Mean

[rlister]

:angry: I have been so mean and angry lately doc says it the prednisone. If this keeps up I won't have any freinds left. Anyone else have this problem? I can't sleep and keep starting arguements with my husband. Doc gave my something called zanax, but it doesn't seem to work. Any ideas? :wacko:
desperate,Rachel :cry:

[RosemaryP]

Are you on 20mg a day or less, if so take the whole lot in one hit first thing in the morning. When I am on 30mg I take 20mg first thing in the morning and the remaining 10 at lunch time. Have a half hour walk outside each morning and you should get lucky and have some sleep at night. Yes I get cranky on prendisone too.

[Sannie]

Hi Rachael

I am sorry sorry you are reacting like this to the prednisilone.

How much are you taking and how long have you been on it? What time are you taking it?

Obviously it is important to take it as your doctor has said but sometimes experienced prednisilone patients can help too!

Take care.

Love
Sannie

[Geri]

Mean? Hah! That's putting it mildly for me! When I'm on Prednisone, I reach levels of anger that scare me. I have told this to docs, and they know how strongly I feel about NOT being put on Prednisone, unless it's used as a life-saving tool. Really. I have locked myself in my room and told my children to stay out...go to their father if they need anything. I have gotten so ugly, I can't stand myself. It's down right scarey. I'm usually a very friendly, loving, and compassionate soul. When I'm on Prednisone, it's a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde kind of thing.

It's been a few years since I've been on steroids, but my family still reacts this way... every time I raise my voice, or get crabby, the first question out of their mouths are "are you on Prednisone?"

It doesn't seem to have that strong of an effect when I'm only on it for less than a week, and low doses. But I have been on 80 mg. (for asthma). And yes, sleep....gosh, if I get 3 hrs. sleep a night when on Prednisone, it's good.

I feel for you, it's a strong, hard, medicine. But sometimes it's just so necessary. Hang in there. The only thing that seemed to help me was to go for long walks, and open my Bible and read. It helped to change my mood. I wish you well.

Keep Smiling! Geri

[Dnabella]

Wooo hooo! boy was I subject to severe rages when I was on LONG TERM prednisone about 10 years ago...my family thought I was losing it...and when I mentioned it to my doctors at the time they actually said it wasnt the pred...idiots! I am still so mad at them because I honestly thought I was losing my mind...

Because of this I have refused with THIS illness to go near long term prednisone and instead go for the short sharp dose which for me has helped..but I admit I must deal with alot of pain because of this decision..and thats fine with me..I would rather have the pain then deal out the emotional pain I handed to my family all those years ago..

I firmly believe that you should be on an antidepressant...Celexa seems to work much quicker for me...but for others not..so I think its just finding the right one for you....go back to your doctor and tell him of your concerns AGAIN...and remember...its worse in the morning...arrange to be alone during those times..and control it with peaceful moments..and for petes make sure EVERYONE in your home understands that you need silence while your fighting those demons...

[Sannie]

Hi there

Some people may get quite alarmed if they read this thread.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT PREDNISILONE CAN QUITE LITERALLY SAVE YOUR LIFE IF YOU HAVE LUPUS - AND CAN SOMETIMES BE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IF YOU ARE GOING TO GET BETTER.

Reactions like this are not often seen and are very often dose/symptoms/medical history related so please don't be afraid to take it if your doctors advise it.

Some people can easily tolerate 1gram a day IV while others can't tolerate 20mg a day orally! WE ALL REACT DIFFERENTLY.

Other medications can also cause weird reactions and what happens to one person does not mean it will happen to us all.

If you do react badly to any drugs PLEASE GET MEDICAL ADVICE ASAP.

Love
Sannie

[Clare.T]

Many medications can albeit very rarely cause frank psychosis. yes even the anti malarials in susceptible individuals.

I became extremely concerned when I started on Quinacrine because I felt wired and high, quite manic and had read that in older people ( over 60's ) it could cause psychosis but I wasn't quite sure what that was

So can lupus of course.
Now with pychosis you don't realise how you are behaving it's apparent only to others So it's extremely important to communicate with your family and those near to you. so that they know you know how you are behaving.

In some circumstances it might even be worth mentioning that they should call your doctor if they are worried about your behaviour. The family or those near to you should have your doctor's details anyway.

In another context I saved myself a lot of misunderstanding when I came clean to my family about my premenstrual behavior not as an excuse for it but as a fact that we all had to deal with.

I told them that things that bothered me all the time became major causes of total infuriation at that particular time but I was going to do my best to communicate better about what was bugging me and would they do their best to avoid the irritations. I mean things like leaving their socks on the living room floor making snacks and leaving me to clear up.

Families need to be educated to help as much as possible and I think we often reluctant because it's admitting to "weakness" or disability even to ourselves.

It's quite possible that the dose is higher than actually needed for the symptoms since we all react so differently. Maybe there are other medication options that would reduce the need for Prednisone.

Hoping you all feel better very soon

Clare :flowers:

[raggedyann1]

I want to put my 2 cents in on this subject.

Read what Sannie replied.

I have never had these kinds of reactions to any of the lupus meds.
I have been on all kinds of prednisone doses, taken plaquenil, methotrexate etc.

So please if you don't have these reactions or your doctor wants to put you on these meds DO IT. Then if you have a reaction call your doctor.

Karen

[Mari_77]

Yep, I had the same problem when I was on high doses of IV Solumedrol. I couldn't even stand myself. It's awful. I would suggest if the Zanax doesn't help then ask your doctor and try something else. Sleep is important. Hope you feel better soon. :flowers:

[confused1]

I wish I could blame my occasional mean lapse on medication!! I'm afraid I've just inherited the family "mean gene." Prednisone has been such a boon for me that I wouldn't stop taking it. I do know that the only time both my boys had to take prednisone was at the same time. They were 2 and 4, one had a horrid ear infection and the other had horrid asthma (when you've got little ones, it never rains but it pours!). They indeed were "mean." Fistfights, tantrums and rages were the order of the day. And, one of them bit me really bad. :lol: But, the eardrum didn't rupture and the asthma subsided and the prednisone only lasted for 10 days and we survived. Sometimes a good sense of humor is worth a whole lot.

Good luck and good wishes.

Sunny

[patricia mary]

Hi There

I have just finished reading all the posts on this subject, and find it interesting and SCAREY!!!!

I go back to d'Crux on Tuesday, and I think he will put me on them.

I have never taken drugs in my life, so as some of you may imagine this is really worrying me!

I am so sorry that you are feeling mean and horrible. I have been feeling like since I Got ill, and dont want to get worse! lol

I take heart in that some of you are not experiencing this, and those who do have given advice for helping to get around the problem.

I feel so ill at the moment, suffering badly with my symptoms. I will trust the specialists, I am sure they do not put anyone on them lighty.

Lets all try and look on the postive side! As Sannie has said they SAVE LIFES!

Hopefully you will soon feel better, before you have killed your family, and have no friends left!! LOL LOL

Good luck Pat

[3forme]

Jumping on the Band wagon!!! The pred did make me MUCH jumpier!!! I was on 40 per day. I had to go to 60 per day, I wasn't as jumpy. I BEGAN TO GET BETTER IN MY BODY, and started tapering, the temper improved MASSIVELY.
Not everyone has these issues with pred. I agree with everyone about looking at when your dose is taken. I do better on all at once first thing. The spread out dosing was a contributor to temper issues FOR ME. I now take 20mg once in the morning every other day. Some people seem to do better spread out. TALK TO DOC about schedule!!!
Take care, 3forme

[RosemaryP]

Anyone that is reading this who has not taken prednisone will be alarmed. Sure there are side effects of high does from ANY drug, but lets face it, we will take ANYTHING for relief of pain or stiffness or feeling plain lousy. The side effects of prednisone will not kill us and we are allowed to have a grumble or a giggle at our selves. As long as we can grizzle, grumble or laugh at ourselves, we are surviving.
If we see some reactions from certain drugs with moods, it is a BIG RELIEF, to know we are NOT the only ones that have them.

[Caro]

Some people do get a little irritable on steroids, however there are many other causes for feeling "mean".
Many people with lupus complain of mood swings - often attributable to CNS involvement.
Depression can also make people irritable.

If prednisone is making you irritable you may not necessarily have to stop taking the drug. Alternate day and even weekly dosing can ameliorate side effects. Another option is using a steroid sparing drug such as azathioprine to reduce your need for higher doses.

Predisone is a very effective drug and while it does have side effects ( as does any drug) its benefits can outweigh the risks.

I have been taking prednisone for 20 years or so - the only down side for me has been the weight gain.

I am concerned that fear of the side effects mentioned in this post may alarm some of our more newly diagnosed members.Remember, just as lupus affects us individually, so do medications. Not everyone rsponds the same way.