prednisone agitation with ADHD

[LizDragoon2002]

With a recent upper respiratory virus infection, the pulmonologist ordered another tapering dose of predinsone: 5 days 30 mg; 5 days 20 mg; 5 days 10 mg.  I am a 70 year old woman with ADHD.  My brain is aging along with the rest of me.  With the help of the prednisone and a Z pak for a secondary infection and convalescence, the respiratory problems are gone, but I'm coping with the side effects of the prednisone including agitation, mood swings, greater distractibility, disorganization, incredible appetite increases, and gastritis.  Yesterday and today I decreased the prednisone to 5 mg but can feel slight fireworks lighting up my brain, as I carefully wean this old body away from the predisone.  I see the clinical psychologist next week for disorganization and decluttering monitoring.

Balancing the curative effect of prednisone with the problems is a challenge.  How do other older people with ADHD conditions use such medications with less side-effects?  I even have problems with some antibiotics affecting my ADHD conditions.  Sometimes I just slow down and convalesce, but the agitation and mood swings can cause business decision problems.

[LizDragoon2002]

Thanking physicians who accept my need for less oral prednisone for asthma exacerbations with respiratory infections.  I appreciate the steroid oral inhalers and nasal inhalers as a better way to reduce mental agitation affects on my old brain.

[LizDragoon2002]

November 10 2012

Finally realized that,as a 70 year crone with "mild cognitive disordered" older brain,that dosing with prednisone for viral respiratory infection results in mood swings not well stabilized.  I then join new clubs excited to meet wonderful people until the side effects wear off.  I expected diagnosis of viral infections with treatment with anti-viral medications.  I got my Fluzone influenza vaccine last month and.a TDAP booster.  TDAP is not covered by Medicare.  It cost me $70 out of pocket because the clinic doesn't bill my health insurance...I wait for the insurance refund.  ..