Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Prednisone Psycho!

So, I know we could poll almost 100% of members - who goes kind of psycho on Prednisone? I didn't realize this until someone started talking about it, but I was on a high dose this weekend, and I was acting/feeling like my autistic students today. Very emotional - can't handle stimulus - irritable - can't focus, etc. At one point, I wanted to sob (didn't). Not a good combo for the last week of school. Watch out for the psycho librarian!! (Kids better get their library books back!).

Stuff sends me bouncing the walls and off the ceiling!! Hate the feeling of being not in complete control. Refuse to take it ever again. Doesn't completely cut pain nor does it seem to help that well with inflammation - so, what's the point?

Whereas the LDN (low dose Naltrexone) works very well indeed.

Can you take LDN for a short time (to get flare down) instead of Prednisone? Or is it long term?

I have been on LDN for about 4yrs now - the only times I came off it was when I ran out, and again when in hospital.

Was put on Pred in the hospital when I had a horrible bout of pleurisy, and did not have my LDN with me... The Pred was ghastly. Took it for two days, then stopped em straight - hid the pills in my purse! After four days, I discharged myself - and was I glad to get home.

So, to answer yr question, sure it would work short term, as it gets inflammation in the spine down and also addreses the gut problems. But, don't know how effective it would 'be' short term. I am on 6mg and it works for me. Gut and spine. Sometimes need to take the odd pain med, but rarely.

pred makes me psycho. colors are brighter, sounds are louder, i cry much easier. scary stuff. it only brings inflam down for me in a shot (depo-medrol) or at high oral doses which then cause high blood pressure.

i can relate!!

I start LDN again tonight. Ahhhh, so excited!

Why did you go off LDN for a while? I saw an old thread on LDN where you were happy with it initially, but lately your sig talks about LDN in past tense...

Sorry to hear you are psycho no...not good. I would hate to be a kid with an overdue book. All kidding aside prednisone can be scary stuff. Last year while on prednisone, I would be out in the yard pulling out crabgrass, by hand, under the street light on our terrace at 11 at night. I weened myself off of it and will only take it when all else fails.

My body loves the stuff. I get tons of yard work done on the stuff and I feel mentally sharp. I have noticed that it does raise my blood pressure...I don't like that. I did have a few bad days when near the end of a taper. I was getting I think what they call vertigo. It was bad enough that I called the doctor and he sent me in to get blood tests...all was normal. All in all I would rather not take the stuff.

Well I consider myself the Prednisone Queen since I have pretty much been on the stuff in high to low quantities for 17 years now.

I do have to say FIRST if you have inflammation at all or it is horrid then the pred is the best, the fastest way to bring it down and get some relief. There have been many times I would not be walking if not for being on pred. I have started having severe jaw inflammation and without the pred would not be able to open my mouth (stop that!! I know what you people are thinking..lol) when my SI'S were so inflammed to the point i could not walk and the inflammation cut off my bladder it basically saved my life. I will take it anytime regardless of the risk because I know what it does and can do for me but that is my decision.

Second, I have not come this far on this stuff without knowing in ways I have paid a heavy price for it. 1 if you are a diabetic you can pretty much count yourself out (I am not) it raises the blood sugar. Over the last many years having to be on it I have gained weight, now this can or may not happen I do know of people here that have taken it long term and have had no weight issues. Yes, mood issues are one of the greatest. If you can handle the mood swings, depression I say do it, if you are acting like a mental case or contemplating suicide then of course stay away from it. It makes some people very hungry thus some weight issues, now actually that hasn't been my issue.

I know alot of people on here are really anti-pred but I am not. I am willing to take the risks that go along with it..at times i have had to decide is it better to be depressed or better to not walk? Is it better to deal with mood swings or not be able to get out of bed and care for my family?

I am not in any way condoning being a pred junkie and if I can walk even in pain I do not take it, if I can function without it I do BUT it is the #1 inflammation fighter and we have it for a reason, and I thank God we have it, Im not sure where I would be right now without it, honestly probly a wheelchair.

I think we all have to decide what is in our own best interest and how far are we willing to go in our treatment options. I am willing to go to whatever extremes to lesson my pain and increase my quality of life. Become a junkie? no, become an addict? no, do anything to get it? no but if I need it I will take it.

Lisa

Thanks, guys! Interesting about the yard work frenzy. I mysteriously went out and planted a row of beans, sunflowers, and zinnias! The only thing I wanted to do was pull out weeds and turn dirt like crazy. Perhaps it's the semi-autistic state prednisone throws you into (my autistic students have similar compulsions).

I'm going to be more careful when I take prednisone next time. It may be better to take a day off and get fully over a flare naturally than go in and be so touchy I end up running into the bathroom to cry (and not really know why). (Perhaps I should use this to make the kids with lost books feel bad?)