Steroid Induced Psychosis and possible anaphylaxis in mum -- Steroid Warning Network

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Date Posted: 09:51:23 08/21/12 Tue
Author: No name
Subject: Steroid Induced Psychosis and possible anaphylaxis in mum

Really long story sorry. My mum was prescribed steroids (Prednisilone) around 6th August 2012. We were travelling away from home for my wedding on 11th. On the lead up to travelling mum was having difficulty in sleeping. On our way to our destination, we noticed mum was behaving a little oddly - talking a lot and saying mildly out of turn things.
As the days progressed, mum got worse and worse - talking loudly and excessively to anyone who would listen, constantly thirsty and complaining of a dry mouth, swollen tongue, stiffness when walking, swollen ankles.
The situation came to a head when mum told me she could see "all sorts" in the tiles of a bathroom in a restaurant; "A cross, a teepee, happy people, sad people." At that point I thought she was tripping from the antibiotics and/or steroids she was on. I rand NHS Direct for advice and they sent an ambulance out to the hotel we were staying at.
Just as my mum was about to step into the ambulance, she was mid sentence when she started to choke and began gasping for air.The medics told us it was a panic attack and she had a further 3 whilst they were checking ob's.
Cutting a long, stressful night short, doctors at the hospital were more concerned about her physical wellbeing and when all tests came back clear she was told she was free to go! I had to take the doctor to one side (mam was quite agitated and nasty at this point)and plead for further help. A psychiatrist eventually came and told us she was showing classic signs of steroid induced psychosis. He prescribed a dose of diazepm as we were due to travel back home that day.
Prior to travelling mum had another 2 short-lived "panic attacks". We set off hoping the diazepam would help calm things down. After 10 mins into our journey, mum started to gag in the back of the car so we pulled over and not long after she had a massive "panic attack" which lasted around 30 minutes - we really struggled non-stop to get her breathing back on track and until the ambulance arrived continued to try our best.
The medics reccommended another trip to A and E at a different hospital. Mum had several more "attacks" in the ambulance. The doctor at the hospital was useless despite me practically begging for help. All she could suggest was prescribing more diazepam and my mum was adamant she would not take it (got very agitated and very nasty). She discharged her and gave her a prescription for more diazepam. We were told that the steroids should be out of her system within the next 48 - 72 hours and she would return to normal.
Mum and dad ended up staying a further 2 days in the vicinity whiolst we travelled home. She had a further "attack" lasting around 10 mins at the hotel we had booked them into.
Mum is now back home (returned on 16th August)and we immediately went to see a doctor at the surgery she is registered with (the doctor who initially prescribed the steroids is off at the moment). Again, the physical side of things is being investigated (lots of tests all done at the very first hospital that incidentally came back clear, have been booked) and despite me handing over a daily record of events to the doctor (as mam was anxious for me not to talk openly about it), we have been left to cope alone.
I do feel that my mum is not psychotic as such now, so I suppose she has improved but she is still very much in a hypomanic state - still talking excessively and still over enthusiastic about things, wanting to spend and find bargains and just generally on a high.
Does anyone know how much longer she will be like this? Do we seek psychiatric help? Very much at a loss as to what to do so any help / advice woul.d be gratefully received.
Thanks in advance and just want to say, I had had the idea of opening a facebook group int he very vein of this forum - I think people do need to be warned about the horrible side effects of steroids. If we had been forewarned and told to seek medical advice all of this could have been prevented or at least, stopped in its tracks.

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Replies:

Re: Steroid Induced Psychosis and possible anaphylaxis in mum -- Leslie (Supportive), 23:27:59 09/08/12 Sat