Hi, I've been taking prednisone now for 10 months and though I have been decreasing from 20mg ( now down to 4 with only one flare-up) I am not sleeping any better than when I was on 20mg.
I sleep for an hour or two then become wide awake and normally read for 1 and a half hours or 2. then sleep well for 3 or 4 hours.
Do others suffer in this way when taking prednisone ? Could be it's something else but at the moment I blame everything on the steroids!!
Well know side effect of Pred - unfortunately - this post gives info, others experiences etc -
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
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A lot of things can affect sleep - and once you get into a bad pattern, it can be hard to break habits. I have a similar pattern to yours some nights - but not every night. Most frustrating!
Yes! I sympathise. I have had sleep problems since starting the steroids 12 years ago. For 8 years I took amitriptyline which helped a lot but then stopped working about 3 years ago. Have had awful problems since. I have e trouble getting to sleep, then wake up every 2 hours and sometimes wake early too.
The only things that have ever helped are medications- amitriptyline, melatonin, Zolpidem. But none of these work forever. I would suggest you try Amitriptyline- anything up to 35 mgs and see how you go.
I have come to the conclusion that I will have to stop taking steroids to get back to my normal sleeping pattern.
I used Tropics pillow spray and balm when trouble sleeping on prednisolone
On and off, I've had this problem. If I lie there, I don't get back to sleep. If I get up, have a hot drink, read something unexciting for half an hour, I go straight back to sleep and sleep until a more normal waking time.
I listen to meditation tapes from the internet if I can't sleep or I wake up in the night. I've been using them for so long now that I think my brain recognises that it's time to go to sleep.
when the brain is buzzing it’s hard to turn off. I find listening to an audio book helpful. Usually I don’t read autobiography coz I get a bit bored…this worked for me…sometimes several times a night.
If you’re worried about losing your place you can set a time. Also you can rewind to the last place you remember.
If you’re worried about disturbing a partner I just put in one earpiece
Good luck
The sleep problem for me seems to be getting worse not better after eight years of pred and now at 3.5mg. My brain is overactive with planning activities, worrying about energy requirements for the next day or days beyond, and improving my fused glass projects. I feel as if I am somewhere between asleep and awake, certainly don’t wake up feeling rested. I have every sympathy for fellow sufferers.
I take magnesium and it really helps, I’m back up to 25mg now and sleep not great, but thankfully not downstairs at 4am
Your calcium supplements taken before bed can also be helpful.
I use a cream called Feather and Down which contains magnesium and lavender bought from Amazon which is very good, you just rub it on your feet or legs.
Agree on F&D .. it’s good!
That kind of sleep disturbance happens to me when I am taking a course of prednisolone, or a year off it. I put it down to the fact that I cannot be as active as I used to be.
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