PredniSONE and moodiness

I am a 23 year old female who was prescribed 10mg of prednisone for fluid and retraction of the ear (I have had chronic ear infections since I was young). I had pretty standard side effects while using the medication; increased appetite (but no weight gain yet - phew!) and thrist, loss of sleep, mild moodiness, etc. I was told to take 6 pills the first day, then 5, 4, and so on till done. On the 6th day (when I had 1 pill left) I woke up with a horrible sore neck and have had it now for 5 days. It has not really subsided much at all yet and is very uncomfortable. To make matters even more annoying, the problem I have with my ear hasn't improved at all. So basically I was prescriped these stupid pills for nothing. I feel fortunate after reading the other stories that I only had this one problem, but it still sucks that the doctor never warned me about muscle pains and none of the websites I came across (until this one) mentioned anything about it.

i was on predisone twice within the last six months because of a flare with chrons disease. i got really sick and was put on 40mg of prednisone twice a day. it made me feel much better, but the side effects sucked.

i had extreme moodiness and overreact to everything. i found myself constantly crying over nothing and got depressed very easily. i had alot of trouble sleeping, got really bad leg cramps. my appitite was insane. im constantly hungry and just feel like i need to eat and eat. i gained 15 pounds both times i was on it. my face gets so puffy. the fat that i gained is in my stomach and a weird texture. i also gained weight in my legs and have strech marks at the top. it took me about 3 months to get back to my normal weight. and then i got sick again and am currently dealing with it all again.

i hate predisone and to anyone going on it i recomend caring ALOT about what you eat because gaining that much weight sucks. also drink alot of water.

drinking water after you go off prednisone is supposed to drain your system of it and make the side effects go away quicker.

I have been put on prednisone for a nephrotic disease that I developed a few years ago. I am now in my third relapse of the condition. I did notice weight gain and insatiable appetite during my first two rounds of pred (6 and 10 months respectively). Maybe even the moodiness and a foogy brain I call "pred head".
Today I was perscribed another round of pred. This time for a year. I don't know if I'm going to do it. It's like a rollercoaster ride, once you're strapped in you can't get off til the end. I hate my disease, but I think I hate the prednisone even more. I don't know what to do.
This is a very good website. I was glad to start the pred again, forgetting all that comes along with it. I just want to get better. I'm tired of this.

After taking various dosages of prednisone over a 3-4 year period for severe asthma and chronic sinus infections I discovered that prednisone will destroy your bones. I have bone denisty loss, arthritis in my spine, knee and flare ups in my hands and wrists. I now have chronic pain-not a matter if I will be in pain just how severe. Just this week I developed tendinitis in both ankles. I never would have taken prednisone if I had known what it could do to me. The weight gain, moodiness and hyper feeling are just minor side effects to me-they go away when you finish the treatment. Now I am in pain daily and having a difficult time supporting my daughter and myself. From what I have researched it will just get worse. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION! It is not worth the benefits.

I just finished up a 5 day course of Prednisone for a rash (poison ivy???) I noticed about 2 hours ago that my calves, ankles, and feet are huge. The drug info says that "I should check with my doctor asap". Also Im glad that my severe moodiness this weekend was the drug.

Hi gypsi!
great to hear from u again! I agree, please no insults here. Maybe there is an anger management site somewhere.
Anyway, moodiness does happen with pred. and sometimes it's hard to control but it CAN be controlled. It's not been easy for me at times. While I was on pred. I didn't get mad or angry. With the withdrawal it was really rough because everything upset me. I was so used to being on pred. I'm all thru that now. Thank the Lord! You have friends here if u want them, if not, well see ya. lol What ever happened to jules777? I hope gypsi u r doing better. Trailblazen

Hi everyone, I know it's been a while! Hi Trailblazen!

Anyway, good point it sure shows some moodiness here lately, LOL. But I gotta say that from all the incidents we have had before I've actually never seen somebody calling names to another person here at this site. I was in shock to read somebody calling an idiot to someone b/c of a spelling error or whatever the case, you are right they should go and vent somewhere else.
God Bless every and each one of you!

Unfortunately the rudeness from the responses are probably another side effect from the prednisone. I have been on for 3 months now, up to 40 mg a day and I have body aches, feels like my bones are brittle and will break if I stand up. I have blurred vision and fevers the whole nine yards. My doctor is so hard to get in to see and when I tell the nurse she says" oh thats not due to the prednisone". Yeah right. It is a bad drug. I have Chrones and have requested Remicade , which is an alternative drug which I know people that are on it and have done very well. But to my first point there are alot of side effects due to drug and the moodiness is very apparent here. If you want to vent go elsewhere .

I was on prednisone only for two weeks on two different ocassions, (after an out-patient surgical procedure) but the side effects and withdrawl symptoms are so intense I hope I never have to go on it again.

While on it:
sweating, hands that feel like they're never going to stop swelling up, tingling and muscle weakness in my lower legs, extreme moodiness, and low self esteem.

After two days of going off of it:
I still have leg tingling (mostly in the morning), knee pain, a sense of jitteriness overall, and my hands shake a little, and I still am pretty moody (my wife can attest). I get startled really easy too. I found this board becasue I did a web search on prednisone withdrawl, because on my way in to work today I thought I was havig a stroke or something! All those symptoms hit, plus my lip and jaw were quivering, and when I got scared, that just sent my mind racing.

Also, I hadn't had coffee in a long time, and this morning when I did, it seemed to magnify the reaction.

-John

To guest 13095
Don't worry about something else being wrong for now, the side effects and withdrawal are awful no matter how long or how much u take of pred. Hang in there. I've been off of pred. since June 10 and I was on it for 4 yrs. I'm having a horrible time with withdrawal. Be very thankful u were not on it very long. As with gypsi and others, the self-esteem seems to disappear when pred. comes into our lives. The weight gain, insomnia, moodiness, sweating, aching, fever, hand tremors, etc. All r a part of side effects and withdrawal. My blood pressure is going crazy, high and low. Does anyone have any advice on this? Take one day at a time and know u will get better. It does take some time to get over this, I have a long way to go and today I feel like going to the hospital,but, I know after while I will feel different. Check on some posts from jules777. I'm not sure about all the "natural" ways but what have we got to lose? I'll try anything right now to feel better. Today is miserable. Keep me in your prayers out there. Thanx, I appreciate it lots. Trailblazen.............

My brother has a nerve disease that affects his legs and feet.
Numbness and severe pain. He has alot of good days though.
As far as the withdrawl symptoms I've experienced are: insomnia, sadness (real bad), tempermental, hands swelling, sweating ( could not tolerate heat or humidity), blurry vision, extreme lack of self-esteem. My hands do not swell anymore, moodiness is better, still have insomnia, weight is coming off slowly and as I talked about before, my stomach problems have finally stopped. I was on pred. 4 yrs. So I feel like I'm doing alot better and so will your son. After reading all the posts when I first found this site, I didn't feel so strange and alone. Of course, everyone is different. Just know he will get rid of the withdrawl. My doctor had me quit cold turkey and that's why I feel I have had such a hard time. Weaning off of it is the right thing to do. I also had horrible headaches which have stopped. Take care.....Keep us posted on your son...........: )

Extreme Fatigue, Insomnia/Disturbances of Sleep Patterns, Increased Appetite/Weight Gain/Fluid Retention/Increased Fat Deposits, Changes in Mood, Nervousness, Increased Blood Pressure (now need RX), Depression, Bruising, Extreme Facial Redness (all over), Inflamed Esophagus, Muscle Weakness, Profuse Sweating (especially entire head and face), Distended Abdomen, Swollen Eyes, Acne on Back (excessive), Sun Sensitivity, Increased Thirst, Roundness of Face/Moon Face, Thick Neck/Double Chin...or more, Messed Up Sense of Taste, Teeth Sensitivity, Moodiness, Hair Loss....
SEEMS LIKE I'VE FORGOTTEN TO INCLUDE SOME OTHERS!
This is RUINING MY LIFE!

And the Saga of Prednisone continues:

After a few weeks of 10mg per day (5mg AM 5mg PM) I am now down to 7.5 mg per day (last 3 days). The 10 mg allowed a lot of the side effects to start to fade: weight is steady or decreasing. I only gained about 5 lbs but that is now down to 1 or 2. I'm working out so I'm adding muscle as well as losing fat so I dont expect massive weight loss. (For instance .. I added an inch to the circumference of my upper arm.. muscle..not fat !) The irrationality toward food (cleanup in aisle 5 has new meaning.. like cleaning one's plate !)

Yes, Im hairier ! for a guy it's in all the right places. Not only hasn't that gone away.. it's hairier still !

My face is almost back to it's gaunt thin self :) SOME of the buffalo hump has gone away and my neck has thinned a bit - so no double chin anymore - just in the last two weeks.

Never had insomnia.. never had depression (wasn't thrilled with the side effects but thats a rational reaction.. not depression) never had moodiness. Acne is getting better. I STILL RECOMMEND PHISOHEX and a LOOFAH.

My belly is still distended but then I had a lot of surgery so it could be either or both. Exercise has helped (jogging and situps) and Im a tad fatigued but getting better.

Certainly thats not all of the side effects but the statement 1 month for every week of use seems true.. and the effects go away slower than they arrived.. ]

BUT THEY DO GO AWAY.

The more permanent effects (stretch marks etc) may be permanent.. try vitamin E Aloe etc.. they may help!

moon face, buffalo hump, bloating, stomach distention, heart burn, gassy feeling, cramping, increased/decreased appetite, night sweats, doube chin, hair growth, back aches, insomnia, moodiness, depression(and im a happy person most the time) mind racing contantly, WEIGHT GAIN!!!!!!!!! (40 lbs in 2 months or less) that i dont need. oh and these ugly purplish striations on my legs and stomach (look like stretch marks only purple and are near veins and are vertical)... hope they go away cause i'm self conscious of my body and am hoping to get the old me back so i can wear a bikini again......... while i'm young