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

[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