have an issue with. I think it's the steroids but has anyone else had this problem? Can the Mestinon cause some muscle twitching at times as well?

(I am currently taking 20mg of Prednisone twice a day, a pill every 12 hours. I am also on Mestinon 60 mgs, and I take a half of pill every 4-6 to hours. This is my first time taking these medications on a daily basis so I am still trying to figure out what works for me. I have a follow up in a week with the doctor to check on things.)

You aren't imagining the mood symptoms! Pred can cause all of the above.

I just hate hearing of people taking prednisone in the evening! ICK! ACK! Pred for AI stuff is best taken at the time of day when the body naturally makes adrenal hormones which is 5-8 am. Most take their dose as early as possible in the morning so it can mimic the body's pattern and so the bulk of the side effects are settled in the evening so you can sleep.

Forty mgs is a pretty hefty dose, and it's possible that you are temporarily feeling some increase in symptoms. That is common, and will probably lessen soon, but please be careful and watch the effects and act accordingly.

For now, try to be easy on yourself and when you feel you are being snippy or about to "boil over" just mentally step back and give yourself a moment to gather some control, although it does feel good to let loose (but only while you are doing it--the regret is immediate!)

Good luck!

I started on 40 mg of pregnisone and my doctor told me to take it in the morning. I did note that my MG symptoms had less fluctuation and all my muscle pains went away. I know that pregnisone can effect your mood but it had a positive effect on mine. I was more chipper and I actual caught myself singing. I had not sung in almost 2 years.

It did give me insomnia and big black and blue marks without having injured my limb. I am currently being weaned off pregnisone. The insomnia went away at about 25mg dose, but the muscle pains and badder days are working their way back in.

kathie

Great advice on taking it in the morning. I will ask my doc about that because they just said to take it twice a day.

Ok, my mother who is a nurse wasn't happy when I told her I started steroids because she is worried about the long term effects, but I also explained that the doctor wants to try this to treat the vision issues. I think the motherly instinct took over her medical experience for a quick second :) . She is just being a good mom and she doesn't know much because she lives 1300 miles away from me.

Oh, that's a mom thing. We never want our "little lambs" to do anything that may cause harm. I am also in the medical field, and have a teenager and understand her reaction completely. LOL She'll come around soon when the "nurse part" gets a chance to think it through a bit.

Also, the snappiness will decrease with a lower dose. In the meantime, just try some coping techniques.

Hang in there!

I would ask your doctor if this is a short term or long term strategy. Most doctors try this first to get the patient some fast relief ( pregnisone is cheap and insurance never question it), but then wean them off slowly as they try treatment that take a longer time to be effective, like cellcept or imuran or getting your insurance approved for IVIG or plasmaphoresis. I am glad I am being weaned off. I would not want to be on pregnisone for a long time because of the multiple severe side effects. Have you discussed treatment options with your doctor?

kathie

Basically I got a call from the Nurse Practioner that said to start this stuff with the intructions. I follow up in a week when I can ask more questions.

Kathie, Interesting! It's called a paradoxical effect, or paradoxical reaction. Lucky! :)

Perfect! It will give your doctor a point of reference. :)

Fortunatos,

Some folks on other boards, who take HIGH doses of pred, usually IV, call the effects "the 3 H's": 1. Happy 2. Hungry 3. H (rhymes with corny) :D

Your mileage may vary! ;)

Hi strizzlow
 

I can only speak from experience. Taking prednasone, is awful for me. I cry, scream, can't sleep, am jittery, and very very moody. My doctors know that now, and I don't take it unless absolutly necessary. I hope you don't have to be on that medication long. ginnie

:D:D:D:D:D:D I think we'll have to see about making "The 3 Hs the technical name. LOL! Ahhh, 4-eyes, thanks for the great laugh!!!!

Yup prednisone makes ur emotions go into overdrive. Plus it seems like u can hear everything. Even someone smacking on something to loud makes me want to smack um. Lol...not literally but u seem to have a multiple personality thing. One moment your so happy the next u want to rip ur Teddy bears head off then cry about it after...lol

Well 3 days in and not any improvement with the vision issues. My eyes have actually been more blurry where i see A half of an image below it. I will continue meds until otherwise. Ive been more depressed lately but im.weaning off of xanax because i feel like a walking pharmacy.

Hang in there...these medications work differently for everyone. Give things time...:)

It can take a couple of weeks or so for differences to be noted when using prednisone. The fact that you're weaning off the Xanax can cause "rebound anxiety" and depression, so be aware of that and do a nice slow wean...benzos are really rough on the brain and body.

You're on your way! You just don't realize it yet. Take time to breathe and relax!

Thank you for the encouragement. It's very much appreciated :hug:

Prednisone makes me mean, crazy, unable to sleep and I spent a bunch of money.....all just on 40 MG. my dr. Wants me on 10, but I am so fearful that I am only doing 2.5 right now. The not sleeping is the worst and then other negatives happen from being exhausted. It made me feel like a monster.... I have two little children and did not like the way I was losing my patience with them. I had never yelled at them until 50 MG of prednisone.... Just tell your girlfriend to try and tell herself it is medicine....not you!!!!!!!

I have been on prednisone for a little over 4 weeks now I noticed a huge change after 3 weeks I feel great now only problem is my eye but it's still much better than it was I started at 20mg and have increased my dose 20mg every 5 days I'm up to 160 mg a day I take them all at 9 every morning I noticed not feeling well when I took them later I do have mood swings I'm not sure if my happiness is from the meds or from feeling better lol I've gotten back to the gym this week and I feel great. Just hope I'm not on too high a dose I had an mri last week getting a cat scan in a couple weeks

160 mg of prednisone? Wow, that seems like a lot.

160? That is super duper high. I don't know how you ever sleep---as in EVER! Does your MD have a plan for reducing your dosage? If not, you are at extreme risk for developing some major side effects in a short amount of time.

Take care of yourself!

I have no problem sleeping lol never have I have sleep apnea I use a cpap I'm getting gastric bypass in a few months hoping all my health issues will be cleared up by then I need to up my dose again my prescription says up to 9 pills a day all the symptoms are bearable the reflux the increased sex drive the moods lol I feel like myself again I'm hoping to only be on prednisone for a few months

Incredible. I thought my body "liked" pred, but you have me beat.

Best of luck!

Prednisone made me feel great too, until they start to wean you off. Then all the MG and fatigue comes back. This is the second time they tried to wean me off. I am now taking 30 mg every other day. It will take 3 months to wean me off. It only took 4 days for all the fatigue to come back. They are going to put me on cellcept in a month. Unfortunately it can take up to 18 month for the cellcept to take effect. It is going to be a rough year.

I am going to try to talk them in to Imuran which will help the Crohn too instead of cellcept.

kathie