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What Causes Anxiety While On Steroids?

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Posted on Mon, 21 Sep 2015
Question: Hello, I'm a 51 year old female who had a Chalazion to my right eye since XXXXXXX 2nd of this year. Opthomologist did surgery and over a course of 3 months have me 4 Kenelog injections. First injection was in XXXXXXX second injection was in July and 2 this month , 2 weeks apart. Second injection 12 hours later I had a axiety attack. Never in my life had I had one. I did breathing exercises and it went away. Then I had a third injection. No problems. 2 weeks later I had my last injection . This past Thursday. Wow! I had a huge axiety attack within 24 hours. I've not taken any medications. I'm still battling severe axiety. Went to a urgent care yesterday and was given Xanax I took one. Today experience axiety as well. My question is; will these last until the medication is out of my system? How long could this take? As I said , I've never had a history of axiety before...
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Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
probably steroid induced anxiety

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.

I can understand your concerns.

Steroids are known to cause anxiety. But those are usually systemically used corticosteroid drugs.

It is unusual for an Intralesional steriods to cause such severe anxiety.

Kenalog is triamcinolone. It is a intermediate acting steroid with half life of upto 9 hours. Its effects may last for around one month.

As your anxiety has developed after kenalog injections, this may be the cause (though not common).
It may take sometime (upto 1 month) till your anxiety resolves.

Xanax is a good choice for such anxiety attacks. You can take one tablet as needed.
If it is not working for you, klonopin(prescription drug) can be considered.

Do continue with your breathing exercises to prevent further anxiety attacks.
Avoid kenalog or other steroids as far as possible.

Kindly discuss this with your doctor.

Hope this helps.

Feel free to ask further.

Regards.
Dr. Shubham.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Shubham Mehta

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2145 Questions

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What Causes Anxiety While On Steroids?

Brief Answer: probably steroid induced anxiety Detailed Answer: Hello Welcome to HCM. I can understand your concerns. Steroids are known to cause anxiety. But those are usually systemically used corticosteroid drugs. It is unusual for an Intralesional steriods to cause such severe anxiety. Kenalog is triamcinolone. It is a intermediate acting steroid with half life of upto 9 hours. Its effects may last for around one month. As your anxiety has developed after kenalog injections, this may be the cause (though not common). It may take sometime (upto 1 month) till your anxiety resolves. Xanax is a good choice for such anxiety attacks. You can take one tablet as needed. If it is not working for you, klonopin(prescription drug) can be considered. Do continue with your breathing exercises to prevent further anxiety attacks. Avoid kenalog or other steroids as far as possible. Kindly discuss this with your doctor. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask further. Regards. Dr. Shubham.