Dexamethasone and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Mev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2021

For Inflammatory Conditions "I was prescribed this because of multiple injuries in a car crash (multiple disc herniations and other injuries), and the doc thought it'd help relieve the inflammation. The doc wanted me to take it for roughly a week, but I couldn't tolerate the side effects after 2.5 days, which I started feeling within hours of the first dose. I experienced sweating profusely around the clock, really bad suicidal thoughts, severe rage issues (I'm normally calm), severe dry mouth, increased inflammation, shortness of breath, heaviness in my chest, exhaustion, dizziness, weight gain, increased appetite, increased pains in the injured areas, no sleep for three days straight, extremely high anxiety with panic attacks, blurred and double vision, and an absolutely horrific headache that wouldn't go away even with ibuprofen. I also experienced crying fits, and I'm not a crier. This medicine didn't help me at all. The brutal side effects I endured aren't worth taking it for me. If you have any sensitivity to them, I don't recommend taking this steroid."

• Mot...
• October 4, 2019

Dexamethasone for Asthma "I was given this med for asthma from a virus that my inhaled steroids weren’t helping with. I was given a one-time dose of 10 mg, and though it worked for my breathing, the rest of my body is a mess. I have had severe elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, headache, rigor shakes, muscle spasms in the arms and legs, faintness, cold sweats, increased urination, severe exhaustion, muscle weakness, heartburn, increased anxiety, cloudy headedness, nausea, and an intolerance for anything physical beyond just walking. I am a fit 42-year-old woman with no other health issues, and this has been blowing my mind that I could get this sick. I did go to the ED, and I was told that it can cause these symptoms. The worst part is that because it’s long-acting, it can take a week from your last dose for it to be cleared out. So I was told to rest and drink fluids until time passes. The good news is, I can breathe. The bad news is, it has been a nightmare for the rest of my body."

• pil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2018

For Inflammatory Conditions "I just received a 10 mg injection of this at the E.R. for a really bad sinus infection, laryngitis, and an upper respiratory infection that I have had for over a month. The shot itself was extremely painful. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, but this hurt for hours to the point where I couldn't sit down. The side effects began to kick in within an hour. I went from feeling calm and relaxed to feeling EXTREMELY anxious (No, I do not battle anxiety or depression). I felt jittery, I kept dropping things, and began crying from feeling so overwhelmed (not like me). I know it was this injection. My heart began racing very, very fast!! I don't think I will take this again."

• Liz...
• March 20, 2021

For Inflammatory Conditions "Do not let any incompetent doctors give you this, especially when they don't tell you about awful side effects. This drug is so bad, I suffered severe anxiety, depression, cognitive memory loss, and couldn't sit still."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2019

For Inflammatory Conditions "The worst drug. I went to the doctor for a sinus infection and was given an injection of 10 mg Decadron. I experienced extreme anxiety, insomnia, memory loss. Still experiencing it today, 4 months later."

• Lta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2020

"Received a 10 mg dose of dexamethasone for a minor burn. It's been four days, and the side effects are still going strong. Muscle twitches and weakness, shortness of breath, burning feet and hands (not from my burn-that was on my face), anxiety, insomnia, feeling cold, and difficulty talking. The muscle weakness is pretty severe, and it's hard to walk. Stay away from this med!"

• Ano...
• April 20, 2017

For Inflammatory Conditions "Took one shot for a lung infection I received while doing some swimming. Fixed the lung infection, but the side effects of this drug are very harsh, so be prepared. I'm 25, do triathlons, and swim regularly. Deal with a normal amount of stress and anxiety but have never had serious problems with it. Resting heart rate is about 50 normally. After the shot, resting heart rate was easily high 60s and low 70s. Extremely agitated and irritable. Very bad insomnia. Anxiety was out the roof, and again I've never had problems with anxiety before. Chest pain mixed in with the increased anxiety that most likely made the chest pain feel worse, but still, it was a problem. This lasted for about a week as well. It's a serious drug."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2022

For Inflammatory Conditions "I was given a single 10 mg/ml one ML of dexamethasone orally 7 days ago at a walk-in clinic for a possible sinus infection. The provider drew up the injection in a syringe and shot it into a cup of soda for me to drink. The last 7 days have been hell. Severe confusion, feeling like my brain is in fog, unable to concentrate, waking up in the middle of the night in panic, crying uncontrollably, fearful, scared, dizzy, zero appetite, severe headaches/migraines. This drug is long-lasting, and I’ve been suffering for this whole week with none of the doctors being able to figure out why. Well, I figured it out. I’ve almost had to go to the ER because I’ve been so upset and in absolute panic. Please, please, please do not take this drug in any form. Especially if you have a history of steroid sensitivity or anxiety. I’m praying it will wear off as the days go on."

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2023

"I was given this medication when I was diagnosed with COVID. This medication should've never been prescribed to me because of my underlying hyperthyroid disease. I took this medication for 5 days in the hospital and 5 days at home. This medication gave me intense side effects such as: hoarse throat, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, insomnia, nausea, suicidal ideation, hallucinations, manic episodes, mood swings, aggression, lack of appetite, heart palpitations, and muscle spasms. After calling my doctor, he apologized and said these are rare side effects and only affect 5% of users. Clearly, these side effects affect more than 5% of users, and the FDA really should reevaluate this medication. My symptoms lasted well over 72 hours, which was what my doctor said they would last. I have no memory of everything that happened, I just know the mental trauma from thinking you’re going crazy is not worth it at all."

• Bro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2021

For Inflammatory Conditions "I had 2 injections of dexamethasone earlier today for pudendal nerve entrapment that has been causing pain in my pelvic area, legs, and feet for the last 5 months. Tried physical therapy and oral anti-inflammatory medications that did not help. Finally resorted to the dexamethasone injections. I have had the sensation that my heart is beating out of my chest, palpitations, shortness of breath, anxiety feeling. No change in my leg and foot pain yet, but it has only been about 8 hours since the injection. I am supposed to get these weekly, but now I am rethinking this. I don't like how this medication makes me feel."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2021

Dexamethasone for Asthma "Went to the ER for chest pressure and shortness of breath. Got an injection of Decadron and never again will I! Right after the injection, I instantly had a severe panic attack, it's been 2 days since I got the injection, and I've only slept 7 hours within 48 hours. It has caused me severe insomnia, and my heart rate goes sky high. Chest pressure still hasn't subsided, which may be due to high anxiety from this medicine."

• Jin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 26, 2022

For Inflammatory Conditions "I believe this drug is very helpful for individuals who have adrenal issues, like Addison’s disease, etc. For me, the results have been quite mixed. I have had ongoing piriformis syndrome for the past 9 months. I’ve had four trigger point injections with dexamethasone (10 mg). After the first injection, I felt good - my pain went down to almost zero, and I had good energy. I did have some insomnia and increased urination, increased appetite - which resolved. Fast forward to this past month - I had a trigger point injection on 2/25/2022 at 9:15 a.m., and by 2:00 p.m. was feeling very fatigued. I thought it was because I had a busy day. That evening, I was both a bit anxious and tired - and I had trouble getting to sleep. However, the next morning (today), I felt like I took a large dose of Valium. So fatigued this morning, I could not get out of bed - forced myself to. I feel a combination of anxiety and fatigue and a flat mood. It’s effective for nerve pain, but side effects for sure!"

• Dar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2020

For Inflammatory Conditions "Just received a dexamethasone injection in my arm for tonsillitis. It initially felt like I didn’t get a shot, then the pain just exploded. I mean, no burning, just felt like I was punched in the arm. It was throbbing, and each throb was stabbing pain. I was bawling like a baby. I do have fibromyalgia, but I have had many shots in the muscle that sting. This was no sting! The doctor chalked it up to 'everything that was going on with me.' I am not a dramatic person, but this was the weirdest, most painful intravenous muscle shot I have ever had! I also have a heart condition, and reading what I am in for with anxiety and racing heart has me very concerned. Shouldn’t the doc have seen that?"

• Ldm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2022

For Atopic Dermatitis "On April, I was given dexamethasone for an allergic reaction I had to something I ate. I had dexamethasone as an injection and pills that I took for 3 days. On the 3rd day, I stopped taking them because I developed adverse side effects like fog in my head, confusion, numbness on the right side of my head, blurry vision, adrenaline feeling in my head, dry mouth, lost appetite, and diarrhea, along with depression and anxiety. After 3 weeks, all my side effects were gone except for anxiety and mild depression. I’m on 5 weeks since I stopped taking the medication, and I’m still struggling with anxiety and depression. So far, side effects come and go. Some days I have it, and I don’t, or it comes in and out throughout the day. Side effects are horrible. I can’t wait for this to be over."

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2017

For Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced "I receive this drug with chemo and am supposed to take it days 2-4 afterwards. Other than anxiety, it does the trick of improving abdominal pain, but once I stop, I am in agony. Burning pain and cramps, indigestion, back pain, and decreased urine output. I'm ready to give up on the whole thing."

• Dus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 30, 2020

For Atopic Dermatitis "I have severe atopic dermatitis and major issues with my spine. When I initially started taking dexamethasone, it worked wonders. 10 mg for a couple of weeks, then down to 4 mg twice weekly. When I started taking it, I had no side effects. Now, approximately 4 months later, I’m getting almost all of them. Yesterday, I had so much anxiety I thought I was losing my mind. Anxious (couldn’t even answer my phone), extremely irritable, major mood swings - those are just the tip of the side-effect iceberg. It’s exactly what happened when I took prednisone. Tomorrow will be my fourth Dupixent shot, and it seems to be working (at $2400 monthly, it should work). I will be talking to my dermatologist ASAP to ask if I can stop taking dexamethasone. Good luck to everyone who is or is thinking of taking it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2023

For Allergic Rhinitis "On Monday at 4 pm, I couldn't sleep and was extremely anxious and nauseated. I experienced the worst pain in my lower legs. Now, on Wednesday morning, I woke up shaking so badly that I had to run to the bathroom. I have been experiencing explosive diarrhea and nausea to the point of vomiting. I feel too faint to stand up and am very anxious. I also feel incredibly thirsty, as if I am dying of thirst. My blood pressure and sugar levels are through the roof."

• Ros...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2022

For Inflammatory Conditions "I was prescribed 3 mg dexamethasone tablets to take 3 times a day after getting a root canal to help with swelling and pain that Tylenol and Advil weren't helping. Within 2 doses, my tooth and gum pain was 100% gone! Worked very well for the inflammation. Side effects were rough on the 3rd day though! At first, I just had some increased urination and thirst and felt kind of spacey and out of it. But on the 3rd day, I felt insanely anxious, sad, and was super irritable with everyone and everything around me. Surprisingly, I didn't have any sleep issues on it. I was back to normal a couple of days after."

• meo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2022

"I was prescribed this drug for altitude sickness and took it for 2 days. It seemed to work for AMS, but it created terrible side effects: anxiety through the roof, mild depression, and extreme irritability. The effects set in on Day 3 and took about 36 hours to wear off. I recommend others consider and reserve time for such side effects if trying this drug. I personally will not be taking this medication again."

• uwj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2023

For Asthma "I was recovering from a nasty lung infection, and I was coughing up a lot. Two weeks later, the cough improved a lot, but my lungs were still wheezy, and breathing deeply caused rumbling in my lungs. The doctor gave me a two-day course of 12 mg of these tablets to help cut down the inflammation of the lungs. I was scared to take these as I'm prone to having anxiety/mood issues, and I saw some of the other comments here. Luckily, the dose did have some side effects, but nothing I wasn't able to handle. I took them at 8 a.m. each day, and the peak side effects were around noon. Mainly feeling a bit jumpy, having a headache, and feeling sort of floaty. In the evening, I did have a harder time falling asleep, but I still was able to sleep through the night. My lungs feel a ton better, and my appetite improved, which was a huge relief. I also noticed a significant decrease in chest pain. I think for such a short 2-day dose, even though high, it was helpful."

• Anonymous
• March 14, 2012

"Dexamethasone caused moon face, rash, sweats, aggression, anxiety, insomnia, weight gain, extreme dizziness, moodiness, swollen and numb lips and eyes, and on and on."

• Anonymous
• September 9, 2010

For Inflammatory Conditions "I experienced extreme agitation, depression, anxiety, and almost (probably should've) ended up in the hospital. I didn't leave my house for five days until I could get somewhat calmed."

• jen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 6, 2017

Dexamethasone for Addison's Disease "Longer acting steroid option. Gained weight and anxiety."