prednisone anxiety

[tinapastina]

last tuesday my dr prescribed me prednisone for what he thought was mono( turned out to be tonsilitis) and the prednisone was not needed. after 3 days of 20mg i thought i was going to die. panic attacks, shakes, sweating and unable to focus i called the dr who had the PA call me back amnd say taper to 10 mg then 5 mg. After fri night taking the 10mg i went into hysterics. i couldnt talk, i couldnt move and i could not focus on my son who is 2. i called the dr once again and another dr called to say that i can stop because i wasnt on it lomg enough to cause damage to my adrenal glands.  he said that this stuff can cause steroid psychosis.  i have been tking .5mg of lorazapam with the panic attacks. im good during the day aside from a little nausea, but at night, i wake with a start like im being zapped by a cattleprod. i opem my eyes and try to calm down,. but once i shut my eyes and try to rest i get that zapped feeling again.
has anyome gone thru this? ive read that it can take 2 weeks for the rpednisone to fully leavce your system

[kristaphee]

I've been on 80mg/8 days now for severe sinus inflammation and it's been a living hell. If it were not for Klonopin, not sure where I would be. Ironically, I still have the headache, post 2 wks of leveqin for the infection. Three days after they ended, my CAT scan results came back and turned out I have a deviated septum (hence, 27 years of sinus infections). The prednisone is supposed to reduce the inflammation but every day has been a challenge. I just feel bad - like perimenopausal (crying, over reacting) itching, shaking, my stomach hurts like never has before.It says it will make you hungry/gain weight but I've come to think of food as survival to get through the next dose.  I began my tapering off to 60 today, 40 the next day, etc. til this crap is gone. I know it's almost over but I wish I'd read more about the side effects before starting it  I hope I haven't screwed myself up for life. Horrible drug. horrible drug. Reading that it will affect my ability to produce cortisol (lowers immunity, your ability to "fight or flight" appropriately) on it's own for 9-12 months, or perhaps permanently is so scary. I already am on Concerta/Klonopin/Pristiq and have to ck in with my psych each day - so I have continued the protocol prescribed with trust. I am close to being tapered down or I would flush the whole mess. Never again will I take this stuff. There has to be an alternative. I feel like a toxic wasteland dump. Be VERY cautious with this drug; especially when used in conjunction with any other medications.  

[Pshr]

Hi,

I think I have steroid psychosis from using prednisone. It's been 5 weeks since my last dose. I was prescribed 50mg for 7 days with no taper.

I felt depression for the first 10 days after stopping my med, then have been feelings/images of hurting my kids :(

Will this every go away??? I don't want to take any other meds.

I have no mental issues before. Please comment anyone.

[st3123]

Yo- I'm going through the same thing.  I'm 31 and had the flu turn into pneumonia.. Prednisone lit me up like the 4th of July.... I had slight anxiety before, and this made it worse. However, it really helped my pneumonia.  I've been off Pred for about a week, and finally broke down and started taking Xanax as needed.... I have a prescription, but only used it for flying in the past.  I find that it really helps me now though.  Talked to the Doc, he said there is no problems in taking it once or twice a day while I wait for the prednisone to wear off.  It does suck though.  Just remember, God gives us these trials to produce character.  We always come out the other side stronger.  Good luck guys.

[Mandypleis]

How long did it take for the anxiety to go away?

[ErinSanJose]

I had a steroid injected at the ER for a reaction to Cipro (arm pain, confusion) and within a couple of days, panic attack, anxiety, when I try to sleep my brain feels like a warm rush of adrenaline is waking me up. I stay up all night. Depression lasted a couple of days and was so scary. My doctor told me that this all sounds like reaction to the steroid an immediately put it in my chart not to ever take again. She prescribed Xanax to me (only .5 which I take one at night) which helps me get about 3 to 4 hours of sleep. I tried not to take the Xanax because I hate meds and scared of addiction but the flip side is no sleep at all. I had to make a choice. I would love to hear of any other solutions to helping with the anxiety side affect and sleep. Anything help anyone? Before all of this I would fall asleep as soon as I hit my bed and sleep 8-9 hours a night and all of this misery because I only had one steriod dose in the ER (which my doc says they didn't need to give me) and want to know when does this anxiety, insomnia go away. My brain falls asleep but wakes up immediately and want to quit the Xanax. I hate this! So sorry for anyone that has to go through this. Erin

[lesweet1971]

How long did it take for your side effects to go away?  Thanks!

[Dee1956]

So sorry to read all of these stories, I was put on a 9 day, started at 40mg, down to 30, 6th day. I can't sleep. It is awful. Nothing is helping me sleep. I was put on this for back pain and to get me off Advil in preparation for surgery, I think. Won't take this again unless life threatening. To top it off, it isn't helping back pain.

[Kendra_Lee]

I just put two and two together... was given prednisone for carpal tunnel prior to the doctor considering surgery. I didn't just go crazy; I literally threw myself in traffic and ended up at the ER.

[Adriane1]

I have been off prednisone for a month and am still having tingling/prickly sensation in my body and periods of terrible anxiety. I have been to doctors multiple times with all kinds of tests done and they "don't know what is causing it". One suggested i go to Mayo Clinic. I take ativan (never had to before prednisone), .25 to .5 as needed. I have no idea when this Hell will end.

[nursegirl6572]

Sorry to hear about your illness.

Prednisone is one of those medications that is truly a necessity for some people, but it comes with all kinds of issues when on it long term.

A suggestion, if you and your doc aren't already doing it.....is a medication "vacation" so to speak.  Now, depending on the dose you're on...you might be able to pull off tapering down to a lower dose for a while before going back up to your normal dose.  Obviously, not as low as you've gone...but lower than your daily dose.  People on lower daily doses can sometimes get away with tapering completely off for a few weeks (longer if possible), then resuming it again, at a lower dose.  While one may experience an exacerbation of their illness related symptoms, it's often worth it, as it's much more effective when resumed, not to mention, it gives the body a well needed break (and in turn an improvement in all of the cruddy side effects).

Best to you!

[Sharon_Smith]

Hi
I have Lupus and RA and take predisone, I've been on it for 17 yrs.   The side effects are miserable but 'my' body has become dependent on it. Every time I get weened down to 7mg I end up in the hospital.  My specialist and I are researching other drugs.  
But I'm reaching out to you about the brain zapps, I was getting those frequently and no matter how hard I tried I could not explain the feeling, THANK YOU now I know I'm not insane and there are others going through the same thing.

[LEWISW]

that is also my biggest problem and casuing my fear to go to sleep.
I go to bed at 9 fall asleep right away and wake up with the brain zap feeling and cold sweat and then the anxiety and panic set in.

Again just knowing I am not alone helps so much.

[LEWISW]

OMG I feel so much better knowing and reading all your posts. I have been off predinzone for sudden hearing loss only 4 days since the last taper and my anxiety and panic attacks started a week ago . At least now I know why and I think knowing that it could last a few months will help me accept the anxiety and deal with the attacks.

Again from the bottom of my heart thank you all for sharing your experiences.
Lew

[limomel98]

If you don't REALLY have to take prednisone, DON'T!!! Every single doctor that I have spoken to said that people with history of anxiety, etc....should not take it! And that it causes horrible side effects! Hang in there you will get better! Message me anytime

[beck_75]

i have ben on prednisone 4 ab week now & my face, lips & nose r itching so bad, can i take klonopin 2 help it, its realy driving me crazy

[zanny55]

Hi, does skin atrophy from oral steroid last very long on your skin? I have skin atrophy now from consuming oral steroids(prednisone) for a month.

[Paxiled]

Because corticosteroids affect cortisol levels, obviously, they bother a lot of people.  How long depends on the individual, unfortunately.  A person already suffering from anxiety will potentially have worse problems than someone who isn't, because it feeds into your already existing pathology.  They also kill off part of our protective probiotics, so that just makes it worse.  Just relax and know this is what sometimes happens with these drugs and only use them if absolutely necessary.

[amanda257]

I've taken prednisone for 9 days. 4 (10mg) tabs by mouth for four days 3 tabs by mouth for 3 days. I have felt very sick over the weekend. Severe dizziness, pains in my legs and back accompanied by excessive sweating. I walk around and feel that I am going to fall over. Called the doctors and they said I cant stop the pill that I have to ween off. So i took 2 tabs yesterday and 1 tab today but i still feel severe dizziness. How long will the side affects last? Please help!!

[nursegirl6572]

Klonopin is a long acting benzo, whereas Ativan and Xanax are short acting benzos.  Klonopin is better suited on a more long term basis, to maintain a patient, to prevent anxiety and panic.  The shorter acting benzos are more appropriate when dosed "as needed", like in the event of a panic attack.  It works quicker, and also leaves the system quicker.  In ost cases, Ativan and Xanax should only be used for short term courses, usually 3-4 months.  Klonopin can be used long term, if indicated.

Klonopin is more appropriate when dosed regularly, usually twice daily, as it needs time to build up in the plasma, to achieve effectiveness.  Psychiatrists are the best docs to manage these kinds of meds.

[OrchidNC]

Oops...sometimes I really dislike my smart phone, sent accidentally before I could check it and finish ... Oh well.... I was going to say it can last in the body 12-30  hours depending on your chemistry and amount taken. Some residual amounts can be detected even 50 hours later. I found it works in the area of the brain in complex ways to enhance the amount of GABA that is present to inhibit stress receptors. Although it sounds like it might balance neuro system it doesn't :( it is used to target symptoms of stress sounds like to me. My doctor did conveye these amounts are low and should be able to step down from them when time comes to. Immediate goal is to stop stress in the body that was triggered. So that is my up-date and hope it helps you. One last thing. I would advise you to see a doctor that understands the neurological system and medicines affect on it and how it affects the body. General practitioners aren't educated enough in these matters. The brain is very complex don't mess with it without really trusting the doctor knows what their talking about and why their prescribing and what is the goal. Best of luck to you. Keep us posted.

[OrchidNC]

Oops...sometimes I really dislike my smart phone, sent accidentally before I could check it and finish ... Oh well.... I was going to say it can last in the body 12-30  hours depending on your chemistry and amount taken. Some residual amounts can be detected even 50 hours later. I found it works in the area of the brain in complex ways to enhance the amount of GABA that is present to inhibit stress receptors. Although it sounds like it might balance neuro system it doesn't :( it is used to target symptoms of stress sounds like to me. My doctor did conveye these amounts are low and should be able to step down from them when time comes to. Immediate goal is to stop stress in the body that was triggered. So that is my up-date and hope it helps you. One last thing. I would advise you to see a doctor that understands the neurological system and medicines affect on it and how it affects the body. General practitioners aren't educated enough in these matters. The brain is very complex don't mess with it without really trusting the doctor knows what their talking about and why their prescribing and what is the goal. Best of luck to you. Keep us posted.

[OrchidNC]

I understand how difficult it can be to figure all this out.
I just want my body to feel like it did before I was given Prednizone
three weeks ago. It's been a real nightmare. I too struggle with the idea of
using more medications to resolve the side affects of the anxiety because
I don't want to become dependent on them, trading one health error for another. I find the Klonopin at.25 mg makes me feel keyed up and internally
shaky on a different sort of way for the first 6-8 hours and ad it wears down I feel better for another 8 hours. My MD told me to spread it out and take it as needed (I was going nearly twenty hours) because it lingers in body. Thought would lessen bodies adfictiveness to it if it was taken at digfetent timed. But  the Psychiatrist I've made an apt with believes it's is slower acting and not good to try to chase anxiety down if it rears up. That it would be better for treatment to keep steady amount of smallest dose needed for benefit take at equal intervals. I'm trying to figure that out. .25 is too much at once but .125 although less jittery is only good about 8-10 hours. I took a dose of .125 in the am at 7:00 and did well on that till about 7:00 but by midnight I needed another .125? I thing initially the meds were still lingering in my body so I think the idea of .25 at night with .125 12 hrs later is a good suggestion. Everyone's body is different so listen to your body. I looked up Klonopin and found that it peaks anywhere from 4-8 hours in body can last residually

[Cloak291]

I would lower your dose. That is a very high dose of Klonopin and ou will get addicted. I take only 0.25 at night and 0.125 in the day. Deal with your anxiety with chammomile tea etc. I am not a doctor.

[bigitalian]

I have been little dizzy, disoriented, just out of it every time I take it. Plus my heart has been pounding a week into taking it and having trouble sleeping now in the second week. Having mild chest pains, hard to breathe if I take too much. I also very vivid dreams when I first started taking it, nothing bad just realistic.I started out with .5 in morn .5 in afternoon and .5 at bedtime. It was ok at first then i started feeling like crap on it. I am pretty young 29 and healthy. I am very sensative to medication. When it comes to rare side effects you can count on me to get um. thanks for the feedback.

[limomel98]

My worse sleep episode was 3 days after I began prednisone. I was getting zapped and heated up all night long on Sept 10. Like 6 in that night!!! I was drenched in sweat, heart racing and short of breathe and then I finally got up and went to the ER. My bp was up and I told them what had happened. One nurse whispered to me and said prednisone will do it everytime to her. But the doctor had no answer and said "NO, its not the Prednisone, beacuse the dose is too low"...... what a bunch of crap! After that, first night...it became less and less and was never as intense as the first night.

[limomel98]

Everytime I would try to dose off, I would be awakened by brain zaps, like my head was being electricuted sort of. At the same time, my body would heat up from the waist up, my arms would be numb and I would be over all tired. No matter how hard I tried to fight it, i couldnt get sleep and was too scared to take any sleep aides, thought I wouldnt wake up, LOL! So I would just say, bump this and stay awake until I couldnt keep my eyes open. Then I would be sooooooooo tired and just fall out on the bed sleep. Then and only then would I get sleep without those issues. I lost weeks of sleep and was miserable.

[Cloak291]

Hello - I switched from Ativan to Klonopin 2 weeks ago. My brain fog/cloudiness went away as Klonopin is longer lasting. I feel heaviness at the back of my head and a little disorientation sometimes if I look around (although that may be from the Prednisone). What symptoms are you having?