Sleepless in California

[flygirl65]

It has been quite some time since I’ve slept through the night. Been on Prednisone for 5 weeks 20mg tapering started on August 1st to 15 per rheumatologist schedule. Does anyone know of a safe sleep aid with prednisone to help sleep through the night?? I was wondering if ok to take CBD gummies??

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Some find Magnesium helps -probably better than CBD gummies - or have a look through this -there may be something in the post or replies -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[flygirl65 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you for the posts. I will try Magnesium and hope it helps. Appreciate the quick response!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

One lady I know in the UK found one of the Nytol products helped her sleep - I THINK it was the herbal version. The ingredients in the USA are different and those with Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride are very effective. Official interaction sites do not turn up any interaction with pred but elsewhere there are claims they can result in raised BP - but pred can cause raised BP anyway so the question is whether it gets worse for the particular patient.

Melatonin is not recommended to be taken with pred - it may make the adverse effects worse.

Some people (including me) find magnesium taken before bed helps, and others find taking their calcium supplement then helps too.

[123-go]

What a great feeling to wake up and realise you've slept all night!

I don't know anything about gummies but would like to comment on your reduction from 20mg to 15mg.

The recommended reduction is no more than 10% and only if you're at least 70% pain free. This would lead to a new dose of 17.5mg. Your rheumy may have his own schedule but PMR can be a fickle beast and it may be that a 5mg drop is a step too far. How are your PMR symptoms?

Others will be along to comment.

[flygirl65 in reply to 123-go]

Thanks for asking they are back but not as severe. I sent message to Rhuemy today and I’ve had a heavy head not at the temporal area and he wanted to put on 40mg of pred he was concerto was GCA. He scheduled appoint for me to go over with him next week the next step. I told him I was fine at 20 and not at all comfortable with going to 40mg. I’m wondering if I should just go up to 17.5 and see if that works and then taper as you suggested. He did say CBD is ok to take for sleep.

[Sharitone]

If your 'natural' methods don't work, I wouldn't rule out mild sleeping tablets. I could hardly sleep at all for the first 6 months, then a new GP prescribed Zopiclone. People worry about becoming dependent, but I have been able to reduce the sleeping tablets along with the pred without any problem. I am now only taking 1/8 tablet per night, with 4mg pred. It's very difficult to get better when you don't get enough sleep.