My husband has been diagnosed with PMR (polymyalgic rheumatica)
Our GP has put him on steroids which have helped enormously. What I am finding though, although my husband doesn’t realise it, is that he has become somewhat ‘hyper’ and I’m finding it difficult.
We’ve been married almost 51 years. In no way am I blaming him or want him to feel disadvantaged, I’m just very confused and it’s making me feel like a failure. I keep reminding myself of Shakespear’s Sonnet 116 to try to cope better.
Any advice or encouragement?
What type of steriods?
You should speak to the prescribing GP asap about his side effects he probably just needs his dosage adjusting, do make sure he is taking as prescribed.
Side effects of prednisolone
About 1 in 20 people who take prednisolone will experience changes in their mental state when they take the medication.
I sometimes have to take prednisolone when asthma is bad. It makes me very hungry all the time, high as a kite (LOTS of housework gets done) and unable to sleep. I’m restless, fidgety, talk too much and too fast and am generally manic - everything seems possible and I go round solving otherwise intractable problems. Good fun while it lasts but when the course stops the lows can feel very bad. Hope this helps.
Thank-you Sunny, Karma and Freetoleave for the comments.
Husband is on a prescribed dose of Prednisalone, starting high (6) and reducing gradually, now on 2, sees GP next week.
Your comment tends to describe him somewhat Freetoleave. The thing is, he cannot see that and would not agree!
I will try to find a way of saying what’s happening as long as he still lets me go in with him to GP.
It’s all quite disturbing and strange. I don’t feel I can tell him he’s ‘hyper’ as he’s got enough to contend with without my adding to his burden. I want to be a support but am a bit ‘lost in the wilderness’ 
Thanks again 
All tablets have some type of side effects…
Prednisolone being no different.
- Side effects
The higher the dose of prednisolone that you take, the greater the chance of side effects. You are less likely to get side effects if you take a relatively low dose of less than 20mg prednisolone daily.
Some side effects, such as stomach upset or mood changes, can happen straight away. Others, such as getting a rounder face, happen after weeks or months.
Common side effects
Common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people. Keep taking the medicine, but tell your doctor if they bother you or don’t go away:
weight gain
indigestion
sleep problems
restlessness
sweating a lot
Serious side effects
You are more likely to have a serious side effect if you take a higher dose (more than 20mg daily) of prednisolone or if you have been taking it for more than a few weeks.
Call a doctor straight away if you get:
My husbands being taking them for over twenty years. The dose goes up and down depending on his condition.
I have learnt how to manage the dose for him .He suffers from rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
Is you husband taking other medication. Make sure he receives Omeprazole 10 mg gastro-resistant tablets - Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) - (emc) for upset stomach.
All this very much manageable!!
Thanks Sunny.
He sees our GP next week. Blood tests yesterday.
I had not realised that Prednisolone had this side effect but if it is helping him, which it definitely is,then I need to learn to live with it.
The monitoring by surgery and blood test will help re dosage, you could always keep a diary of dose v mood, good or bad, and any benefits or side effects hubby experiences or you notice. Then take it to the surgery for the nurse or GP attention. The nurse or GP can then direct questions specifically to cover the effects you’ve noted.
It is so hard supporting someone with mood problems. Prednisolone causes classic hypomania in me, I feel so wonderful yet irritable and would not take kindly to anyone trying to point out difficulties because I’m up there in the stratosphere, flying on energy I don’t genuinely have.
Keeping a diary sounds a good idea. Facts, evidence, the impact it has on you. Maybe have some enjoyable activities lined up so he can keep busy and happy. Headphones and a radio by the bed for sleepless nights?
It is said that mania is more dangerous than its opposite - depression. I don’t want to over-dramatise this but it sounds as though you are bearing quite a burden there. Mania is fun but not for loved-ones.
Thank-you all for your replies.
My problem is I don’t feel I can point out these issues to our GP in front of my husband. Especially as he doesn’t see anything wrong.
I am getting a bit desperate. It makes me feel like a non person which is stupid I know. He is just so different but doesn’t realise it.
’ Let go and let God’ has been a motto which has meant a great deal to me always but now I feel as though all the lights have gone out.
Thank-you all for listening to me being a misery guts.
For those of us who are registered carers at our G.P.'S surgery. Life can be quite a bit easier.
If you wanted to take this route - your husband would have to give his consent in the first instance.
As far as I know steroids have negative effects as any doping… it might decrease his testosterone level.
This is an old thread and I’m locking it for the usual reasons.