Pred Insomnia

[Ellie]

It's well known, and well documented, that prednisone can cause insomnia, but what I can't figure out is how it knows you're horizontal?

Sitting on the couch about 10pm, bit of a yawn fest happening, take some pain killers and some temaze (all of which should cause sleepiness) but lo and behold, within 15 mins of lying down, I'm wide awake and raring to go!

Why prednisone, why would you do that to a girl?!?!

[MikeG-2012]

It's well known, and well documented, that prednisone can cause insomnia, but what I can't figure out is how it knows you're horizontal?

Sitting on the couch about 10pm, bit of a yawn fest happening, take some pain killers and some temaze (all of which should cause sleepiness) but lo and behold, within 15 mins of lying down, I'm wide awake and raring to go!

Why prednisone, why would you do that to a girl?!?!

A few things that helped me at night.

First, pred is in the bathroom and gets taken the minute I get up--even before I use the bathroom.

Second, melatonin helps a little.

Also, sleep at night only in your bed. Naps are on the couch, spare room, etc. Your body will learn that your main bed is for sleeping. No TV in that room either. A good book always makes me tired, especially if reading under light that is just bright enough to read.

Exhaustion on helps too! (-8. Seriously, earlier in the evening, go do something that gives you a little exercise-- not so much that you are wired from it, just enough to wear you out a LITTLE BIT.

i feel eel your pain, trust me. It doesn't just happen to you girls! (-8

[mishb]

I'm the same, so so tired and can easily fall asleep in my comfy chair for a nana nap, but once I lay down I can't sleep.

What about going to bed and sleeping on an incline/propped up.
I haven't tried it but I wonder if this would work

[MCC]

are you taking it first thing in the morning? Don't take it in the evening/afternoon as then your body has not had a bit of time for it to wear off before you try and sleep.At high doses I still found I was going to bed much later though, but it did help.

[vdub]

I don't fight it. I stay awake whenever and go to bed whenever. But I'm retired, so that is a luxury that isn't available to everyone.

[MCC]

I don't fight it. I stay awake whenever and go to bed whenever. But I'm retired, so that is a luxury that isn't available to everyone.

Yes actually that is just what I did. At my worst I was going to bed at midnight and getting up at 4am.
But for me, it wasn't a case of even feeling like I needed sleep, I felt quite superhuman and energetic, so it didn't bother me that much!

(I was working full time also.)

[PJ2010]

Hi.

Ive not been on Prednisolone for 2 years and I still have a very disrupted sleep pattern. To ensure I get enough sleep each night I go to bed at 7pm and I find myself awake somewhere between 11pm to 1am. I then get up and usually have a glass of milk and maybe something to eat, watch TV for a few hours and then return to bed and sleep soundly until morning.

I used to take sleepers and try to force my body to sleep the night. Eventually I learned that behaviour to be counter productive as I struggled through the following day at work.

Ive found just letting my body do its natural thing and adjusting my life to suit, that I'm getting enough sleep to function well through the day.

This is my acquired habit bought on by the meds we have to take.

[Wegetarian]

Pretty much in the same boat... I take 80mg in the mornings, and after that I'm wide awake till the afternoon. I think I've slept around 5 hours per night. I often take some melatonin if I don't feel sleepy, then I sleep for like two hours. Take a snack and if its still long till morning and I don't feel sleepy I'll take some temazepan and maybe sleep another 2-3 hours.

For some reason I don't feel as crazy as I did last year when I was on high pred. I could even read a book and I think I understood what I read, while I had a lot tougher time to focus on anything last time I was taking 80mg. Maybe the 1000mg I took for 3 days at the hospital makes my body think that 80 isn't so bad at all.

BTW, I usally look at the jokes on 9GAG - Why So Serious? when I can't sleep. A little laughter never hurts Although I might end up spending more time there than I intended..

[Michael Bell]

I work 12 hour shifts, days one week nights the next. Sleeeping in the day is always a problem for me but I seem to be able to cope on 5 hours sleep so concider myself very lucky.
Mike

[Jaypfei]

I'd use my sleepless nights to craft or read. I actually made an afghan in one week! I still go through one or two days where I feel like I'm wired and the crash on the third day. Yep, it's annoying, but I've learned to just deal with it. I keep a steady supply of melatonin, sleepy time tea and essential oils lavender on hand.
I also take prednisone in the morning and as much as I want to just lounge, I make myself stay busy during the day.