Kenalog and mood swings

I have had three kenalog shots: once when i was 15 to combat severe allergies, sinusitis, rhinitis, nasal polyps, and everything else that can go wrong in the nose. I also have moderate to severe persistent asthma. Yet after this shot i was cheerleading, running the mile and 800m in track, and running the 3mile in cross country. I had another shot almost 2 years ago after a severe asthma attack made me go to the hospital and yesterday i had another shot.
I have never had any adverse reactions to Kenalog (besides weight gain, same with prednisone) and i am sorry to hear that so many people have experienced terrible side effects. I have never had any mood swings, period problems, dissolving of my butt cheeks, joint pain, etc.
Kenalog keeps me alive and breathing.

Kenalog-40 I was never told what I was being given in my bottom, just that it would help with seasonal allergies. FDA site "Neurologic-Psychiatric: Psychic derangements may appear when corticosteroids are used, ranging from euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, and severe depression to frank psychotic manifestations. Also, existing emotional instability or psychotic tendencies may be aggravated by corticosteroids." FDA More "Neuro-Psychiatric: Convulsions, depression, emotional instability, euphoria, headaches, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema(pseudotumor cerebri) usually following discontinuation of treatment, insomnia, mood swings, neuritis, neuropathy, paresthesia, personality changes, psychic disorders, vertigo. Arachnoiditis, meningitis, paraparesis/paraplegia, and sensory disturbances have occurred after intrathecal administration."
I went to an Urgent Care Clinic for allergies. My skin was crawling every time I left the house so I was told the cause was environmental allergies. The Benadryl wasn't helping. The nurse noticed my skin was patchy and swollen. Another nurse returned to the room and said this shot would help with the reactions. I was not told what it was till it was done and she mumbled the word Kenalog. Three hours later I was anxious and talking irratically. Pressured speech, I could not stop talking. I called Nurse Advice line, then told to call a Pharmacy Help Line, who in turn said to go to the ER but to not drive myself in such a condition. I was talking as if I was on speed or manic. The ER said to go home it was just an anxiety attack. I took 2mg Clonzepam to calm down and sleep. In the morning, the symptoms returned. I called the hospital pharmacy and was told to go in immediately to see my doctor, that it is a steroid and causes psychic reactions. My regular doctor didnt have an opening so I saw a different doctor who wasn't familiar with my normal personality. She said she saw nothing wrong no matter that she couldn't get a word in unless I physically put my hand over my mouth. She sent me to a Nurse/psychiatrist next door to her. He said there was nothing wrong also. I had to keep repeating myself, speeding along, stuttering because I was talking so fast, telling him I was going 100 miles an hour in my head and out my mouth. I thankfully had an appointment with my psychologist a few minutes later in a different part of the hospital. I see her weekly. She immediately saw my change in mood and personality and called the clinic nurse/psychiatrist and told him to prescribe clonzepam. I did some reading about kenalog 40 injections. The clinic doctors didnt have the same list of side effects as their own pharmacy. I should never have been given the shot because I already have an emotional/mood problem and have epilepsy. I have to increase my anti-convulsants for at least two weeks and watch my mood very very closely. Some days I "fly" then "crash" now. This is all new, extreme symptoms of an already existing condition. This Urgent Care Clinic nurse was told all these things by me, repeatedly because of all my allergies to drugs, daily convulsions and counselling I already undergo for PTSD. I was never seen by a doctor that day or counselled. I will never take a steroid again based on the information I now have on its effects on psychiatric and seizure conditions. I am already disabled because of daily seizures and now I have even more daily seizures. These mood swings and seizures will be abnormally high for over 3 weeks I was told by the doctors but the more reading I do the longer I find that the steroid will cause side effects. Epileptics or those with a low seizure thresh hold, anyone with psychiatric conditions, emotional problems such as panic attacks or anxiety, PTSD, depression, Please use caution with kenalog. My friends are very helpful and supportive during this time. They can see the emotional impact the steroids are having on me. They will tell me I am speeding and I say "sorry, its the 'roids talking" Now, I will be watching my butt, too. Its been 7 days since the injection.

I had 2 kenalog injection in my sacroiliac joints. I had these injections within 2 weeks of each other. I had them done because I suffer from a chronic back pain, had had a spinal fusion and within 4 months began suffering unbearable pain in my hip and leg,it felt as though my hip was dislocated.
The side effects I have suffered are as follow: extreme hunger,weight gain, puffiness in my face and stomach, excessive hair growth on my face. The wierd part of the excessive facial hair is that before I had these injections done I always left handfuls of hair in the shower and when I put hair products in my hair, since the injections I hardly lose a single strand of hair.I also had severe night sweats,mood swings, and I have yet to get my period since I had the injections.
Above all of this I also suffered steroid withdrawal. Like I said I has these 2 injections within 2 weeks of the other. Abpput 3 weeks after the last injection I began to have a creepy crawly feeling in my arms, cold sweats, and vomiting. I called my Dr who said it was withdrawal from the steroids. I couldnt believe this. I did some research online . I discovered that this does happen if you have more than one injection within 3 weeks. I guess it does make sense because when you take oral steroids you are almost always given a taper pack. You are weened off of them so that you don't go into withdrawal. With an injection obviously you can not be weened but if you have the injections too close together, withdrawal can happen.

The only advise I have is that if you can wait to have your injections more than 3 weeks apart...do it because the withdrawal is miserable.

a bump and a rash looking spots on the injection site( right hip, frontal) after 2 weeks, lots of anxiety, mood swings...

to guest # 3217

THe side effects that we are ''whining''about are caused by Kenalog nothing else.Have you not noticed a pattern in the postings or read the drug warnings?Most of us have suffered permanent disfigurments or terrible irregular bleeding,along with migrains,cramps,mood swings,hair loss,insomnia,ect...I don't know about you but I care about my body and I don't welcome a golf ball sized hole in my hip nor do I welcome flooding,painful periods with blood clots as big as walnuts ,that last 2 to 3 weeks a month.Most of us were not warned about these side effects from the people trying to ''help us''.It appears that these side effecs are common and the doctors failed to give us the choice if we wanted to take the risks.Every woman should have the right to know tha her menstural cycle could be effected or that she may get a disfigurement.Tha alone would have been enough for me not to get aKenalog injection.I only had one injection,how many have you had?I am sure that eventually you will be posting an apology to all of us whiners.Have you had an x-ray yet?

has anyone ever recived the injection kenelog in the scalp for hair loss. i did and over the last couple of years i have noticed new changes to my body.twitching under my right eye, rapid breathing, insomnia, mood swings, insomnia, pressure in my back like a sharp object poking my insides, occassional night sweats. i didnt know if this was a side effect or not but i didnt feel this way until after the shots. eventhough the hair grew back i still feel these effects. can someone respond

I have had several kenalog injectins in my lumbar/cervical spine.after the last one I informed my pain mgt Dr. that I do not want anymore as they cause me to swell all over..I have trouble sleeping and my pain worsens and my stomach burns non stop..I suffer mood swings and hair loss..so he agreed no more injections...I was sent out to a different Dr for my ankle...and without telling me at first that it was kenalog gave me an injection..I told him my body response badly to the drug...well after the shot I have blown up again...my stomach is burning i havent had to shave my legs in 2 weeks..and the pains is twice as bad in my ankle...trust me it is a very very bad drug for me...I also have a pain in the area of my kidney that has been there since the day after the last injection..I think to many Practisioners look at this drug like a miracle cure for pain...I will never let anybody give me this drug again

I had a series of 3 kenalog injections for pain in my neck at c-4 and c-5. Immediately after the last injection i noticed re blotches under my skin and went to my dr. She said it was blood under the skin from a hit or scratch, which would normally be a regular bruise, blue ot such. I had blood tests and was found to be anemic and have to take iron to rebuild. This was a result of the kenalog. I also have night sweats and terrible mood swings which I am trying to work out without any more drugs. The effect of kenolag on my pituitary gland has stopped hair growth on my arms and head.
The last injection was a month ago and no sign of any regrowth yet. This drug should definitely be taken OFF THE MARKET. It seems no drs. tell us of the horrible side effects and if they know what they are, why are they using this drug on us the patient. Remember, First Do No Harm??? I will never take this drug again and will certainly tell others the same.
L. Boss

I recieved a kenelog shot from my local urgent care office for an chest cold. Four days after the shot i was rushed to the hospital for severe adominal pain..throwing up..severe weakness...only to be released with gastointestianl distress. I then started having nights sweats, mood swings, sore throats, infected hair follicles, skin lessions. Then i noticed the indentation and skin discloration where i had recieved the shot. I started putting all the information together and after reading all the stories on this web site have concluded that KENOLOG IS VERY DANGEROUS!! I was givng NO prior warning for this shot and given it by a front staff nurse. I'm si upset about this...if anyone can help please contact me!

Hi Just wanted to let you know that the patient information sheet from the Drug maker of Kenalog, has every one of our symptoms listed. I have had 3 steroid epidural shots, and my menstrual cycle is so off. I have had my period for 40 days straight now.
The doctors obviously have not read the statements made from the Drug manufacturer, or this site would not be here. It clearly states in bold: MENSTRUAL IRREGULARITIES-- all female patients should be notified.
I also have had severe joint pain, high blood pressure( I was always very low b4 shot), severe panic attacks and mood swings. Our Dr.s are doing us a grave disservice. My Dr actually suggested that I may have Lyme Disease! Which I do not, I had the test just in case!
But ask your Dr.s for the Patient information sheet from the manufacturer of Kenalog, Bristol Meyer Squibb. And know that you are not alone!

NO PITTING, BUT EXTREME FATIGUE AND I AM ON MY FOURTH PERIOD THIS MONTH. IF THIS COULD INCREASE INFECTION, WILL I BIG OK TO UNDERGO A BREAST AUGMENTATION IN 2 WEEKS? I HAVE ALSO HAD MOOD SWINGS AND MILD DEPRESSION.

My first steriod shot for severe psoriosis in the scalp was 24 years ago. It produced a side effect that I call a 30-day "acid" trip. I had delusions, I saw bugs that weren't there, I heard voices, had paranoia, etc. Turned out I was/am bi-polar (manic depressive). We had no idea of this condition prior to the shots, but it cleared up a depressive mystery I'd had problems with. I've been on lithium and doing very well ever since.
Ironically, I've since had 3 more steriod shots (Kenalog included) for various problems and because I'm on a safe and controlled dose of lithium, I have had no reactions to the shots.
I'm just sharing info in case others experience severe depression or mood swings after a shot.