Prednisone affects areas of the brain that manage the regulation of different neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine — the “feel-good” hormones. Feeling happy is a great side effect some people feel with prednisone. Other responses are more menacing, especially if you don't know what to expect.
Researchers from Leiden University Medical Center have found that prescribed steroids cause structural and volume changes in the white and gray matter of the brain. Scientists believe these findings may help explain some of the psychiatric side effects of prescribed steroids, though more research is needed.
The most frequently identified symptoms include agitation, anxiety, distractibility, fear, hypomania, indifference, insomnia, irritability, lethargy, labile mood, pressured speech, restlessness, and tearfulness.
Neuropsychiatric adverse effects during systemic corticosteroid therapy occur frequently. Cognitive deficits, particularly declarative and verbal memory deficits, have been documented during both long- and short-term glucocorticoid therapy.
In other words, a person receiving prednisone may find themselves feeling incredibly sad or mad and have absolutely no idea why. Prednisone has been associated with more serious problems such as psychotic disorders, delusions, and dementia.
Early in treatment (within several days), prednisone may increase feelings of well-being, anxiety, hypomania or mild euphoria. With long-term therapy, however, people may develop depression. Psychosis, referred to as corticosteroid-induced psychosis, can occur at doses of 20 mg or more per day with long-term use.
Corticosteroids reduce serotonin, which regulates mood, sleep, and pain perception. Excessive amounts of corticosteroids can lead to mood fluctuations and depression. Norepinephrine regulates emotions, alertness, sleeping, and dreaming.
Prednisone has a tendency to raise the level of glucose, or sugar, in the blood, which can cause increased body fat or diabetes in some people. It is important to avoid "simple" carbohydrates and concentrated sweets, such as cakes, pies, cookies, jams, honey, chips, breads, candy and other highly processed foods.
Corticosteroids — like prednisone — can have serious long-term side effects. This is especially true when someone takes them for a long time or at a higher dose. Examples of corticosteroids side effects include weight gain, osteoporosis, eye problems, and increased infection risk.
Dementia-like symptoms have been found in some individuals who have been exposed to glucocorticoid medication, often dispensed in the form of asthma, arthritis, and anti-inflammatory steroid medications. The condition reverses, but not always completely, within months after steroid treatment is stopped.
This medicine may cause changes in mood or behavior for some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you have depression, mood swings, a false or unusual sense of well-being, trouble with sleeping, or personality changes while taking this medicine.
A gradual reduction in prednisone dosage gives your adrenal glands time to resume their usual function. The amount of time it takes to taper off prednisone depends on the disease being treated, the dose and duration of use, and other medical considerations. A full recovery can take a week to several months.
This depends on your health problem or condition. You may only need a short course of prednisolone for up to 1 week. You may need to take it for longer, even for many years or the rest of your life.
Fluid retention can cause weight gain but as steroids are reduced, fluids will usually reduce as well, along with some of the weight gain. Drinking plenty of water and exercising can help with fluid retention.
A 5-day course of prednisone can cause short-term side effects, including changes in mood, appetite, sleep, and energy. The severity of the side effects depends on the dose of prednisone. Low doses are less likely to cause adverse effects than high doses of prednisone.
Restlessness: In addition to mood changes, prednisone can increase energy levels. Some people may not mind this side effect, but others may feel unpleasantly jittery. It can also make you feel like it's harder to concentrate.
When a person stops taking prednisone, the body cannot immediately produce enough cortisol to make up for the missing drug. It may take several days or weeks before the body's cortisol production levels return to normal.
Psychological withdrawal symptoms could last for 2 to 8 weeks. The doctor may give you blood tests to check your cortisol levels as you taper off prednisone. You may need to taper off more slowly or go back to your regular dose if you have severe symptoms.
Steroids won't cure your condition, but they're very good at reducing inflammation and will ease symptoms such as swelling, pain and stiffness. Usually inflammation is the body's natural reaction to infection or bacteria.
Steroid use can cause anxiety, depression, paranoia and psychosis in those people who have a vulnerability to mental health problems. Drug use can lead to social and emotional problems and affect a person's relationship with family and friends.
But every now and then, steroid-based drugs like prednisone might cause side effects like brain fog, anxiety, and sleeplessness, says Dr. Blazer.