Very ow mood on pred

[guest78]

Hi,
I'm having a tough time at the moment. Especially today. Feeling very low and teary and can't muster any enthusiasm or warmth for anything.
I suffer from bouts of anxiety on and off but have never felt this low or fed up before, I am currently on 30mg of pred, coming down fairly quickly. I think it's probably them that is causing this?
I'm over thinking everything and feeling very anxious about the future, I keep getting waves of adrenalin and am trying my best to keep calm and my breathing under control. But I am struggling today.
Would love to just curl up in bed, on my own and go to sleep. Family and boyfriend are trying their best, but they obviously can't fully understand and if anything I just feel bad and irritated being around others. But at the same time can't bare to be on my own. The thought of anything in the future makes me nervous and worried, I almost want to go back in time/time to start still.
I'm normal a very pragmatic and positive person, I do tend to get on with things and pick myself up. But I really can't at the moment.
Sorry for venting, I'm just not sure what to do.
Really hoping it all clears up once I am off the pred.

 

[CrohnsChicago]

Prednisone can definitely affect your mood and what you are describing sounds like bouts of moderate to severe anxiety.

I also struggle with generalized anxiety issues from time to time like the ones you have described. That fear of the unknown can really pull you into a messed up state. Severe anxiety can drain you and develop into a combination of anxiety and depression if left unaddressed. I have been able to manage it with a few years of therapy, temporary medications (was on zoloft for 1 year during the worst phase of my anxiety/depression), and currently I am only using meditation regularly and xanax as needed.

When on prednisone I have experienced subtle, infrequent mood swings. However it was during my last withdrawal that I experienced what you are describing. I would wake up and just start crying out of nowhere and feel generally down..but then for the rest of the day I would toggle between feeling fine as if nothing had happened and everything was ok and just sad and afraid of life and my future and the unknown...common thing to experience during the worst of my anxiety troubles.

This lasted for about two weeks after I finished my last dose of prednisone. I just had to wait it out and eventually it did leave my system and I was back to my usual self. What helped me get through was that I had already learned coping skills that I could apply to the best of my ability while on the prednisone until I could stop taking it.

My suggestion is that, if you are feeling this bad, that you consider seeking out some short-term support from a counselor. I learned the hard way that family can only understand and help so much. Crohn's disease is a very isolating condition...dealing with anxiety/depression issues can make that isolation feel so much worse. A counselor can help give you the tools you need to cope and feel better. There are many levels of anxiety and treatment can include behavioral techniques to help you get through the day and/or medication if it is determined you could benefit from it.

 

[dxw]

I don't suffer from depression normally but I have found that whenever I am on a prednisone dose greater than 20mg I suffer with depressive symptoms. Hopefully as you reduce the dose things will improve. If you can isolate the level that you seem to be able to tolerate sometimes the doctors will co-operate with trying to keep it to that level, if it is still proving theraputic. Things will improve and I'm sorry you are having a hard time of it at the moment.

 

[Hope345]

Prednisone: love it and HATE it. It serves a purpose, to bring down the inflammation quickly so the Crohns can not cause damage to you. Hate it for all the side effects it caused my daughter!!!

My daughter would get on the computer during her worst times and find something she was interested in and research it for hours. she knows more about make-up, hair and Ebay than most people. It was a distraction for her. She would want me close by too, but get very irritated at everything. It was a hard time for her too.

I wonder if you could counteract the intense feeling with something like chamomile tea which calms the nerves....

Dont let your feelings get the best of you. Even my young daughter had suicidal feelings at the time. She is normally a fun loving, easy going girl.

thinking of you and let us know how you are doing. we are here for you!!!!

 

[guest78]

Hi guys,
Thank you all for your posts. It is so nice to read messages of support fom people who understand.
I am now on 20mg of pred and the low mood is getting better. I still have my moments but I now feel like I can wake up and face the day rather than drag myself through it.
I have bought some Night Remedy Spray which is supposed to have calming effects, & even if its just working as a placebo I associate it with being calm so I guess it works!
I also decided to see an anxiety therapist who as been a great help, focusing mainly on relaxation techniques and how crohns and especially my recent, quite traumatic flare up has stirred up a lot of anxiety problems. I think by practically taking action against the problem I started to feel a bit better.

Sleep at the moment is my biggest issue. I struggle to get off o sleep and will lie awake for hours. But then want to sleep in all morning if I cold. I know pred can do this sometimes.

Julie345 it is really encouraging to hear that your usually upbeat, easy going daughter had suicidal feelings. They scared me, as I have never had anything like that before and I'm never usually so low. It's tough!

X

 

[guest78]

Prednisone can definitely affect your mood and what you are describing sounds like bouts of moderate to severe anxiety.

I also struggle with generalized anxiety issues from time to time like the ones you have described. That fear of the unknown can really pull you into a messed up state. Severe anxiety can drain you and develop into a combination of anxiety and depression if left unaddressed. I have been able to manage it with a few years of therapy, temporary medications (was on zoloft for 1 year during the worst phase of my anxiety/depression), and currently I am only using meditation regularly and xanax as needed.

When on prednisone I have experienced subtle, infrequent mood swings. However it was during my last withdrawal that I experienced what you are describing. I would wake up and just start crying out of nowhere and feel generally down..but then for the rest of the day I would toggle between feeling fine as if nothing had happened and everything was ok and just sad and afraid of life and my future and the unknown...common thing to experience during the worst of my anxiety troubles.

This lasted for about two weeks after I finished my last dose of prednisone. I just had to wait it out and eventually it did leave my system and I was back to my usual self. What helped me get through was that I had already learned coping skills that I could apply to the best of my ability while on the prednisone until I could stop taking it.

My suggestion is that, if you are feeling this bad, that you consider seeking out some short-term support from a counselor. I learned the hard way that family can only understand and help so much. Crohn's disease is a very isolating condition...dealing with anxiety/depression issues can make that isolation feel so much worse. A counselor can help give you the tools you need to cope and feel better. There are many levels of anxiety and treatment can include behavioral techniques to help you get through the day and/or medication if it is determined you could benefit from it.

Thank you so much for your reply. It has really helped me and I have re read it many times. My anxiety is very much centred on the unknown, and the future. Do you have any advice on any techniques that you used to combat this? I have tarted seeing an anxiety therapist who has been really helpful. But day to day I still have my moments of over whelming anxious thoughts. I have started meditation with the therapist. How often do you meditate? This anxiety stuff is one of the biggest challenges.
Thanks again for all of your help,
X

 

[Area Man]

I am conflicted to give this advice, but I will tell you that I am smoking pot along w/taking my meds.
I have been on prednisone before & so I understand what you are talking about. At that time I was also taking Xanax for the anxiety/depression it caused but I didn't like it. If marijuana was available to me at that time it would have been much easier to deal with.
I am on sulfasalazine at present which causes me extremely painful headaches & also anxiety. The marijuana helps w/the anxiety; it does not remove it altogether but takes away the despair that usually characterizes my mood. The anxiety turns into "nervous energy", more or less.

 

[CrohnsChicago]

Thank you so much for your reply. It has really helped me and I have re read it many times. My anxiety is very much centred on the unknown, and the future. Do you have any advice on any techniques that you used to combat this? I have tarted seeing an anxiety therapist who has been really helpful. But day to day I still have my moments of over whelming anxious thoughts. I have started meditation with the therapist. How often do you meditate? This anxiety stuff is one of the biggest challenges.
Thanks again for all of your help,
X

You are welcome. I am glad you were able to find some help in that posting. Are you being treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Its the best method for anxiety and teaching you to get through the day and any anxious episodes. What types of techniques are you learning?

For me personally, when I first learned of meditation and was at high anxiety, I practiced every day. Currently I meditate minimum 3x week and make it a mandatory thing to do on all days I am under an exceptional amount of stress. If i am in a panicky/stressful mood, I try to step away from whatever the trigger is for a few minutes, practice my breathing then try to look at it from another angle so that I am not impulsively and inappropriately reacting, especially at work. At the end of the day I try to find at least one thing that went well with my day. With the help of my therapist, I also learned about the "what's the worst that could happen" practice where I go through almost every possible situation that could come from my fear and then analyze the likelihood that each situation will actually happen, more often than not the likelihood is little to none. I do certain things like write and store basic plans for my worst case scenario so that if it is a likely occurrence, I have a starting point for getting through it. And most importantly, exercise IS a good mood booster. I try to go for at least a 15min daily walk when I am well/non-flare up.

It may sound a bit extreme to some, but when you have anxiety issues sometimes it's things like this that can give the most help.

I wish you the best in your recovery process and feel free to use me as a venting person.

 

[Hope345]

I also wanted to mention taking melatonin to help you sleep. It is natural and very inexpensive.

 

[ron50]

Hi GEC I Don't need to tell you anything about How you feel on pred I was on 75mg daily for nearly 18 mos. I see you have arthritis as well. The one thing that a lot of docs don't tell you about pred is the effect it is having on your bones and that it is vitally important to take a calcium supplement whilst you are on it. It leaches the calcium from your bones. I was on calcium but at my dose of pred it was not enough. I now have osteo-perosis and in the past 3 years I have lost 7cm in height. I don't care what it fixes ,it is a dreadful drug and I hope they come up with something better soon.Ron.

 

[guest78]

Julie345, do you know if there are any side effects from taking melatonin?

CrohnsChicago, I agree, the meditation and relaxation has so far been very helpful. I think it's going to be crucial in getting through all of this. Yup, It's CBT based work, as I have heard really good things from it. All about altering the negative mind set, which I get stuck in. Like a stuck record, I go round and round the same thoughts constantly. Working on looking at these thoughts as just thoughts rather than giving them a deeper meaning or truth has been helpful. I hope to carry on getting it more under control; Dr suggested beta blockers may be helpful? I don't know if anyone has found them useful.

Hi ron50, I agree. I hate the drug with a passion. I'm taking a calcium supplement at the moment and has a bone density scan after my last set of steroids a few years ago and was in the normal range. It is something I am going to have to be so careful of as I am also lactose intolerant.
Fingers crossed that they do find something better...

Thank you all for your n going support.
Xxxx

 

[Hope345]

Re Melatonin: After using 3 months, they recommend stopping for a week.

We have not had any side effects, other than it puts you in a deep sleep and you seem to dream more. It does give some nightmares, but it never has B or myself. I am never drowsy the next day.

wishing you well,

 

[guest78]

Thanks! I'm going to look into it some more but it sounds like it might be a good idea! X