Prednisone psychosis
Posted , 9 users are following.
I have just gone off prednisone after 4 years. While on prednisone I had Chronic fatigue, brain fog, anxiety so bad and now off it has lifted. I was listening to a speaker the other day and he said he got prednisone psychosis after 3 weeks. Have any of you heard of this. My rhuemy said that I have inflammatory arthritis because polymyalgia goes away in a year. She wants me on methotrexate but I went off everything....I needed a break
0 likes, 15 replies
Anhaga gerri38206
Posted
Sounds like you've had a rather rough time. However, was your pain relieved while you were on pred? How is it now? Odd that your doctor said PMR goes away in a year. That seems to be the exception rather than the rule, and the majority of people find it doesn't go into remission for at least two years and often up to five or more, occasionally never.
I'm glad you're feeling better psychologically. That's a big step towards better physical health. Keep us posted how things go for you.
FlipDover_Aust gerri38206
Posted
So am I correct in assuming you were diagnosed with PMR four years ago? What dose of pred were you taking when you quit?
Have the sypmtoms of PMR returned?
gerri38206 FlipDover_Aust
Posted
Yes, my symptoms have returned. My shoulders, neck and wrists feel like sprained ankles. I was on prednisone and then later she put me on methotrexate ....6 pills per week for a while then 8 pills a week for a while then 10 mg on an injection per week. After the 3rd week of shots i woke up pain free...she said that proves that you have inflammatory arthritis. BUT I was already nuts on prednisone and then methotrexate put me in bed 3 days out of 7. I missed my shot for days and realized how good I felt so went off of it 2 months before I got to see my rhuemy....I felt like i was going to the principles office....blood pressure 104/156. Then she said I want you off of prednisone by the next time I see you...very rude at times...says you take 1 and then you take 2 and the you take one and then two...would you like me to write it down for you!! OK, I am going to let that one go...bad energy. Now I have to go back to see her and I didn't take the last batch of pills she gave me. Sulfasalazine. I take Aleve but not much help. My symptoms are that I seize right up when I stop for any length of time. In the am when I wake up it feels like only my eyes can move.
FlipDover_Aust gerri38206
Posted
Arthristis and PMR are two completely different beasts and need different treatment.
As for the ludicrous idea that PMR goes away after a year - she needs to go back to university and learn a few things.
I seriously recommend you find a new Dr that knows something about PMR.
Nefret gerri38206
Posted
Yes, I've heard of it, but I had the opposite when first starting on PMR - steroid euphoria. For the first 3 weeks or so, I was practically running across ceilings and down walls, not to mention swinging from the chandelier. It was good for the home, I did all the cleaning you can imagine at top speed while cooking lunch.
It didn't last, unfortunately (I could do with a bit of it now) it just subsided gradually over about 3 weeks and I've never had it since.
And if PMR goes away in a year, would someone kindly tell mine? I still carry that diagnosis after 15 years and have picked up a handful of other medical conditions along the way.
gerri38206 Nefret
Posted
lodgerUK_NE gerri38206
Posted
gerri38206 lodgerUK_NE
Posted
They all think the same.....I go on the 19th so I am going to try to have a discussion with her....if she takes her eyes off her computer and looks at me. Guess we can't blame them for being intimidated with us coming in with our own diagnosis....they don't geet trained in nutrition and only have their drugs to offer.
lodgerUK_NE gerri38206
Posted
I immediately said, stop right there - this consultation is at an end, till you turn and face my Cousin, make eye contact and stop looking at your screen. He blushed bright red, apologised, turned and faced my Cousin - the consultation continued. Be firm, be sure and take someone with you. You can do it.
deborah26407 gerri38206
Posted
Hi gerri38206. I am really sus about both pred and methotrexate. My dad has been having weekly methotrexate injections and Predisone after being diagnosed with RA 2009. He was 67 at the time. Shortly after he started having difficulties with speech - mainly forgetting nouns. It got progressively worse and in 2013 was diadnosed with frontotemporal dementia. I have been looking at articles and forums regarding these drugs as am trying to work out if there could be a link between these and his dementia. If you google 'steroid dementia' you can find some articles. No doctor has ever suggested a link between his condition and this medication and he is still on it. Makes you wonder....
FlipDover_Aust deborah26407
Posted
Unfortunately pred is the ONLY thing that works to treat the sypmtoms of PMR, so you either take them or live with the pain.
We all talk about our forgetfulness on here but whether it's pred or PMR I can't tell. But i have a terrible memory these days - I forget words all the time - particularly nouns. And I'm only 52!
That said, it could well be he was going to get dementia anyway. Who knows?
deborah26407 FlipDover_Aust
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FlipDover_Aust deborah26407
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TBH there are much worse out there and most days I'm grateful this is ALL I have. The other days I want to top myself lol
lodgerUK_NE gerri38206
Posted
MTX is the gold standard for treating arthritis. It was orinigally developed as an early treatment for cancer but it was found that it aided arthritis sufferers as well.
It is one of the many steroid sparing agents - however quite often it is found that PMR patients, also have LORA (Late Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis) and it seems that it is those patients who find the most benefit from adding MTX.
I would also add, in extremely rare cases, some people cannot tolerate Pred.
Then the medics are really up against it, but in the one case that I do know of - a Haemotologist was able to work out a specific way to enabe that particular patient to take some pred with one of the steroid sparing agents.
They do do their best - it is just that we know our bodies better - and we really need to work as a team. Medics, patient and support.
gerri38206 lodgerUK_NE
Posted