So I just got prescribed a nasal spray that's like prednisone in every way, except it's 8 times as strong according to what I've read. It is a steroid.

Should I be concerned about this spray? It has all the same side effects as prednisone, like mood swings and insomnia, to name a few. So I'm guessing these symptoms are common amongst steroids.

Just wondering if prednisone is bad for people with BP, because I can imagine the side effects of this spray would be 8 times as worse.

I'm supposed to be on it for 6 weeks. I also have another Rx nasal spray (but both are out of stock at my local pharmacy), and I don't remember if this prednisone-like Rx is the one I take 3x a day or if the other one is 3x a day. I'll figure it out when I pick it up.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I have had bad experiences with steroids and out of control mood. But I'm very sensitive to meds in general. For me the way the med is taken matters. The nasal spray won't be the same as swallowing pills and should be less difficult to manage. I handle steroid inhalers for asthma without problems (as long as we stick to a few selected from trial and error). I had a topical foot gel with a steroid in it and that caused some agitation and I had to use it less than recommended.

Maybe call your pdoc and ask for an opinion? Or you just try it and see what happens. It's going to be very individual.

[SorryShaped]

From my personal experience, Prednisone was a terrible idea every time. It made me angry and aggressive and dangerous, until it wore off, then I became angry and suicidal. The nasal sprays they've tried me on with steroids weren't supposed to do any bad things but caused blood pressure and anger problems so I stopped them quickly.

[Wild Coyote]

I agree with BeyondTheRainbow, it's a very individual thing.

I would try it out, carefully and keep watch for side-effects.

I am on daily prednisone every day. I somehow get by.

I do believe spraying into your sinuses will have more of an effect on you than a topical steroid might have on you.

Keep us posted?


WC

[Nammu]

My own experience is that it's a no for me, but as its been mentioned everyone experiences meds differently

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I shouldn't have said topical. I can't remember the word.....it was a compounded medication that was supposed to absorb rapidly through the skin. Transdermal? So it wasn't like using cortisone cream.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I shouldn't have said topical. I can't remember the word.....it was a compounded medication that was supposed to absorb rapidly through the skin. Transdermal? So it wasn't like using cortisone cream.

Compounded transdermals are usually quite potent! They are meant to be quite efficacious.

They are much more potent than the usual topicals, for sure!


WC

[BeyondtheRainbow]

funny how words elude us. I put on a transdermal patch every day and have for 9 years......and it (Emsam) is a huge part of my BP management. But that word was gone today.

[bizi]

prednisone mes with my sleep.
bizi

You're probably right to approach it cautiously. What came to mind was how snorting drugs such as cocaine etc affects the brain very quickly. So, snorting (so to speak) prednisone may have a quick affect on your moods if it is going to affect you that way.

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I have had bad experiences with steroids and out of control mood. But I'm very sensitive to meds in general. For me the way the med is taken matters. The nasal spray won't be the same as swallowing pills and should be less difficult to manage. I handle steroid inhalers for asthma without problems (as long as we stick to a few selected from trial and error). I had a topical foot gel with a steroid in it and that caused some agitation and I had to use it less than recommended.

Maybe call your pdoc and ask for an opinion? Or you just try it and see what happens. It's going to be very individual.

When you say "as long as we stick to a few selected from trial and error," did the ones that *didn't* work trigger a mood swing? You mentioned that your "skin steroid" -- or whatever you want to call it -- made you agitated, so I'm just wondering about how the steroids you've inhaled have affected you mood wise, if at all.

Originally Posted by SorryShaped

From my personal experience, Prednisone was a terrible idea every time. It made me angry and aggressive and dangerous, until it wore off, then I became angry and suicidal. The nasal sprays they've tried me on with steroids weren't supposed to do any bad things but caused blood pressure and anger problems so I stopped them quickly.

Ohh, I did not know about the blood pressure thing. I'll keep an eye out for that, even though I know this nasal spray is technically not prednisone.

I'm just confused about the strange "stretch marks" side effect. I doubt I'd get it, but I guess you never know for sure.

[UpDownAround]

When I get really back arthritic flares, pred-packs are magic. I can't take them too often, but it is more about what it can do physically than mental/mood involvement. The downside of them working well for arthritis is that indicates a strong possibility of some rheumatic/auto-immune involvement.

[Gabyunbound]

I went hypomanic on prednisone once and now it's on my list of 'allergies.' But I don't know if this is typical of BP. Has anyone out there seen an article on it?

I would talk to your doctor about it, and possibly look for alternatives, just in case. Also, maybe talk to your pdoc, specifically, about it. He/she might know about the prevalence of reactions to prednisone in the context of BP.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

When you say "as long as we stick to a few selected from trial and error," did the ones that *didn't* work trigger a mood swing? You mentioned that your "skin steroid" -- or whatever you want to call it -- made you agitated, so I'm just wondering about how the steroids you've inhaled have affected you mood wise, if at all.

Some inhalers agitated me. Most were ok. The one I'm on now I'd never notice, although I do use only half the puffs the manufacturer recommends. If I remember it was kind of random what agitated me and what didn't. In fact two med that are only different in the propellant effect me differently. At the time I was really physically sick and it's possible it was all coincidence.

[rwwff]

Prednisone gave me my first solid batch of hallucinations years before I was diagnosed, definitely not something I'd want to repeat unless absolutely necessary. Though, with an AP in my system maybe it wouldn't do the same thing again.

[BipolaRNurse]

Prednisone makes me manic AF. I haven't had to take it in years, though, so with two antipsychotics and other psych meds on board I might not have as much of a problem as I used to. I only use it as a last resort for severe asthma which tends to be triggered by bronchitis/pneumonia, and I seldom get that sick (thank goodness). The last time I was on it was in 2015, but I was allowed to start at 40 mg/day and taper it as quickly as I wanted once the symptoms had subsided. I think that helped me avoid a manic episode. Once I was on prednisone for six loooooong weeks and the mania was bad...and the crash was even worse. But sometimes it's a choice between mental illness symptoms and the ability to breathe, and of course breathing takes priority over everything else.

[Blueberrybook]

I had a prednisone shot for something around a year, year & a half ago. Something like a viral respiratory infection. But it was just one injection, to get the inflammation down; I didn't have any issues.

[~Christina]

Oh holy hell if I have to take oral steroids I am a nasty sobbing manic mixed mess with in 3 days but Asthma ..... if I can’t breath I have no choice.

But a nasal spray shouldn’t be a problem

[jaysmotogp]

Took prednisone tablets once and it sent me hypomanic for two weeks then crashed hard, real hard. Like most hypo episodes i didnt know it at the time, till later i looked back and realized what it had done

[sugahorse1]

I took it for suspected asthma (As I was struggling to breathe) and was on 30mg each morning. By day 3 I was suicidally depressed. Anyone else that went depressed rather than manic?

[winter loneliness]

The first psychotic episode I had was after a 3 day treatment with intravenous steroids.
Before that I was undiagnosed with bipolar. After my steroids and psychosis episode, it became pretty obvious.

[sarahsweets]

I have had to take steroids when I was really sick and I dread them. The make me feel all cracked out an jittery but they work.

[Wander]

My doctor said a clear 'No!' to any steroids. I was prescribed a cortisone injection into my jaw (I have bad TMJ) due to severe pain that led me to be unable to eat solid foods or even talk for longer than a few minutes. Still, doctor said 'No'. However, I am ridiculously sensitive to meds in general and many meds send me into wild mixed states which are to be avoided at all costs. You may be different though, but it is a risk.

[downandlonely]

I don't have bipolar but when I took steroids for allergies, they did make me unusually jittery. I was talking and doing everything faster than usual and couldn't think that clearly. The first time I took them I was a kid. I was normally shy, but the steroids made me hyper. The other kids noticed.