Prednisolone

[Darceydoo]

How does anyone cope with the lack of sleep when on these damn steroids?🙄

[Hidden]

I'm probably boring people saying that I'm on box after box of these tablets 8th of ten box's..just got appointment letter in today for Thursday 30th at Thoracic meds specialist to review and hopefully they will take me off them..a necessary evil my GP calls them

[Darceydoo in reply to Hidden]

Oh poor you , do they affect your sleep?

[Hidden]

Honesty not sure because I would have disruptive sleep at the best of times..flashbacks to job I used to be in but I'm sure they don't help..why not talk it over with GP or practice nurse Darceydoo

[Darceydoo in reply to Hidden]

👍🏼

[Tansycat1]

Oh no Darcey, you poor, poor thing, steroids do have many strange side effects, but according to my GP they saved my life, so I can't argue with that. I don't remember not sleeping, but then again, I am on so many other drugs and some of them knock me out. I can only sympathise with you, and hope your sleeping patterns soon improve. Do something wonderful today, it doesnt have to be ground breaking, eat chocolate, read a really awful celeb magazine, or phone a friend, just be kind to yourself.

[Darceydoo in reply to Tansycat1]

Hi not only lack of sleep but they make me more hungry 🙄

[joyce74 in reply to Darceydoo]

Me too but like the extra energy

[Bella395]

What dose are you on? If it is a high dose then reducing gradually you will soon be over the worst. What time are you taking the tablets? Usual advice is morning and all at once. Regarding the sleep, try to attend to what is called sleep hygiene. Some tips here:

nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-...

[O2Trees]

Reorganising the house - spring cleaning, diy in the middle of the night. Just wait it out - when you stop the pred your normal sleep routine will reassert itself

[watergazer in reply to O2Trees]

same here

[O2Trees in reply to O2Trees]

Just to say, in case anyone think Im being too casual here, Ive have on occasion had weeks when ive only been able to get between 1 and 3 hours. Then I can't rest but cant sleep either and it's an unbearable kind of nauseous feeling. So I do understand.

[Darceydoo in reply to O2Trees]

Oh poor you I understand what it’s like! Let’s be kind to ourselves 😘

[TomTitTot]

Hi Darceydoo, hearing what you're going through brings back memories. Steroids really do mess with sleep. I would get so wired I'd feel as if I could hold my own with all the great philosophers. An oxygen rush to the brain , I think.

And hungry, I always felt I could eat a horse.

I have found that if I took them with a solid meal, it seemed to help and to eat as many foods as I could that have tryptophan. Turkey ,nuts, seeds etc.

Good luck!

TomTitTot

[Darceydoo in reply to TomTitTot]

Hi TTT

Sound advice thanks, normally take them am but have been told by one Dr evening is the best time to take them .As levels drop between 2/3 am.

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to Darceydoo]

🤔 I was told to take them early, with breakfast. Also, I've started taking the Fostair inhaler earlier in the evening instead of right before going to bed, to see if that helps me sleep any better. I guess it does make sense in some ways to take them in the evening but it can't do much for the sleeping. 😴

[O2Trees in reply to Darceydoo]

Interesting - I never heard that. Reason I take them with food is that they produce more acid in the stomach (as do antibiotics) and can cause or exacerbate reflux.

[Maximonkey]

Hi Darceydoo, I too always have this problem but the last time I took pred I decided to go with it and when I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep I got up and did some small jobs around the kitchen, got myself a lovely cup and hot chocolate, read a book and with an hour or so I started to feel sleepy again. When I take pred I never sleep for as long as I do normally, but then we shouldn't be surprised really as the pred is to boost our immune system and it kickstarts, hopefully, our ability to fight the infection. Take care and I hope you find this helps. Go with the flow, Maximonkey

[watergazer]

You poor thing. I hate them and avoid unless necessary. Nothing like a spring clean or renewing the paint on the walls !! When I couldn't take anymore I asked for a few sleeping tablets which gave me a couple of hours sleep. Hang on in there hopefully they're not for ever.x

[Clamdigger]

I make weed butter for those times...

[sarcoid1234]

I have taken prednisolone for several years. When on 30mg a day, and when I took them in the morning I would often still be awake at 4am. I gradually took them later each day until I took them at bed time, and then I could get off to sleep. I still take my 5mg at bedtime. Might be worth a try.

[Lazarus]

Obviously, discuss with your GP, and tell them that you, would like to come off the meds as soon as is possible. My suggestions are to reduce the dosage as far as you can, (I was prescribed 6 or 8 tabs a day) which made me energetic and increased my appetite. I found that if I took 2 to 4 tabs a day I was less wired in the evenings/night time, and had more normal appetite. Also, try to get lots of outdoor exercise to try to feel more tired at night. Finally, as another post suggested, concentrate on your sleep hygiene, so avoid Ipad, computers etc, got to bed at the same time each night, and don't have other distractions in your bedroom. Even more finally, try not to let any insomnia, worry you. Try to relax and accept it as it will eventually pass, or you will be taken off the medication. I have been on very high doses of other steroids in the past which caused huge weight gain/hunger and sleepless nights. I hope these help and that you manage some quality sleep again soon.

[stamford1234]

Oh I dread taking them, I only take them if I have an exacerbation. I usually drop off at 4am for a couple of hours. It's pretty lonely especially when you are already feeling rubbish. I just read or listen to a podcast or put Netflix on. It's usually only the first three nights for me and then the sleep pattern comes back. I suppose you could always defrost the freezer - NOT. I hope the effects pass over soon, remember the benefits outweigh the alternative.

[helingmic]

Dear Akk,

Dear akk, Great vision loss after cataract op Cannot write because I cannot re No sure outcome, sorry Have drops galore, no instant effect!. I’ll try to report better news later. Thinking of you dearly, Mic

[Hidden]

Seriously. And having to get up to pee all night.