Sleep aid when using Prednisone

You should be fine. Have you tried Tylenol PM? THat helps me too...

If you cannot sleep with any of those, see if your doc will give you something like Ambien. I have Ambien CR for when I have terrible insomnia nights. But, be prepared to sleep at least 8 hours when you take it. I take it on the weekends only when I know I can get at least 8 hours of solid sleep.

pb4 said...
Well you don't want to have to rely on a sleep aid though...if you take your pred very first thing in the early am then that will more than likely put an end to your insomnia...pred typically causes insomnia when taken too late in the day. It can cause rading mind which adds to insomnia...the early in the mornings you take it the better off you'll be.

:)

True PB. And this was true for me the first time I took Pred. I will say that it was NOT true the 2nd time I took Pred, and to the OP, just a note that I actually found it was better for me (this time) to take the Pred at bedtime. I don't suffer as much with insomnia now.

I also should add that I do other things BEFORE considering sleeping aids.... I do Suduko puzzles and watch Nick at Nite to wind down... it gets my mind off things and with taking the Pred at night, it has helped...

So, try taking early morning for a week or so, if the insomnia is still there, consider trying taking it at night.

I may have jumped the gun on sleeping aids there.... for me I only need the aid occasionally... and it's on those nights where I'm just wired period. I have a few other issues I'm battling at the same time... so I cannot 100% blame the pred on my insomnia.... I suffer a great deal of anxiety right now which has magnified the insomnia factor for me..

Hang in there! But DO make sure you are resting....your body needs it.... Pred at high doses tends to make me run 100 miles a minute... The first time I was on Pred, I reorganized my ENTIRE house...to the point of sorting my husbands and I's clothes from sizes to sleeve length and color, etc.... the food pantry the same. I'm a "clean" and fairly organized, but not to that extreme! It was SO hard for me to calm down....

I agree you should take it very early in the morning. I am on it right now and I usually wake up once in the night, usually around 3 am and I take the Pred then. It helps to avoid the insomnia. Tylenol PM has Benedryl in it, so if you were to take something just take the Benedryl. I have taken it on occasion when needed to help with insomnia. I personally do not care for the taste of Chamomile tea. JMHO

Do you enjoy reading? I have found that when I curl up in bed with a book I get sleepy alot quicker. I don't know if it's because the act of doing so tires your eyes/mind out or what, but it puts me to sleep pretty quickly. My first go with pred I couldn't sleep either, I hope you find a solution :).