Mood changes with GCA and PMR on Prednisolone are well documented...

Sorry to hear this Ann, you are not alone, and if you realise this, it might make it easier.

I take a couple of deep breaths when I feel emotionally tense and let the air out, releasing tension in mind and body telling myself that, should I die, that the legacy of sadness that people will feel will be all the more painful if I have expressed m frustration and resentment towards them, the dearest and closest people to me. I have found  meditation helps, as does prayer, and asking friends to pray for me (even though I and they are not religious). At least it lets them know how desperate I am. Soft music also helps to keep me calm. I am a type 'A', the stressful kind, able to get a huge amount done, good in emergencies, etc., often laughing and going dancing, but running on empty now. I have no reserves of strength, physically or emotionally, and do not recognise myself or my new life as an invalide. Many people are angry with life that this has happened to them. I understand that. I just wish that people would listen to me, without judging me, especially doctors, who are so quick to be impatient and arrogant, and wrong! Maybe there is something about giant cell arteritis, the tension in the carotid, temple and cranial arteries which produces an inner tension. Prednisolone is known to cause mood changes, even for the most laid back and contented of characters!

Hi Just a quick questions I have had GCA since biginning of febuary and was on 80mg pred,but had PMR for 2 weeks before that, just wondered what dosage your on now, I'm down to 20mg pred, and just wondered what your symptoms were when you first started with GCA thanks and if you had a problem with thrush in mouth thanks                              

Hi Elizabeth, your comment is off topic regarding the post at the top of this page but you ask a good question which other forum users would like to respond to and read. I would suggest this is a new topic. If you look at the bottom of the page, you will see a green button for starting a new discussion. At present only people who are interested in mood are reading this thread. If you start a new discussion, people with an interest in your comment will be able to be in contact with you.

I thought that's what I commented on was mood change.,, maybe you should read text again. 

The question on thrush was just thrown in there, 

Hi Elizabeth, but you raise an important point which could interest and inform many people if it had a thread of it's own. Just a suggestion!

Fear produces inner turmoil, which results in poor sleep and tense reactions to life's circumstances. The weeping is a depressed mood, which is natural as this illness seems so very unjust. There isn't anything as good as prednisolone. All drugs have their beneficial effect and their side effects. At least prednisolone works so well and so quickly. It's used to find out if someone has Polymyalgia or Arteritis - prednisolone works in helping to relieve the terrible symptoms within days! 

I've never experienced 'steroid euphoria'.  At what dose of Pred did that occur, and how long did it last?

I wish I had steroid euphoria! I feel fed up all the time Nefret!

On 40mg and 30mg, so not drastically high doses and it just wore off as the dose reduced, I'm happy to say. 

My husband thought it was hilarious, he'd never seen me off my head in 40+ years.  I couldn't sit still and was serenading the cat, next door's dogs (not to mention the owners).  At the time we had an usually long flight of stairs and I took to running up them and then running down backwards................oh, the memories.

 

Am reading  all posts and have been having a really stressfull time for past two months ,husband vey ill the impending breakup of my lovely sons marriage,heartbreak over my lovely grandchildrens  reactions to  it has all been too much and my PMR crp and esr stats are up .my rheumy suggested methotrixate on top of my 7mg pred and i said  no!!! so my question is she may suggest me going up on pred.if she does -and i have to go up high -how do we take  large doses like you did.you mentioned you was on 30mg .-so does that mean you had to take 6  of 5mg at once and w hen you were on 40mg did you take 8 of 5mg at once  -  am puzzled (but thas not unusual  as we all know  being on pred -weepy mood swings too)"

Well that is a good reaction and probably explains why doctors are so keen to insist that patients reduce the dosage even when the symptoms and the blood results indicate that the disease process is still active. When the dosage is reduced and the aches and pains set in, the comparison is quite marked and probably explains why people feel so poorly and distressed. Good memories though!

There are sites where emotional support are offered and as you have a serious illness, are on prednisolone and going through a particularly difficult time emotionally, gaining support from a specialist forum might be very useful to you Jean.

Yes, exactly that, 6 x 5 = 30mg and 8 x 5 = 40mg.  These are not very high doses, though, I've known a lot of patients on 60mg and several on 80mg.

That's still not high compared to steroid intake for other conditions where 140mg and higher is commonly used.

The mind boggles at these high doses.  What happens to the body if someone is taking 140mg?

Coooo.... - and I moan about still being on 6mg!  I hide my head in shame.