how do you handle the mood swings caused by the prednisone. I know take 15mg. and the mood swings get very bad. i try to remember that it is the drug but its hard.
Mine were not exactly swings; I was hyper most of the time. Problem was solve when my GP suggested I took my Pred. at night. Some people do split doses but I don’t know whether this is to alleviate mood swings or for better pain control.
i just blubber away and tell myself its the prednisone. they dont last long but the accompanying foul mood does. very unlike me, but now they are more frequent the longer im on pred (3 1/2 years).
diversion helps–even little things like going for a ride, watching the birds outside, getting up and moving around. i dont take anything like a supplement–some do–i just figure its part of the journey. hang in there!
Betty, taking the full amount of prednisone (12 mg) at night has helped me waking up without pain. I like mornings because I can get a lot of things done.
I do have mood swings, especially now during covid-19, but they lessen during the day. Some PMR discomfort tends to start in the afternoon but it is bearable.
Agree with Twopies.
I also warn my husband or any one around me when I’m in that “want to bite someone’s head off” mood and tell them whatever I say on that particular day is nothing personal.
thank you everyone for your comments. i think i will,talk to my doctor and see if taking prednisone at night will help. I know it is just the drugs and I tell myself that but sometimes it gets to me and I am not usually like this
i will. I do try as you do to go outside and try to be calm and watch birds which i love and sometimes i go for a drive by myself just to settle down and that works sometimes. i know that i have a long way to go yet as i have only been on this for 6.5 months. i was started on a pretty large dose 45mg. but down to 15mg. now went down to 5mg. but a relapse. so we soldier on!
good thinking–i always tell my husband that its the pred talking, it will pass. and it does.
The mood swings I had were due to PMR - not pred. In the 5 years I had PMR without pred I was very volatile, even more so than before - I never did suffer fools gladly! Once I was put on pred that improved a lot - and over the years I have found that I have become a lot more even-tempered/less moody. Which I have put down to feeling relatively well and pain-free compared to when I was not on pred.
I think it’s PMR more than Pred, and a lot to do with the fatigue and frustrations that are part of this illness - especially now when so many of our normal outlets and distractions are blocked. Go easy on yourself, rest when you can and I try to avoid chocolate with absolutely no success whatsoever! 
my mood swings are so much worse on the higher doses which is why i blame them on pred rather than pmr itself (which is enough to drive anyone bonkers, i know). when ive managed to get down on my doses (im going to 6 1/2 now via dsns), everything is less stressful, less frantic, less annoying than they were at 20 and in the teens.
i was put on prednisone right away so mine is caused by the presnisone it all seems to affect each person differently . no rhyme nor reason!
Yes, mine are too. i have been bumped up 5 more milligrams because we went to low and Pmr showed its ugly head. but i dont have bad ones every day so im coping. i talked to my Doc and im going to see a specialist soon so im going to hang in there.