87 yr old mom acting strange....could predisone be the cause

[Chris2597]

My mom is 87 and recently diagnosed with Rhuematoid Arthritis. The specialist put her on a new RA drug and a daily dose of predisone. Can predisone cause personality changes? She has had a couple of outbursts that are not typical for her since starting the drug a few months ago. She called me tonight and told me that a family member (he lives at her house....keeps an eye on her)set a firecracker off in the house, then she changed the story and said that he had lite something and took it through her house causing the house to smell of smoke....I rushed over and there was absolutely no smell in the house indicating any of this. She claims he "got rid of the smell". I dont know how he would do that as the storm windows are in place and the windows can't be opened, plus fireworks smell doesnt disapate easily. I asked her why her smoke detectors didnt go off...she got mad at me and told me that I didnt believe her.... The family member said that he had no idea why she would think he had set a firecracker off in the house. He said he had purchased some bottle rockets and showed them to her and that he had set one off outside much earlier in the day. I had read somewhere in the med info packet that the drug could have some serious side effects.

 

[RNMOM]

Prednisone can cause a lot of people to have difficulties but if she has been on it for a while and her dose was not changed recently, I wonder if there is some other cause.

At 87 she might be experiencing some of the typical aging processes. She might have been able to smell the bottle rocket fumes on him when he came back in the house or in the air and gotten confused. Has she had any other episodes that have you concerned or is this the first? Might she have argued with him over the rocket? I refuse to have any kind of firecracker near me or my home and have had arguments with my sons over this. She might have gotten upset over it and gotten flustered.

If you feel she is not acting her normal self, call her physician in the morning and discuss it with him. Is she on other meds? Is she diabetic? How is her blood sugar? How has she been eating? Is she feeling well? No fever or cold sx? So many things can cause the elderly to get confused or irritated. See if you can figure out what is going on with her and talk to her doctor.

 

[ducklite]

I have to take it during accute asthma flareups. It makes me unable to concentrate, maybe a bit more irritable--which sounds like something your mother is experiencing.

But that irritability can be caused by many organic issues, so I'd have a talk with her MD.

Anne

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

I've taken prednisone too (for asthma, also) and had similar symptoms. However, given your mom's age, it would definitely be worth a call to her doctor. My mom behaves this way all the time now, and she's never been on prednisone... she has, however, had some very minor strokes that have affected her rational thinking and her personality. If nothing else, you would feel better if you spoke with someone else about her sudden change in behavior.

Good luck to you... hope your mom was just having a bad day, and that nothing is wrong!

 

[minkydog]

If this is a sudden change in behavior, the cause could be a number of things, including medication or stroke. I think she needs to see a doctor today.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Prednisone can cause personality changes. Usually they are temporary and go away one the person gets use to the drug. In general the person gets meaner and shorter tempered.

 

[Nancyg56]

Take her to the Dr for a checkup. There are a multitude of reasons she may be experiencing changes in her personality, medication is just one.

 

[minkydog]

Prednisone can cause personality changes. Usually they are temporary and go away one the person gets use to the drug. In general the person gets meaner and shorter tempered.

I'd agree with that. DH has been on high dose steroids for 3-1/2 yrs and I swear I'm going to find him a T-shirt that says "Stand back! Man On Steroids Approaching." I went to his doctor and told him to either put DH on a mood stabilizer or put me on one. Yay for Xanax! Yay for Lexapro!

 

[Jeafl]

In general the person gets meaner and shorter tempered.

You can say that again! Long story, but a few years ago my husband was diagnosed with meningitis, and was put on massive doses of steroids to reduced the inflammation in his brain.

He went from mild mannered nice guy to raving lunatic in no time flat! I wanted to strangle him on a daily basis! Forunately once he stopped the steroids he gradually went back to normal. It was a tough haul there for awhile though...

 

[twinklebug]

I have to disagree with people taking prednisone becoming mean & short tempered. I realize medication may have different side effects for different poeple but both my son and I have taken prednisone without the short temperment.

DS (20) has taken it every day of his life since he was a baby and you couldn't find a more mild mannered sweet guy.

I have taken it for severe asmatha all too many times. It causes me to be more awake (wow - I can actually wake up at 6 with energy! LOL) I have never had an ill side effect other than the painful acne it can cause... but perhaps I'm just too happy to be breathing again to get mean or short fused

 

[luvwinnie]

Def. ask her dr...but I have to wonder if it's really RA. Very unusual to develop it at her age. Polymyalgia rheumatica is common among women her age though.

 

[KarenC]

I have to disagree with people taking prednisone becoming mean & short tempered. I realize medication may have different side effects for different poeple but both my son and I have taken prednisone without the short temperment.

DS (20) has taken it every day of his life since he was a baby and you couldn't find a more mild mannered sweet guy.

I have taken it for severe asmatha all too many times. It causes me to be more awake (wow - I can actually wake up at 6 with energy! LOL) I have never had an ill side effect other than the painful acne it can cause... but perhaps I'm just too happy to be breathing again to get mean or short fused

My son took prednisone for asthma and became extremely irritable. I took high doses of it for an auto immune disorder and was told that it could make me euphoric. I think it depends on the dose, the reason you're taking it, and the person taking it what the side affects could be.

 

[nuke]

My friend had prednisone psychosis. She said she got to the point where she actually felt like she could kill someone. This is the most liberal, environmental, peace loving, hippy, I've ever met. They took her off it and she went back to normal.

 

[katerkat]

I accused my husband, at the grocery store, of thinking I was going to die in childbirth - while I was on prednisone. I took it for two weeks at the end of my pregnancy and I was extremely paranoid and whacky. (But I didn't itch as much.)

I would still take her to the doctor, but there's a good chance it's the prednisone.

 

[Missy Mouse]

My mom is 87 and recently diagnosed with Rhuematoid Arthritis. The specialist put her on a new RA drug and a daily dose of predisone. Can predisone cause personality changes? She has had a couple of outbursts that are not typical for her since starting the drug a few months ago. She called me tonight and told me that a family member (he lives at her house....keeps an eye on her)set a firecracker off in the house, then she changed the story and said that he had lite something and took it through her house causing the house to smell of smoke....I rushed over and there was absolutely no smell in the house indicating any of this. She claims he "got rid of the smell". I dont know how he would do that as the storm windows are in place and the windows can't be opened, plus fireworks smell doesnt disapate easily. I asked her why her smoke detectors didnt go off...she got mad at me and told me that I didnt believe her.... The family member said that he had no idea why she would think he had set a firecracker off in the house. He said he had purchased some bottle rockets and showed them to her and that he had set one off outside much earlier in the day. I had read somewhere in the med info packet that the drug could have some serious side effects.

I would have her checked for a UTI or other infection. Personality changes are most often caused by an underlying infection in elderly patients. Prednisone CAN cause personality changes and other psychiatric side effects, but an infection would stand out most in my mind.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I have to disagree with people taking prednisone becoming mean & short tempered. I realize medication may have different side effects for different poeple but both my son and I have taken prednisone without the short temperment.

DS (20) has taken it every day of his life since he was a baby and you couldn't find a more mild mannered sweet guy.

I have taken it for severe asmatha all too many times. It causes me to be more awake (wow - I can actually wake up at 6 with energy! LOL) I have never had an ill side effect other than the painful acne it can cause... but perhaps I'm just too happy to be breathing again to get mean or short fused

It says right on the warnings that it can cause mood issues. Usually when people take it for asthma, they are not on a very high dose either and may not see the extreme side effects it can cause.

I've been on and off it many times for asthma but it was NOTHING like when I was put on it for my Crohn's - very high dose. The person who mentioned having a shirt to warn people are right - it changes my personality when I first start on it.

Thankfully, I've been on this dose for about 2 months now and things are simmering down but it was a tense time in our house when I first started. It's a nasty drug.

 

[Chris2597]

She is not on a very high dose but it is daily. She is on so many meds and it seems that more are added with every drs visit. She is tiny and I dont know how her little body metabolizes all of it. She is normally very easy going so this was a shocker. It doesnt happen all of the time but if something strikes her the wrong way....watch out. I am going to call the Rheumatologist on Tues.

Someone posted that it could be an infection, such as a UTI. She is very prone to these infections and was just treated for one a month ago. I will also mention this to the dr.

 

[luvwinnie]

Just wondering how your mom is doing.

 

[Robinrs]

My Dad and my ex had mood and personality changes on Prednisone.

Is there ANYTHING they do not prescribe prednisone for? They gave it to my Dad for his gout, my Mom for her arthritis, me for my gastroenteritis, even for my cat when he was ill!! After seeing the way my Dad reacted to it and told my doctor I could NOT take it as I was a single parent taking care of a small child. My Dad couldn't even drive when he was taking it!

Turns out my problem was basically nutritional so I didn't need it anyway.

From Medline Plus Drug Info website:

What side effects can this medication cause?

Prednisone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

headache
dizziness
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
inappropriate happiness
extreme changes in mood
changes in personality
bulging eyes
acne
thin, fragile skin
red or purple blotches or lines under the skin
slowed healing of cuts and bruises
increased hair growth
changes in the way fat is spread around the body
extreme tiredness
weak muscles
irregular or absent menstrual periods
decreased sexual desire
heartburn
increased sweating

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

vision problems
eye pain, redness, or tearing
sore throat, fever, chills, cough, or other signs of infection
seizures
depression
loss of contact with reality
confusion
muscle twitching or tightening
shaking of the hands that you cannot control
numbness, burning, or tingling in the face, arms, legs, feet, or hands
upset stomach
vomiting
lightheadedness
irregular heartbeat
sudden weight gain
shortness of breath, especially during the night
dry, hacking cough
swelling or pain in the stomach
swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
difficulty breathing or swallowing
rash
hives
itching

Prednisone may slow growth and development in children. Your child's doctor will watch his or her growth carefully. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving prednisone to your child.

Prednisone may increase the risk that you will develop osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking prednisone and about things that you can do to decrease the chance that you will develop osteoporosis.

Some patients who took prednisone or similar medications developed a type of cancer called Kaposi's sarcoma. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking prednisone.

Prednisone may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.

 

[Pam]

I have to take it during accute asthma flareups. It makes me unable to concentrate, maybe a bit more irritable--which sounds like something your mother is experiencing.

But that irritability can be caused by many organic issues, so I'd have a talk with her MD.

Anne

My Mom was on predisone for her lupus for awhile but asked to be taken off of it because it make her extremely cranky and irritable!