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Does Depo Medrol Cause Anxiety, Depression And Insomnia?

Posted on Wed, 18 Nov 2015

Question: Hi. A month ago, I received a 40 mg injection of depo medrol in my knee. I told the orthopedic doctor my sensitivity to any kind of steroid. He said it shouldn't be a problem. Exactly a week after the injection, severe anxiety kicked in as well as insomnia, abnormal dreams, some depression etc. It has been horrible. I've been treated for anxiety / panic disorder for years and it's been pretty well controlled until now. How long does this last & is it still the steroid making me feel this way?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Your anxiety and anticipation is making things worse.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have carefully gone through the details provided. Let me ask you to relax first. Much worse than the pharmacological ill effects of a steroid injection is the panic and the anticipation that you have in this context. In fact, it is this anticipation and anxiety that has been triggering the bad experience that got kicked off in a week after the steroid injection. So, the solution is actually in your own hands. YOU can make it go, and that is by relaxing. The better you relax, the faster it will go. The systemic pharmacological effects of a local steroid injection, if any, should have already have subsided by now.
I hope that I have been able to explain you the situation.
Feel free to contact me back in case of further queries.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (19 hours later)

I wasn't aware that the shot was a steroid until I felt the way I did. That is when I called and asked exactly what was in the injection. So, the anticipation that anything was going happen was not there since I had no clue as to what was in a cortisone injection. Other than that, I've stayed as calm as possible. I'm still going to work, and functioning somewhat. When I am calm, my hands shake horribly! I don't know what else it could be.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Your problems are probably unrelated to the steroid injection.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for not being able to respond faster.

There are several vital hormones that have steroid backbone. Abundance of steroids in the body lowers steroid production. A sudden increase in steroid levels due to the steroid injection (in blood,not in a joint) may thus reduce production of vital hormones and thus creates sudden crisis. This is the cause of the so called side effects of steroids. However, the problems of shakiness of hands is unrelated to a steroid injection in a joint.

I hope you understand.

Regards

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar