Hi everyone,
I have been taking 40 mg of Pred every other day for several weeks now and have had wonderful results from it. Most days I feel almost like my old self!!! I have been lucky so far and haven't had many side effects from it however I am having TERRIBLE insomnia. I have always slept a minimum of 8 1/2 to 9 hours per night and now I am lucky if I sleep 5 or 6. As good as I feel my body is exhausted. It is such a strange feeling because no matter how sleepy I am it is like my body just keeps going. At times I feel like the Energizer bunny. I don't have trouble going to sleep, my problem is being able to stay asleep. I am usually in bed around 10:00PM and wake up about 1:00 and then again somewhere between 3:00 and 6:00 and cannot go back to sleep no matter how long I lay there. Do any of you on Pred have this problem and is there anything you can take to help you sleep? I do take 1 mg of Melatonin about an hour before I go to bed but that just isn't working anymore. Like I said I feel so good and feel like if I could get a good nights sleep I would feel great. I see my Neuro on Tues. and plan to talk with him about it but wondered if others have found anything that works. I know MGer's can't take most sleeping meds or sedatives but need some advice here!!!

first, it's great that you are doing so well on the prednisone.

and most likely you will do even better, once you have a good night sleep.


prednisone can cause insomnia, but those are things that can help (if you haven't done them yet)-

take the prednisone in the early hours of the morning. try even 6:00 AM.

try to have a relaxed evening and relaxed enviroment in your bed-room, with a sort of "fixed" schedule (like we do with our little kids, where they have a certain routine each night).

try to eat a light meal for dinner, with a sip of alcohol ( I am talking about a small sip or two, if it is not contraindicated for other reasons, no more).


and hopefully your dose will be gradually decreased and then it will get better.

alice

Pred can really turn up the energy... some people can get very hyper from it. I wouldn't use alcohol however, because of risk to the stomach.

I'd try upping the Melatonin to 3 mg at night. I know the studies show 1mg or less works, but really it doesn't for me. I use 3mg.

You should be getting your blood sugar checked also at those doses periodically since Pred can raise blood sugar.

I'm having somewhat the same problem. I take 60 mg about 8:00 am and my problem is falling asleep. I have started taking Tylenol PM about 1 hour before I plan on going to bed and it seems to help. I notice the nights I forget to take it, I lie awake for about 2-3 hours.

Good luck - Hope you find something that works for you!

Alice,
Yes it is great to actually have some energy again and I have no doubt you are right about a good nights sleep making me feel even better.

I am doing most of the things you mentioned except for a couple of sips of alcohol. I will give that a try. Thanks so much.
Kendra

Mrs D,
I would say I am bordering on hyper. My house hasn't been this clean in months. I was in my kitchen the other day rearranging dishes and thinking it hasn't been that long ago that loading the dishwasher drained every bit of energy I had.
I will try upping the Melatonin a little. I have tried taking 3 mg and it seems to make me nervous and jittery but I could try 2 mg.

They do run labs on me reguarly. Thanks for the info.
Kendra

Juanitad,
It is sooo frustrating isn't it? I don't have any trouble falling asleep but I wake up after about 5 or 6 hours wide awake even though my body knows it hasn't had enough sleep. I am glad the Tylenol PM is working for you!!!
Thanks,
Kendra

Hi Kendra,
I too have insomnia problems. Pred has been re-increased from 5 to 30 mg/d and this time, like 2 years ago, I barely sleep at night.
I'm presently using homeopathy with good results, 2 tablets under the tongue, 1 hr after supper, are adequate for me.
As the product is french, I give you its composition:
Aconitum napellus
Belladona
Calendula
Chelidonium majus
Abrus precatorius
Viburnum opulus
All components at 6CH.
Maurice.

Hi Maurice,
I am barely sleeping at night either and am miserable. I just don't know how people deal with this. I saw my neuro Tues and he upped my Pred to 60 mg every other day. I told him about my sleeping problems and he gave me some samples of Lunesta but even they aren't working. I am becoming desperate for sleep. I appreciate your info and will look the ingredients up to see if I can find something similar here in the US.
Thanks,
Kendra

hey kendra,
i have similar problems sleeping, but thus far i am still getting enough cuz i get to sleep in late....but i too lay in bed for hours...or i fall into a light half sleep...ask your dr about an herbal pill called kava kava, or kava root....its readily available at most health food stores...i used it when i was younger....i have no idea if it is ok for mg...but its really good...
jess