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sleep problems

Posted , 14 users are following.

mutley2
mutley2

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.

1 like, 39 replies

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  • iellen32
    iellen32 mutley2

    Posted

    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 ☘😊

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy mutley2

    Posted

    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.
    • linda17563
      linda17563 ptolemy

      Posted

      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!....
  • fran2498
    fran2498 mutley2

    Posted

    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.
  • Anhaga
    Anhaga mutley2

    Posted

    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.  
  • EileenH
    EileenH mutley2

    Posted

    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.
  • eileen11130
    eileen11130 mutley2

    Posted

    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......
  • molly1957
    molly1957 mutley2

    Posted

    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 

  • LayneTX
    LayneTX mutley2

    Posted

    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.

  • diana21296
    diana21296 mutley2

    Posted

    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.
  • FlipDover_Aust
    FlipDover_Aust mutley2

    Posted

    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.
    • fran2498
      fran2498 FlipDover_Aust

      Posted

      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.
    • Silver49
      Silver49 FlipDover_Aust

      Posted

      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.
    • Silver49
      Silver49 Anhaga

      Posted

      I have one for our grandchildren. It only happened once and I manage now but thank you for the advice.
    • EileenH
      EileenH Silver49

      Posted

      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...

    • FlipDover_Aust
      FlipDover_Aust Silver49

      Posted

      yeah, you're right, caffine is long gone.... screens are out.... regular bed times... I have great sleep hygiene. It doesn't work lol

      I'm sure it's the pred... makes my legs switch - and it's not like Restless leg sydrome, which I've had in the past - fixed with magnesium.

       

    • Silver49
      Silver49 EileenH

      Posted

      Oh, Eileen, I knew that so decided not to reply to you last night as you would know I was on my iPad. I did sleep though. 😀😀
    • Silver49
      Silver49 FlipDover_Aust

      Posted

      I thought you had. It's so difficult when we can't sleep as it is so much easier to face the day when we have a decent sleep. I struggle to function when deprived of sleep. I am retired and I don't know how you all manage to work with all that you have to cope with. Whereabouts are you in Australia? My childhood friend lives in Sydney..
    • FlipDover_Aust
      FlipDover_Aust Silver49

      Posted

      I'm in Canberra, the capital, about 3 hours south of Sydney. We go there occassionally as the shopping is crap here! lol

      People also go up to sydney for specialist treatment - in fact I had to go up to see my rheumy for my first appointment as I needed to get in urgently and couldn't wait for his monthly visit.

      I lived in Sydney in the early 80s and hated it. lol

    • FlipDover_Aust
      FlipDover_Aust fran2498

      Posted

      I've tried lots of herbal supplements and teas.. nothing works. I just want to go to bed and go to sleep - not lie there for hours getting crankier and crankier..... and there's no point getting up - it just starts again when I go back to bed later!
    • EileenH
      EileenH FlipDover_Aust

      Posted

      I've just been at a rheumatology conference in Whistler, Canada, as a patient research partner. I'm hoping I get invited to the next one - in Australia. They haven't decided where yet - Brisbane, Sydney or Perth seem likely. They promised it wouldn't be Wagga Wagga which I thought was a shame - I could have visited you! Of the other options, I haven't been to Perth and the west...
    • Silver49
      Silver49 FlipDover_Aust

      Posted

      My friend really likes Sydney. I haven't managed to visit her yet but she is due over here next year. What a long distance you have to travel when you are in pain and tired.
    • EileenH
      EileenH Silver49

      Posted

      Says she who lives in Scotland! People on the islands can need 3 days to visit a specialist on the mainland!
    • Silver49
      Silver49 EileenH

      Posted

      I know and where we live we have had to travel for specialist surgery for my OH and I had to find accommodation for the 10days! I think we just accept it as being part of living here. The islanders have even further to go but they usually fly depending on which island they live and the journey time is then not so long.
    • Silver49
      Silver49 EileenH

      Posted

      Just replied to you and can't understand why it is waiting to be moderated!
    • FlipDover_Aust
      FlipDover_Aust EileenH

      Posted

      If it's Sydney I could come up and meet you! When is it going to be held?
    • Silver49
      Silver49 FlipDover_Aust

      Posted

      It's a long way when in pain. Some of the children here have to travel long distances for treatment as do adults.
    • EileenH
      EileenH Silver49

      Posted

      When David had his surgery in Edinburgh I drove through every day! It was hellish! Still tolls on the bridge then too...
    • Silver49
      Silver49 EileenH

      Posted

      Yes. It would have been awful driving every day....exhausting both mentally and plysically as well as the emotional aspects of the surgery. It was Edinburgh OH was for surgery but as it was February the thought of driving every day was just too much. There was only one evening of snow, thankfully. Were you driving from Meigle?
    • EileenH
      EileenH Silver49

      Posted

      Yes, in December! No snow that I remember but there wasn't a lot of choice - people offered to look after the girls (10 and 13) but it never occurred to anyone at the time to offer to drive me over. However, the surgeon told us I was not to hang around the day of and day after the surgery - he'd call me from theatre when he'd finished and then when David was back on the ordinary ward, he didn't like his patients disturbed! We were both fine with that. My SIL thought I was mad - she called me during the surgery to ask how he was! Not sure how she thought I'd know at that stage.

      He was only in a week - he was determined to be home for Francesca's birthday to round off our annus horribilis: I'd broken my leg on her birthday the previous year! And he was...

    • Silver49
      Silver49 EileenH

      Posted

      I can understand why you had to drive every day. It's interesting how people's brains work.....or not. How easy it would have been for people to take turns to drive you and so much less tiring for you. Interesting how your SIL called you during the surgery. I have a story about my MIL like that where she actually phoned up the hospital and they must have thought it was me. Let's just say I was extremely annoyed. I had loads of offers to drive me over daily. Friends were so keen to offer any help but I am probably too independent. I had a feeling it would be touch and go and I was proved correct so was glad I had stayed. 
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