I am glad to see people posting here about the steroids. I have had to use steroids since I was a child. It has caused such terrible anger and complete personality changes. I have had a hard time convincing prescribers of the seriousness of my behavior while on prednisone. They do not see me outside of the office and so they may just think I get slightly irritable.
The problem is that when I am very sick, prednisone is THE only effective treatment. So, I have in the past chosen to remain ill, rather than to take the prednisone and become a lunatic..

I empathize for caregivers here who have had to deal with their loved ones. I have had to warn people in my life when I am on the prednisone to stay away from me and not to take my moodiness and abuse personally. My behavior is not me, it is the medicine. I become verbally hostile and aggressive. Some people will just not understand, and that is the hardest part. Sometimes the person who is given prednisone is not even aware of this serious side effect.

I often think that when a physician prescribes prednisone that it should automatically include something like a benzodiazepine or other sedative to go along with it. I have never been offered a sedative in addition to the prednisone, but I think if in the future it's necessary that I take prednisone, I will request a sedative as well.

Also, it may help to know that some people are very sensitive to prednisone and they may need a reduced dose. Prednisone doesn't mix with SSRI's and some other psych drugs, so do your research.

Fortunately I have not had a flare up requiring prednisone in over a year. As a matter of fact I was on it shortly before having a "nervous breakdown" last summer, and I have wondered if that is what prompted my mental health crises.