Steroids and sleep.

[Tykelady]

On Sunday, after a day of low O2 sats , shakiness and increasing breathlessness I went to A&E. I was seen very quickly and it was decided I had the beginning of a chest infection. , despite none of the usual symptoms. I had already started my Prednisolone but was told to take the antibiotics as well and allowed home with instructions to use an ambulance and not my son's car if it got worse. The problem I have is that I am unable to get to sleep until maybe four in the morning, no discomfort or problems, just awake and consequently shattered for the rest of the day. This is not something I have had before. Is this a side effect or just me?

[Oshgosh]

are you on high dose steroids,they can make you feel jittery and strange,especially at high dose.

Do you take it early morning?

When I’m on high dose,I try to take it at 6 when im awake.with a biscuit and a drink x

[Tykelady in reply to Oshgosh]

Thanks, I'll try it earlier. I usually take all my meds about 8'30. I do have a banana with the Pred. x

[peege]

that'll be the prednisolone Tykelady. It does that to me too plus palpitations. I get over it by taking them with an oatcake (anything would do to put in your tum tum) and take them at 5 in the morning (its morning after all), I usually get back to sleep after taking them. It really helps for the following night. Nothing worse than being awake until the wee hours, it never seems so bad being awake from 5 am if I can't get back to sleep.

I hope you recover well and soon. P

[Tykelady in reply to peege]

Thanks for mentioning the palpitations. They do fade as the day goes on. x

[SORRELHIPPO]

The only thing I would add to the above, is I become unbearably "zoomie" and never stop chattering, which drove my husband nuts!!

[MoyB]

Each time I have Prednisolone the side effects are different but the most persisitent one is being awake half the night, despite taking the Pred in the morning.

The Prenisolone high can turn me into Superwoman for a few days and then I crash and am absolutely useless for a bit.

I tend to go with it now - if I'm awake, I get up and do something until I feel sleepy again. I've been awake all night before now and stayed awake all the next day, but I then had a good night's sleep.

One time I got the munchie so badly that I was eating anything that I could find - fridge raiding in the middle of the night - snacking on biscuits (did I say 'snacking'? I was getting through them by the packet full) and I saw off a huge cherry and almond cake within three days. My weight rocketed! Thankfully, once I was off the Pred, things went back to normal, although I'm still carrying a bit of the extra weight.

Sometimes, I don't seem to get any side effects, but that is rare.

I'm not sure there's much we can do about it really, just go with the flow.

xx Moy

[Tykelady]

Thanks to all for the advice and information. Only two more days to go but i did sleep last night. x

[Izb1]

I am on day 4 of pred and doxy after speaking with the gp Monday re short of breath, cough and 02 reading 83. My 02 is at 91 today so slowly creeping up. I dont sleep when on steroids no matter how early i take them so sympathise with you x

[watergazer]

the steroids affect me a lot - irritable, not sleeping and unable to settle. X

[Digger0]

What time do you take your steroids? I was told to take them as early as possible so they don't disturb my sleep. Good luck.

[Tykelady in reply to Digger0]

It looks as if I am taking mine too late. Nearly through the course now though xx

[Patk1]

I take 4--5 am