Nightmares since tapering to 6.5mg

[Broseley]

Hi, I was told by rheumy to taper by 1mg every 6 weeks though this time I ignored him and reduced from 7mg to 6.5mg. My pred journey has been fine so far. However right from day 1 (now on day 5) on 6.5mg I have been getting terrible nightmares. Is this due to the taper or something else? I don't normally even dream! I'm not particularly stressed about anything right now.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have a look at the Related posts - an almost identical question:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, I have already looked through it before I posted but couldn't see any reply directly about the nightmares it's all about hair colouring.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

I found 5 or 6 comments about nightmares at least. Have another look. Perhpas mostly in the second half of the thread.

[Broseley]

Ok thanks, it took some sifting through but I looked at the article you posted and it seems it's due to the adrenal glands waking up - which my rheumy said should have happened by the time I got to 8mg! The nightmares are horrible, mainly about natural disasters affecting me and my friends - floods last night, fire the night before, and not being able help people to get out. Dolphins beaching themselves on Sunday night!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

Really have no idea where your rheumy learned his physiology!!! The adrenal glands don't even start to wake up UNTIL your pred dose is down to 8mg and probably even lower for many people. Recent work at Imperial College in London suggests that the dose where things start to happen is even lower - they think about 2mg pred is plenty to do the job so the adrenal glands are even lazier.

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. Way to go yet then. I hope the nightmares stop soon.

[Hidden in reply to Broseley]

your profile does not indicate your age but nightmares of the sort you describe started with the menopause for me in my early 50s…..

[Broseley in reply to Hidden]

I'm 63. I'll update my profile, thanks for pointing that out.

[Hidden in reply to Broseley]

hope you get a better nights sleep soon

[Broseley in reply to Hidden]

Thanks!

[Sharitone in reply to Broseley]

I had no 'adrenal symptoms' till I got down to 4mg. I also dream a lot more, and not nicely either!

[Hildalew]

It must be horrible for you to have these vivid and troubling nightmares. You say you are not particularly stressed about anything but I wonder whether the incessant stream of 'bad', or just unsettling, news in the UK both about the UK and the wider world has influenced you more than you think. Your mention of flooding and dolphins beaching themselves, in particular brought that thought to me but there is more than enough unsettling news about this country to give us all nightmares.

[Nextoneplease in reply to Hildalew]

this is certainly true for me Hildalew - I’ve even taken to watching the occasional ‘country life’ type travel programme to take my mind off it - and I never normally watch TV!!

Take care all 😊x

[Broseley in reply to Hildalew]

Too true! I have given up watching the news and just look at the brief notifications from the BBC on my phone. I am an anxious person at the best of times. I have developed a head in the sand approach to it all!! But I am a control freak and these things are all beyond my control so I think that's reflected in my nightmares.