Prednisone Taper & Mood Swings | Arthritis Information

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I have terrible mood swings when I try to taper my prednisone. Is this common? I just went from 10 to 5 today. It is not at all like me to be so moody/grumpy. Most people describe me as "stoic" (I know, not terribly complementary, but my husband appreciates it!) so this really bugs me.

Laker

Hi , I tried that 10 to 5 and found it was better to get some 1mgs. and go from 10 to 9, and reduce by 1mg. every 4 or 5 days. Those little pills are powerful! Mood swings are common so I heard, but mostly I had pain and stiffness. Lynda

Hi Laker, am happy that you're able to taper.  Lynda is right, get 1 mg. tablets and taper 1 mg. a week.  It's a longer process but it's so much easier on you physically and mentally.  Your adrenals don't have time to adjust when you go from 10 mg. to 5mg.  Your moods are the same.  Your body just can't adjust.  Pred. is a very powerful drug.   We all sort of take it for granted, because most of us have been on and off it forever.  Even though I tapered slowly and with 1mg. tabs I still had some moor swings.  Just take it slow and easy.  Lindy

I have the 5 mg tablets and cut them in half with a pill-cutter.

Sorry to hear about your mood-swings.  I'm sure they will stop as sson as your body is used to the lower dosage.

Laker, I agree with Lynda - 10mg to 5 mg is a HUGE reduction - especially if you have been on the higher dose for some time. Big shock to the system, and can produce withdrawal pain that is similar to a flare.

 My Rh says the body needs to be "tricked" or "gently coaxed" back into producing it's own cortisone, especially when trying to get down below 10.

Of course, different people respond in different ways, and different Rh's recommend different ways but "the lower you go the slower you go" seems to be the byword for most long term pred users.



I don't have any experience of the shorter term "emergency pack" usage though, I think it's easier to get down from those, but I'm sure others will answer that question for you.

Sorry too that you are having mood swings, and hope that you can get something going to help you with that, and you can  feel brighter soon. 

Hmm... no wonder this never goes well for me. I'll call my dr tommorrow to see about tapering more slowly and gettin a lower dose tablet. I have been up and down all year like a yo-yo from 20 to 5 mg. I am very excited to be feeling much better (finally!) and am anxious to start tapering to see if it is actually the immuran kicking in, but I don't want to wind up sick again either from doing it too fast. Thanks again for the info.

Laker

I have horrid mood swings when I taper pred.  My husband says if my hair could stand on end it would lol.  Gee thanks hunny.  I also get headaches for about 2-3 days after I stop pred.  Can't win for losing with this stuff!!
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