Prednisone making me suicidal

[aschei]

I'm tapering off of prednisone and only have a few days until I'm totally off of it, but I'm afraid I've become severely depressed and it's getting worse. I've had depression for many years before I was treated for IBD and it was consistently a problem, but this is a different out-of-control feeling, with very quick onset, major lethargy, suicidal thoughts, anxiety. The pred helped the ibd and I've been symptom free for two weeks now, but at a really high cost that I wish I had been warned about, especially since I've been stuck at home for the last four weeks trying to take it easy, not exercising or doing things to keep me busy. I'm being encouraged to start antidepressants ASAP. Has anyone else had success with antidepressants after being on prednisone? Any support would be appreciated.

 

[happy]

No, I am sorry I haven't experienced this, but I just wanted you to know that someone had read your post and was thinking about you. Please be sure to contact someone for support--a family member, friend, health practitioner or even a telephone help-line if the thoughts persist.
Please do keep in close contact with your doctor so they know what is happening and how to alter your treatments plans in order for you to feel better physically and mentally.
So glad that you posted--reaching out when you are hurting is very healthy--good for you. Please continue to do so. :hug:

 

[valleysangel92]

I'm so sorry you are going through this *hugs* .
It is awful that your doctor did not warn you of the side effects, especially with your history of depression. Are they aware of how it has been affecting you? If not, contact them and make them listen, they may decide to do a fast taper.

Personally, I don't have any experience with antidepressants, so I can't give much advice there, but I do know that there are many members that have taken them and have found them to be very beneficial. I know they can be a scary prospect but they are far safer now than they ever have been. Maybe you could enquire about counselling if you don't feel comfortable with the medications.

Sending you lots of healing, positive thoughts and big squishy hugs and hoping that this gets better with every day.

Keep reaching out, we're here for you.

 

[UnXmas]

Hi, I didn't get depressed (pred actually made feel high), but prednisone did give me severe anxiety and insomnia, for which my doctor prescribed me Amitriptyline. Amitriptyline is an antidepressant but also a sedative. It worked very well. I was quickly able to sleep again and stopped feeling so restless all the time. I'm not sure I'd have been able to continue with pred as long as I did if not for Amitriptyline - I think I'd have been driven crazy by the pred without it.

I still take Ami even now when I'm not on pred, and it's still helping me to sleep and keeping me calm. I've often heard people say that antidepressants just make them numb to all emotions - they don't feel depressed but they don't feel positive emotions either. This hasn't been my experience at all. I still feel positive emotions, and I still feel negative emotions, it's just that on Amitriptyline I can cope with the negative emotions now rather than being overwhelmed by them. Anger, anxiety, etc. are now things I can bear.

Ami does have a lot of side effects though. Particularly relevant for you would be that, although it's not been proved conclusively, there have been reports that some people (teenagers and young adults rather than older adults for some reason) actually feel more suicidal when they start taking it. There's a support group on this forum for Amitriptyline here: http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=47926 if you want to read more about it.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Prednisone can wreck havoc on the mind. Have you spoken with the prescribing doctor about this? How are you feeling now? Just know that this feeling will pass and you have been strong. The pred madness is only temporary.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I'm glad to hear you feel better. Just know during the rough times, we are here for you and it only gets better.

 

[Nims22]

I did not have this particular problem after prednisone, but I get very anxious and depressed because of the disease. I took lexapro for awhile (5mg - anything more made me way too tired) and felt that it really helped. I went off for 6 months and tried to go back on and it didn't work the second time around. It will take about 2 months on the desired dose to feel the complete benefits.

I'm almost thinking of trying something again since I have so many flares during fall and winter and I get so down, anxious and have constant panic attacks because I feel so unwell.