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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Julia on November 12, 2000, at 1:25:57
Does anyone know if low dose hydrocortisone can cause or worsen depression?I have been on around 20mgs per day for several months,to try and help my chronic fatigue.It hasn't helped,but mood swings have got worse.I am now cutting it down.I have recently gone onto doxepin,for an agitated depression(this appeared a few weeks after stopping dothiepin,a tricyclic available in the UK)Depression did not respond to reboxetine,and on celexa I was intensely agitated for 2 weeks,so stopped it(should I have persisted longer)so am back on a tricycylic to try and get some relief.I have never been more than mildly depressed before so this fairly severe depression and agitation is a new phenomena,and I wondered if it has been made worse by the cortisol?
Posted by KarenK on November 12, 2000, at 9:21:09
In reply to Hydrocortisone and depression/mood swings, posted by Julia on November 12, 2000, at 1:25:57
Yes it does make you feel agitated. In fact, you feel like you're chewing glass. Now that's before you put on the 20 or so pounds in about a week.
I have had to take this for severe allergic reactions. It's really no fun at all.
KarenK
Posted by SLS on November 12, 2000, at 17:25:02
In reply to Re: Hydrocortisone and depression/mood swings, posted by KarenK on November 12, 2000, at 9:21:09
> Yes it does make you feel agitated. In fact, you feel like you're chewing glass. Now that's before you put on the 20 or so pounds in about a week.
>
> I have had to take this for severe allergic reactions. It's really no fun at all.
>
> KarenK
Hi guys.Cortisone drugs can cause many different types of changes in mood and cognition. They can cause significant depression and even psychosis. These things may not be frequent, but they are certainly not rare.
- Scott
Posted by stjames on November 13, 2000, at 1:48:47
In reply to Hydrocortisone and depression/mood swings, posted by Julia on November 12, 2000, at 1:25:57
> Does anyone know if low dose hydrocortisone can cause or worsen depression?
James....
YES ! It can also make you manic, but making depression worse in common.
Try looking it up on the internet. The PDR for deltasone states depression
as a common side effect.james
Posted by Julia on November 13, 2000, at 2:44:47
In reply to Re: Hydrocortisone and depression/mood swings, posted by stjames on November 13, 2000, at 1:48:47
> > Does anyone know if low dose hydrocortisone can cause or worsen depression?
>
> James....
>
> YES ! It can also make you manic, but making depression worse in common.
> Try looking it up on the internet. The PDR for deltasone states depression
> as a common side effect.
>
> jamesthanks-It seems I am doing the right thing in deciding to wean myself off it .I knew that you could get a steroid psychosis with high doses of steroids but didn't know if low doses would also cause mood change
Posted by stjames on November 13, 2000, at 3:49:19
In reply to Re: Hydrocortisone and depression/mood swings, posted by Julia on November 13, 2000, at 2:44:47
> thanks-It seems I am doing the right thing in deciding to wean myself off it .I knew that you could get a steroid psychosis with high doses of steroids but didn't know if low doses would also cause mood change
James here....
It varies, some are more sensitive. Do taper slowly.
james
Posted by danf on November 13, 2000, at 7:57:22
In reply to Hydrocortisone and depression/mood swings, posted by Julia on November 12, 2000, at 1:25:57
I agree with James....
BUT & it is a big but. You should not treat youself.
This needs to discussed carefully with you DR.
You can develop serious medical problems from tapering steroids too quickly.
This is not the same as psych meds where symptom side effects govern the rate of tapering off.
Posted by Julia on November 13, 2000, at 9:46:12
In reply to Whoa !!!, posted by danf on November 13, 2000, at 7:57:22
> sorry last attempt to reply didn't seem to include my message.Don't worry,I have discussed it with my doc,who is supervising:she thinks it a reasonable thing to do given that the hydrocortisone hasn't helped the chronic fatigue,and may be making matters worse
>
Posted by danf on November 13, 2000, at 13:13:46
In reply to Re: Whoa !!!, posted by Julia on November 13, 2000, at 9:38:47
We talk a lot here about meds & starting & stopping & dosages.
The best index of how we do is mental /functional.....
other meds like steroids have other parameters.
hope things go well for you.
This is the end of the thread.
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