Prednisone and anxiety as you taper

Can anyone else relate? I've generally been feelIng great on the steroids i've been on 40 for awhile and then 30 and recently was down to 20 and have been experiencing massive anxiety, its very crippiling. Lots of pacing back and forth, can't sit still, just full of nervousness, its really hard. My first rituxan treatment hasn't worked yet so my doc has me going back to 25mg i'm really hoping i feel better. I have a date so this would be quite a challenged like this. Do others experience this? Or is it the rituxan? Wh

Most people notice anxiety while on the higher doses, but it's not uncommon as you taper. Prednisone is wicked and all you can do is ride it out. Keep telling yourself it's just the drug and breathe. You'll be okay. Just tell your date that you are on steroids temporarily and to please excuse any odd behavior. Hiding it can be worse, although you might be just fine having a distraction.

Rituxan can take 4 to 12 weeks to work.

She knows i'm on steroids, but i try to avoid acting weird since i'm still courting her. Somehow although I suffer all day withh the anxiety, wih her i've been ok so far. Littlr bit of alchol helps. I hope i feel better on the 25mg dose tomorrow. Excercise and sauna help, i try to avoid taking the benzos they prescribed.

I have always felt great on the steroids and this is the first psycological side effect i have experienced.

ITP is rough and I wish I sought alternative treatment exclusively from the start, its been so expensive and just more problems have been introduced.

They have prescribed me celexa as well which I have not taken but my sister is encouraging me too (she suffers from anxiety disorder). I really don't want to take it, has anyone had experience going on an antidepressant to help with prednisone taper or just prednisone side effects? Seems dsngerous

You are dropping 10mg at a time?

I did take Celexa during Prednisone use. It did help. I had a stressful job at the time and 3 kids to run around after work. I was a basket case trying to keep up...always shaking and feeling ready to snap. Anyway, Celexa did help, but it makes you feel like you don't care about anything. It was both a blessing and a curse.

I was on and off of Prednisone for about a year and a half, and stayed on Celexa during that time. When I finally decided to get off of it, it took me two years. Doctors will tell you that there is no withdrawal, but that isn't true. I took my time because I didn't want to deal with more problems.

You can always introduce alternative treatments, but they often do not work and it can take a long time to see any results. Very few people have had luck with those types of things and there are numerous supplements and diets....where to start? Some find that diet changes help, like going gluten free, but it can take a while.

When I was at my worst with Prednisone, I took myself too seriously and felt inadequate in all aspects of my life. I learned in time to laugh at myself and when I did that, everyone laughed with me. I have so many stories now that are quite funny and we all laugh about it now. Just chill, don't worry about it so much, and you'll be fine.

I experienced unpleasant side effects when I dropped to 20mg during my taper -- anxiety, fatigue, joint pain, muscle spasms. Even when weaning down 5mg at a time.

Talk with you doctor. They might recommend a smaller decrease. You can also ask for a Xanax Rx. No sense in having major anxiety if it can be helped!

Hope you're feeling better soon.

Susan