Been on 15mg of prednison for over 2 years for undiagnosed pmr
Posted , 4 users are following.
I've been on 15mg prednisone for over 2 years, about 7 months ago I developed severe insomnia and periodic episodes of extreme rage. I'm currently tapering off the prednisone and I'm being treated for insomnia. Could the prednisone be causing all of this including the rage even if that is just periodically? My life is a mess because of this and my marriage is at risk, not to mention the toll this is taking on my health.
I would appreciate any insight on this as the doctors don't seem to have the answers either. Thanks in advance,
Angry and sleepy in Wisconsin.
0 likes, 8 replies
EileenH deb88821
Posted
Pred can cause all sorts of mental side effects but it is more common at higher doses and it seems strange it is episodic. Are they sure it is PMR and not some other form of vasculitis?
deb88821 EileenH
Posted
Prior to that they had ruled out fibromyalgia, and central sesitization. Wit the dramatic improvement from the prednisone the determined it was most likely pmr as it is sometimes diagnosed this way.
EileenH deb88821
Posted
You know there is a PMR/GCA forum on here too? You'll get replies about pred side effects there - we're all on pred!
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/browse/polymyalgia-rheumatica-and-gca-1708
JackyF deb88821
Posted
Do you find your mind racing (creatively) so much that you can't fall asleep? Or are you worrying/ anxious about problems in your life and can't stop thinking about them? Something else? How is your insomnia being treated? Medication and if so, which?
I found that many of the side effects prednisone had on me led to other symptoms that may or may not have been caused by the prednisone itself. Sleep deprivation, for example, led to the inability to control my emotions (crying or losing my temper for 'minor' reasons), and the swelling/ bloating of my upper body and face made looking into the mirror unbearable (feelings of inadequacy, frustration, hopelessness). My marriage also suffered during this period.
What worked best for me was working out (cross trainer or jogging mostly and for 30 to 45 minutes). It seemed to provide the answer to both problems. If your pain is such that this is out of the question, would swimming be an alternative?
That's just what helped me.
deb88821 JackyF
Posted
I will become verbally abusive and self destructive to the point that I don't recognize the person I've become. When this happens I'm at my worst with the insomnia, I generally getting about 1-maybe 3 hours of sleep the entire nite. This will usually last about 2 weeks then I go the milder insomnia where I get 3-5 hours of sleep thru out the nite and do not experience as much emotionally and no rage.
During the bad times I try to isolate myself so as not to offend or possibly hurt anyone. I'm in the process of tapering but that can take a lot of time due to the adrenal glands. Thanks for Taking the time to help me. (I am under a doctors care)
anapp deb88821
Posted
anapp deb88821
Posted
deb88821 anapp
Posted
eed sleep and am so confused as to what is happening to me.
Thanks for answering as it has been reassuring to me.