I have been sleeping really badly for some time now and have tried meditation, sleep stories and even CBD spray to no avail. Now I am looking at 5HTP, which is allegedly okay with prednisolone. Has anyone had success with this? I can’t keep on sleeping so little. Otherwise I am down to 2 mg with occasional 2.5 mg in my taper and only slight twinges in right shoulder.
My suspicion would be that maybe you have got into a poor sleeping habit - have you ever asked your GP for a sleep study? But the other, maybe more likely, possibility is your adrenal function isn't as good as it might be as you reduce the pred dose. Ask your GP if they will request an adrenal function test, a synacthen or ACTH stimulation test, as a first approach. I think ruling the most likely things in or out would be a good start.
Just watched a show where one of the items was about how seniors in particular often have their sleep cycle go out of sync. They produce melatonin at the wrong time so consequently may be wakeful until night is nearly over, and then want to sleep, for example. The melatonin clock can be reset through various strategies, which I can't remember well enough to mention in enough detail here, but included timing of meals, what one ate, avoiding any naps (a morning nap okay, but nothing after noon) that sort of thing. All the people in a small sleep study felt they benefited and would carry on with the changes they had made.
I have a problem with getting to sleep at a decent hour (even without the PMR) You might want to ask you doctor first but I find 5mg of Melatonin supplement with a cup of camomile tea works great for me. I don't get that foggy feeling in the morning, at least when I don't have the PMR ongoing.
Hope you get some help with it, nothing more bothering than not getting enough sleep.
It is not recommended to use melatonin with corticosteroids - it can reduce the effect of the steroid meaning you may need a high dose to manage your symptoms. Melatonin is also not available in the UK except on prescription for a very narrow range of indications.
Hi, yes we need our sleep!!! I have been using amitriptylin 10 mg prescribed by the gp before bedtime works quite good, you are not suppose to take a glas of red wine with it but I sometimes do, works better! !! Don t tell anybody!!!! Yes, sleeping with prednisone can be a challenge!!! Alida
Very interesting EileenH, Melatonin was my go to produce when I was working and traveling around the world. At that time readily available in the US. ☺️