hi ive been on 15 prednisolone for about 4 weeks now and almost pain free which is great but for about the last 2 weeks l wake up at 3 or 4. am and dont usually get back to sleep is this a common side-effect with preds?would appreciate any tips.
Hi Mutley, I have GCA and have been taking Prednisone.
Since the onset of the illness I started loosing my sleep so my doctor
prescribed a relaxing pill. I take 1/2 MG every night and it gives me enough sleeping hours in order to keep my brains in good performance. I have been reading recently the relation between the sleeping hours a the brain.
Wish you have the right doc- not only to help your sleeping time, but also doing taperings carefully (!!!) so you will not have flare ups.
Keep well ☘😊
Yep.
I always could go to sleep when my head hit the pillow, when I started taking pred life changed and I have real trouble sleeping, however the BBC World Service has bailed me out.
I find that a cup of Camomile tea at bedtime and/or 4 drops of Bach's Night time Rescue Remedy usually give me a good night's sleep.
I found the relief of pain actually counteracted any real sleep problems pred might have caused, but in those days I was still an intermittent insomniac as I had been most of my life, since early childhood. However, now that I take one of my calcium doses with a small snack at bedtime I find I sleep very well. In the last few months since starting to do that (probably at about 9 mg pred) I've had maybe two nights when I had to get up and go to my living room. And in both cases, after scratching away at a crossword puzzle, I fell asleep again in a chair until morning.
Learn to embrace it - it will probably improve as the dose reduces but don't worry about it. Some people just get on with quiet hobbies instead of lying tossing and turning. And rest some other time to carry you through to the evening.
Yes, this is because it makes you jittery, a common side effect. You might want to change the times that you take the meds. It gives you tons of energy . I have been on it for 4 years and do not feel that way anymore. I have gained 60 lbs. since I was on it. Went off for two months and list 40 lbs and am now on it again, it is worse than ever and I gained 45 again. It us a viscous circle. Pain or no pain......
Me too....can list every programme there is on radio! have a relaxation CD from years ago, have resorted to that lately, which strangely enough, when his voice comes on, my brain seems to think it means sleep, it works!.....worth a try. At first I thought it was useless to me, but it is working now!....
I was exactly the same waking up at 2am and struggling to sleep , I'm now on 7mg and sleeping loads better so it has got better in my case there is light at the end of the tunnel
good luck
Also, be aware, causes brain fog for a while. I did not find this wonderful forum for about 6 months after I started Pred and the doctors didn't inform me of many of the side effects of Pred. When I struggled to do my normal things like hang pictures on the wall, or make decisions, it really took me back. I yelled "this isn't me!" And me sweet husband calmly said, "no, it's not, it's just the drugs".
It does all get better, but as these fine folks told me... Put your life on hold for a while and heal.
My GP gave me different things to try (not strong) but my rheumy recommended Nytol to take for a short while (not more than 4 weeks). Buy over counter. I took 25mg which really helped me and no hangover. After a short while I didn't need to take it, probably as I was feeling better and doing more in the day. Still nap for one hour pm though as always wake at 5pm to take Pred with yoghurt and then doze.
I have enormous trouble getting and staying asleep - even now that I'm down to 5.5mg pred. It's annoying me so much I'm thinking of asking my GP for sleeping tablets - i work full time and I just don't function without sleep as well as dealing with PMR fatigue.
Hi mutley2 im Blubberbabe 2 and like you i have sleep problems i was wondering if you have any andwers yet
Have you tried any herbal remedies? if not, I would strongly recommend that you do before requesting sleeping tablets from your GP. I found that even when my PMR pain was at it's worst and I could hardly move in bed that a cup of Pukka's Night Time tea (available at most supermarkets) at bedtime really helped. I am now pain free at night but still have this or a cup of Camomile tea. You could also try Bach's Night Rescue Remedy (available from most Chemists/ Health Stores) which comes in the form of liquid melt capsules or drops which you put on your tongue. I've found that all of these things work well for me. I do still wake up during the night but nearly always manage to get off again quite quickly, and I hardly ever have a problem getting off in the first place. Also something called Night Time 5-HTP which I haven't tried yet but it sounds quite good. I hope you find something that helps soon. Good luck.
I'm sure you have already tried this but I cut out all caffeine. I still have the occasional night when I don't sleep well and it's usually because I've been on my iPad. I always read before I put the light out. I was recently reading a large hardback and was nodding off when clonk the book fell on my head and woke me up! I have a bedside light which has a dimmer switch which is great. If I am up at night I put no lights on and fumble my way about. It helps, although I once stumbled into the bed, stubbed my toe and woke my husband with the noise.
You need a nightlight.....
I have one for our grandchildren. It only happened once and I manage now but thank you for the advice.
One of the sleep hygiene recommendations is that no form of screen should be used in the couple of hours before bed...
I know - I'm REALLY REALLY boring...
I'm confused...I don't see answers either...for me being at high doze Prednisone, 20-15, maybe 13, I was high. So basically no sleep.
I think normal reaction to Pred. Seems I recall atleast 2 months.
I didn't have back pain which was great, though it came back as I dropped, but I always had the PMR pains, struggled to get in my car for almost a year. I was still at 60-70% pain. For some it reduces their pain down to 30%.
So, my answer is it is just the higher dose of Pred and will get better, though now I wake up about every 2-3 hours to use bathroom.
Many new PMR people have anxiety, it is scary until you get used to it, ha...so I'd suggest guided meditations, deep relaxing breathing, and Bowen of course. and many suggested afternoon naps, though some might disagree.
Good luck Mutley2 and Bludderbabe2, take care, hopefully rest. It's our wonderful adrenals that are haywire, poor little guys.