Does or has anyone suffered depression while on Prednisone?

I'd suspect it may have to do with your adrenals being slow to wake up after relying on the prednisone for several years. I've read many reports (on the HealthUnlocked PMR site out of the UK) about the symptoms people have when they get down to the dosage you are on...depression, exhaustion, mood swings. If that's what it is, you just have to tough it out until your adrenals are fully functioning. The good news is that it's temporary (but it may last longer than you'd like) and that you're only on 5 mgs.

As a p.s. to my message below, here are some links you might find helpful. You can start with "Member experiences"
https://healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk/posts/private/147367877/adrenal-glands

Thank you for the mention of HealthUnlocked PMR site.
I checked it out and found it to be very helpful.

I have had pain in my groin since I was diagnosed in July 2021. I never saw that listed as a symptom. The doctor has asked me about pain in my hips but I haven’t had that until the last few days went I went down to 5mg of Prednisone.

I have been on it for three months and was doing fine emotionally until now. I awaken every morning feeling that combination of depression and anxiety. In the afternoons I get a energized burst -- I am assuming this is in part the famous prednisone mood swings. I am new in town so don't have a support system of friends. My son and family are here but are very busy with their own lives, a new baby, etc. It has thrown me back into feelings of loss and grief for my husband even though he died a long time ago -- that he would have been here for me through this.

No depression but my ability to handle stress is at an all time low.

In my 6 years on prednisone
(now down to a safe 4mg) I twice experienced what I call brief but intensive psychotic episodes.

One involved suicidal ideation and the other catastrophic thinking. Both passed after a week or so. I was then on about
10-12.5 mg of prednisone.

I also did some scary dreaming.
All seems okay at 4mg.

Daily cycles of pain and tiredness continue. No real remission.

I just had a similar experience tapering from 8mg of Prednisone to 7mg. I was in an intensive training out of state and was concerned I could not complete it and also suffered extreme fatigue and suicidal ideation. I called my rheumatologist who recommended I go back up to 8mg.

When I got home we had an appointment and decided to add Methetrexate to my medications and to stay at 8mg for another month.

I am 57 and work as an elementary school teacher. This disease has been really hard!

I’m grateful that I found a responsive Rheumatologist and that my husband has accompanied me to some appointments so he has an understanding of what’s going on.

When I developed GCA and my pred dose was increased to 60mg I was a nut case. Angry all the time, fly off the handle and argue over nothing. So not me! Am grateful my partner didn't chuck me out the door.

When I dropped from 20mg of prednisone to 6mg over a 6 month period I became sluggish and felt a little "flat". It improved as I continue to drop the dosage over the next few months.