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Does the prednisolone affect your sleep?

Posted , 10 users are following.

angela49509
angela49509

I have just been prescribed prednisolone last week and they are helping. However, I have experienced real problems in trying to get to sleep. Over the last two weeks I have not slept for practically 2 whole nights and also when I have a couple of hours and then wake up I am not able to go back to sleep.  The strange thing is that I am really feeling as tired as I should given the lack of sleep. I am managing to function ok the next day, although if this goes on for a much longer time I dont suppose that I will be very functional!  It may be that I am just getting used to the medication?  Has anyone else experience anything similar?

thank you.

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  • ptolemy
    ptolemy angela49509

    Posted

    Hi Angela, I am so glad the pred is working for you. It was miraculous in my case. I used to go to sleep in seconds, but with the pred I stay awake for hours, I just listen to the World Service nowadays. I am down to 5mg, but have still not got back to my old sleeping habits unfortunately. 

    You should take vit D and calcium as soon as you start pred, as a pred side effect can cause osteoporosis. It may be worth asking for a blood test of your vit D level as well. You should also be offered a Dexascan to check your bone density if you are taking pred for PMR. Ask your doctor.

    Weight gain can be reduced by cutting out simple carbs and watching your diet. I cut out gluten too as I was told it would stop me getting a moon face. It did work but it may just have been luck on my part. It does not help that pred makes you feel you want to eat a horse or two even! 

  • june62431
    june62431 angela49509

    Posted

    I was diagnosed just after Christmas and have experienced difficulty in getting off to sleep.  I put it down to being mind-blown about the condition and the medication I have to take each morning. I couldn't clear my mind of the ramifications of taking steroids, pain each morning and watching my face get fatter each day. Furthermore there doesn't seem to be a finite end to it.  My solution, since I am now retired is to take a nap after lunch to make up for lack of sleep at night.

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