Night sweats with pred

[PmrQ]

I was diagnosed with pmr and have been taking prednisone since May, currently 14 mg. I take my pred in two doses, split am and pm as it was not covering the whole 24 hours previously. I did read that sweating can be a side effect. Every night I wake up between 4:00-5:00 am with terrible night sweats. This is much worse than anything I had related to menopause. I am literally drenched and awake for about an hour until it goes away. Has anyone else had this experience or have any suggestions? Thank you!

[jinasc]

Yes and I found Evening Primose Oil and Extract of Sage helped. However you must check that either are compatible with whatever medication you are already taking. Check with your Pharmacist.

I also bought a 1 tog Duvet.

[PmrQ in reply to jinasc]

Thank you! I will look into that.

[Gunflash in reply to PmrQ]

I had sweats for about 2 weeks when I was first taking Pred, It also make me wake up an hour earlier than usual. That has since stopped, I still sleep lighter than I did but the sweats have gone and the cramps have arrived!!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think sweats at that time reflect the time at which your body sheds the new batch of inflammatory substances in the body. I had sweats then with PMR, long before pred, and get them now if I have got to slightly too low a dose of pred. No problem when the pred is high enough.

Layers of bedding you can chuck off helps - I have a 3 tog duvet which I use all year and if that is still too much in summer - the duvet cover or just a sheet is next in line.

[PmrQ in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you, I was wondering about the timing and the shedding of the inflammation. I’ve tried to read some about it (cytokines?) but seems very complex. I didn’t have these night sweats when I had pmr undiagnosed, only since starting the steroids.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PmrQ]

Then yours is probably the pred - but when it happens for me now it is definitely a warning!

[Mijmijkey74 in reply to PmrQ]

I don't have PMR though am often on steroids for eosinophilic asthma and I get the sweats on them too but not always. It. depends upon how many daily I'm having to take. The more I am prescribed to take daily the more I sweat profusely in bed at night waking up saturated and actually able to wring out my sleep wear of moisture for it to drip out. First time it happened I thought I'd had a big night time wee wee accident I was so saturated. They also make me sweat profusely during the day under my arms drenching closer fitting tops. Thank goodness for batwing tops. I also find that drenching night time sweating wakes me up freezing from being sodden. What I find helps is not sleeping in night time sleep wear just underwear if more comfortable such as briefs/pants/knickers "UK they are pants but aware pants in the USA/Canada are trousers" and not sleeping on or under anything polyester or woolly. And sleeping with a bath towel underneath you on top not under the bed sheet you lie on. It soaks up the sweat and keeps you drier. Also roll on deodorant on the body before bed helps as does talcum powder. Sleeping with a window open or fan on also helps and a cool night drink by the side of the bed.

[tangocharlie]

Night sweats can be a sign of adrenal problems, and if you are splitting your dose into 2 x 7 then you are at about the physiological dose where there coud be adrenal confusion, so that might be the reason. But I am not a medic and I'm sure there are lots of other possible explanations too. YOu could try taking the dose all in one and seeing if that chages anything

[SheffieldJane]

I wonder what would happen if you took your whole dose of Pred at about 2 am, thereby heading, the Cytokine rush at 4 am, off at the pass? It might be worth a try. It seems to be linked with the release of inflammatory substance in you. I bought a little neckerchief filled with crystals when I was troubled by the sweats. You put in in the freezer. It certainly seemed to cool me off. Amazon and other stores when you google.

[PmrQ in reply to SheffieldJane]

I was having the same thought about taking the entire dose at 2 am, might be worth a try!

[Pixix in reply to SheffieldJane]

I have dreadful, drenching night sweats. I take my Pred (currently 9mg) between 2 and 3 am, usually around 3am, but still suffer. I stopped taking evening primrose oil as it didn’t do any good, but I’m going to try sage, as suggested above. Other people may find they have completely different results! My sweating isn’t confined to any particular time of night, just happens so much..now sleeping in old T-shirts & pyjama bottoms as change so often. Good luck!

[Mijmijkey74 in reply to SheffieldJane]

That sounds fantastic. I need one of those to help when I get migraines. It will be very relieving.

[kalimche]

Not only do I suffer from night sweats (mainly from my head), but my head sweats dreadfully in the day too if I am out and it is sunny. Anyone else find this?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to kalimche]

I have the last few days - but I was working hard in temps in the mid-20s! My hair, especially at the nape of my neck was soaking - and turned into little ringlets ...

[kalimche in reply to PMRpro]

yes - especially at the back of my head and nape of neck! I have to blow it dry! (can't be bothered to shower and wash it again!!)

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to kalimche]

Yesterday I got soaked in the rain before driving to Bozen and back. I'd intended going in and getting a bit dryer first but OH didn't wait for me to take the car into the underground garage so he'd not get wet as well. And was itching to leave.

By the time I got home it really was halfway to an Afro-textured "do"!!! If I thought it would last I'd make the most of it but I know it won't!!

[kalimche in reply to PMRpro]

these things are sent to try us!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to kalimche]