Hi everyone
Following a consultants appointment a few weeks ago I was prescribed Prednisolone 15mg daily. in addition to my usual Methotrexate, Meloxicam, Hydroxychloroquine, Pregabalin and Folic acid.
Lately I've become very anxious about trivial things and I'm getting even more confused than normal, I was convinced that we'd received an item by post in the last few weeks the other day and I spent a whole morning searching for this thing, it even caused an argument with my husband as I was so sure we'd received it. The item in question came in the post this morning so I've got an apology to make when he gets home tonight! That's the sort of thing I'm doing ever more frequently and I'm wondering if it's the steroids. Has anyone else had a similar experience with Prednisolone?
I'm beginning to feel as if I'm losing my mind. I'm 57 and was diagnosed last August.
Any advice/comment would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Sandy

Hi Sandy

I have been on prednisolone for 24 years, since diagnosis, and yes it can have a variety of side effects. Mood changes, changes in thoughts and behaviour, sleeping difficulties, confusion, blurred vision, anxiety and hyperactivity are a few of the more common effects. We are all different in our responses though and the dosage that affects one person may be insignificant in someone else.

I have been on varying doses but find if I can cope on 7.5mg or less, without excessive joint inflammation, then I am not affected by the unwanted nasties. How long are you expecting to be on 15mg? It may be worth putting up with it until the RA is well controlled, then I imagine your rheumatologist will want to very slowly reduce to a low maintenance dose.

I suspect it really is the steroids! Don't think you're losing your mind just yet

Lyn x

Thanks everyone for your reply!
My consultant has prescribed that my Prednisolone be reduced every month by 2.5mg until I'm down to 5mg a day on 19 July, so perhaps I'll start to feel a bit better as the dosage goes down. I'm sure I wasn't this bad before Pred so I live in hope.
I really can't stop eating either since starting the steroids, it's dreadful....I never feel full even after a good meal. I quit smoking in January so have put enough weight on without steroids piling it on too! When I mentioned the thought of even more weight gain to my consultant he just looked hard at me and said that he didn't care how much weight I put on but we had to get on top of the RA. Yes I know, I was being silly!! I'm feeling quite depressed 'cos I can't get a job and , like so many others we know, am in pain every day so I don't want my weight to depress me even further. This is certainly not an easy battle is it?
It's starting to dawn on me just what it means to have RA, I was only diagnosed last August so it's something I'm still coming to terms with I suppose.
Thanks again for all your comments.
Wishing you all a good day tomorrow,
Cheers
Sandy

Thanks Naomi
I'm resigned to my weight going up but it's worth it to try and control the pain. Had a bad day yesterday, pain kept shifting around....one minute my feet were hurting the most and the next it was my arms and so forth. Didn't know it could be like that.
Mustn't let it get me down though, I know from reading other posts that I'm quite lucky really, there are people suffering this dreadful disease much worse than me.
Getting ready to be cheered up by Liverpool winning the FA Cup semi final against our old rivals Everton, fingers crossed!!!!
Have a great day.
Love
Sandy