Can't Sleep

[Paulah28]

Okay....so I am on pred once again but this problem has been on going long before I started this pred taper. Ye sit has gotten a lot worse with the pred but I cannot take it anymore. I have not slept in what feels like weeks. Due to pain I can take Vicoden which seems to contribute to not sleeping so I end up taking tylenol pm every night and the vicoden also when needed. With all the other meds I am on I hate taking more just so I can sleep. What do you do to help get real sleep? I have stopped teh caffine after lunch, been reading before trying to sleep and nothing is working.....HELP!!!!

 

[Nyx]

What time do you take your prednisone? I found if I took it at about 6am I could manage about 4 hours of sleep after midnight. I also found meditation worked rather well too.

 

[Paulah28]

I had not thought of that. I take it at the same time I take all the other meds...after dinner. Should I skip tonights dose and jus take it in the morning?

 

[Nyx]

I wouldn't skip it...take it tonight, then in the morning

 

[CrohnsHobo]

I always take the pred in the morning with breakfast.

That being said I have a horrible time sleeping. It takes me a long time to fall asleep, and when I am asleep it is a very light sleep.

Currently I take a Percocet and Tyleonl PM every night and some nights I am still laying in bed for hours before I fall asleep.

Next week I see my GP and I am going to ask for some Lunesta or other non-narcotic sleep aid.

 

[InkyStinky]

I know you said you don't want to take more meds, but if taking the pred in the morning does help enough you might want to ask your doc about a prescription sleep aid. Although I really didn't want to be taking another pill (!!!), my doc started me on trazodone last month after I told him the pred was really messing with my sleep. It has really helped me alot - I don't toss and turn anywhere near as much, and when I wake up in the night I'm able to fall back asleep. The first few weeks I slept but it didn't really feel restful - now I'm pretty close to "natural" feeling sleep. The way I look at it: taking meds stinks, but not sleeping is worse!

 

[theend2]

You have to take it in the morning or you will never sleep.

 

[Lydia]

I try to fall asleep for an hour and if I cant I take a gravol. Seems to work just fine for me.

 

[ameslouise]

I agree that taking the pred in the morning is the better way to go.

Benedryl always knocks me out if I am having trouble sleeping, but I have been lucky with this round of pred. Still sleeping like a baby.

 

[Daydreamer88]

I used to ALWAYS take it at night so the dr put me on Ambien. I've been on it for 2 years now and haven't had any negative side effects. I used to do the exact same thing though with the vicodin and tylenol pm. You should STOP doing that though. It has potential liver failure side effects if you continue that. Try to get on Ambein maybe to try it. but ALWAYS take your pred. in the morning.

 

[Paulah28]

Hey guys....thanks for the info. I will stop with the vic/tylenol combo. My GI is on vacation but I see him on Wednesday and will ask about the sleep aid. Until then I think I will just take the tylenol pm and keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Rob]

Try a hot bath/shower before bed i always found this relaxes me before bed

 

[Astra]

Yeah Paula
I take my Pred every morning at 6.30am or 7am and find that I can get to sleep just after midnight, insomnia is a killer, I was only getting 2-3 hours sleep at high doses, I now take Herbal Nytol every other night, it's brill, and no grogginess next morning
good luck!
xxx

 

[seb]

Hi, i take my pred about 6..0am , my dr said not to take it in the arvo as otherwise will be up all night

 

[Jonhenry]

Ask your dr for a script for mild dose of remeron. Antidepressant, works great for sleep and makes you have an appetite, not to mention slowing down the GI tract. Pills to fix other problems from pills I Know lol. Good combo for me, my bipolar meds help my crohns meds.

 

[InkyStinky]

Pills to fix other problems from pills I Know lol

Me too! :ytongue:

I also do some stretches before bed - I like this routine: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/express/10-minute/stretches-to-help-you-sleep/ (if you click on "Print all Slides" you can view the whole thing without all the pop-ups). I don't think they help me sleep exactly, but they redirect my manic-pred mind towards thoughts of sleep!