Some people who take steroids say the drugs make them feel powerful and energetic. However, steroids are also known to increase irritability, anxiety and aggression and cause mood swings, manic symptoms and paranoia, particularly when taken in high doses.
People who use steroids often report they experience: mood changes • increased aggression – roid rage • violent behaviour • frustration • depression • over competitiveness • anger • irrational behaviour • addiction or dependence. Regular, heavy steroid use can lead to tolerance and dependence.
Anabolic steroids are harmful because they can lead to long-term problems with the brain's structure and function. These changes in the brain can affect behavior, personality, decision-making, mood, or memory.
Corticosteroid-induced psychiatric disturbances are com- mon and include mania, depression, psychotic or mixed affective states, cognitive deficits, and minor psychiatric disturbances (irritability, insomnia, anxiety, labile mood). In children, these effects commonly manifest as behavioral changes.
Prednisone affects areas of the brain that manage the regulation of different neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine — the “feel-good” hormones. Feeling happy is a great side effect some people feel with prednisone. Other responses are more menacing, especially if you don't know what to expect.
The neuropsychiatric effects found related to steroid psychosis include depression (35%), mania (31%), agitation, mood lability, anxiety, insomnia, catatonia, depersonalization, delirium (13%), dementia, and psychosis (14%) [3,5].
Prednisone and Mood Swings
These feelings can pinball back and forth in quick succession and seem to come about for no reason and without provocation. In other words, a person receiving prednisone may find themselves feeling incredibly sad or mad and have absolutely no idea why.
It takes approximately 16.5 to 22 hours for Prednisone to be out of your system. The elimination half life of prednisone is around 3 to 4 hours. This is the time it takes for your body to reduce the plasma levels by half. It usually takes around 5.5 x half-life for a drug to be completely eliminated from your system.
A wide range of psychiatric reactions have been reported in association with corticosteroids, including: affective disorders (eg, irritable, euphoric, depressed, and labile mood, and suicidal thoughts); psychotic reactions (eg, mania, delusions, hallucinations, and aggravation of schizophrenia); behavioural ...
The symptoms may last anywhere from a few days up to three or more weeks. In most cases, any associated delirium commonly resolves within days and psychosis within a week, though depression or manic symptoms may last up to 6 weeks after discontinuation of steroids.
"Additionally we have shown that long-term treatment of steroids can block its effectiveness at all times of day and could contribute to the brain fog experienced by many people on steroids."
Prior research has linked the long-term use of oral glucocorticoids to structural brain abnormalities and shrinkage of certain areas of the brain, as well as mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, confusion and disorientation.
Many people experience severe psychological reactions to high doses of such drugs. Steroid psychosis can cause anxiety, agitation, euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes and even serious depression.
Mood Effects
Prior research has found adverse psychological effects of steroids including anger, aggressiveness, depression, and mania (Daly et al., 2003; Pagonis, Angelopoulos, Koukoulis, & Hadjichristodoulou, 2006; Su T et al., 1993; Yates, Perry, & Murray, 1992).
However, research has found that taking moderate to high doses of anabolic steroids is associated with various psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, mood disorders, insomnia and even psychosis. Steroids impact the brain's serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter systems.
How they can cause depression: Research suggests that corticosteroids lower serotonin levels in the body, and it is known that lowered serotonin levels can cause depression and other psychiatric disorders. Withdrawal from corticosteroids can also trigger depression.
Testosterone (Sustanon/Testosterone Enanthate), Anavar, and Deca Durabolin are the three safest anabolic steroids to use. Out of the three, testosterone is the safest overall, though, as we have pointed out already, using this synthetic steroid human growth hormone alone for bodybuilding will never be 100% safe.
A gradual reduction in prednisone dosage gives your adrenal glands time to resume their usual function. The amount of time it takes to taper off prednisone depends on the disease being treated, the dose and duration of use, and other medical considerations. A full recovery can take a week to several months.
How long to take it for. This depends on your health problem or condition. You may only need a short course of prednisolone for up to 1 week. You may need to take it for longer, even for many years or the rest of your life.
Steroids reduce redness and swelling (inflammation). This can help with inflammatory conditions such as asthma and eczema. Steroids also reduce the activity of the immune system, which is the body's natural defence against illness and infection.
The most serious prednisone side effects usually include allergic reactions, infections, gastrointestinal issues and elevated blood sugar. These may occur when people take larger doses or take the medication for long-term treatment.
Finally, people who take corticosteroids are at risk for developing serious mental complications like aggression, mania, depression, and psychosis.
You should tell any doctor or dentist treating you that you are taking steroids. Some key drugs that interact with steroids include anticoagulants (such as warfarin), drugs for blood pressure, antiepileptics, antidiabetic drugs, antifungal drugs, bronchodilators (such as salbutamol) and diuretics.