Hi Everyone!
I have been on 20mg of prednisone for 2 years now. The dosage was increased progressively. I have always had bad sleeping habits but it seems like now, being on the prednisone for so long, it's gotten worse.
Any thoughts on this med and the effects it has on your sleeping patterns?
Thanks!
Prednisone if infamous for depriving you of sleep at night. A great sleep aid is Lunesta, its non habit forming, and you will sleep like a baby and not feel droggy the next day.
When I took Prednisone, I also gained weight, had mood swings and became extremely grumpy. My mother is also on Prednison for her terminal illness, When I go to visit, I always prepare my self, she could be either Mary Poppins, or Hitler. Its always best for me to wear garlic around my neck.
HiHI LOVIE
Well I was on enbrel shots 2 times a week, 400mg celebrex,800mg lodine, 400mg plaquinel,15mg of prednisone 25mg of arava. I was doing really good and about 1 1/2 months ago I had a really bad flare up were I coulnt walk nothing wanted to work so know everything is still the same but know I am on remicade no more enbrel. Going for my third transfusion on the 7th feeling a little better so I hope by the 4th transfusions I can cut back on the meds.
Lee
Dawn I take Humira weekly and 25mg of MTX. I'm in pretty good control. I've just come off of a three week break from all my meds due to an infection....but I'm not doing bad at all everything considered. I've recently discovered that all of my back pain are probable due to recently dx'ed OA in my spine....and that's been difficult for me to deal with lately. I've also got soemthing called Spina Bifita Occulta that I know little about....but have an appointment in January to deal with these back problems.
I've never used predisone continuously at all. It was the first drug used to get be back on my feet....but even that first coarse was short lived. About two months that first time. I've always responded well to DMARDS. Even the weaker DMARDS like sulfersalizine and plaquenil worked well for me for many years. So many are not that lucky. Those are usually the one that end up on continuous predisone use. My doctors (I've had 3 in 12 years) never wanted me to rely on it; and would only prescribe it for me during difficult flairs in conjunction with cortisone injections (Those are my favoirte for isolated problems). I'm also had to use it during times when I couldn't take my regular meds.
I've accepted the fact that I'll never be pain free; but I'm fortunate in the respect that I am still fairly mobile. I work a regular job...although by the time I get home I often can barely stand. In my opinion...that's managing fairly well. I have to accept that I can only do so much in a day. I think the fact that I work and can contribute to my family finances helps me deal with alot of things as far as my home life. I often feel so bad that by the time I get home I honestly can not take anymore. Often I'll end up in bed laying on the heating pad....wrapped up in my warming blanket practically in tears. I HATE not being able to contribute to my home like I use to.....but then I stop to think about what all I've done during the day; and the contribution I'm bringing in every month and that helps me accept that it's ok for my Husband, daughter and son to manage the dinner for the night or mop the kitchen floor.
So many of my friends here and at RAFriends have to depend on predisone to just be able to walk. Unfortunately it's very common....none of them want to do it; but they also want to be able to get out of bed so there isn't much of an alternative. We all do what we have to do to make the most of this life that we've been given.
The less you can take daily....the better off you'll be in the long run. Even 5mg less daily will be better for you. I'd definately talk to your doctor about your concerns and ask him to work with you on at the very least cutting back if possible. It's not easy...but once your body adjust; it can be done. You have to prepare yourself for a temperary low spell. It might take more pain meds to manage for a little while; while you readjust. NOTE: I have no experience with weaning off of predisone....but I have many friends that do. I'm just repeating what I've heard from them. I know their daily struggles with it.
Hang in there.
Dawn and "Hatehavingra" - Checked with my friend who was on Pred for a couple years and finally weaned off when her autoimmune Dermatomyositis Anti-Jo-1 went into remission. Here's what she wrote me re sleeping pills and Pred:
They released me from the hospital with 60 mg Pred per day. I took Ambien plus Doxepin to help me sleep. Some of the people I talked with took 50 mg of ambien. I took 10mg ambien and 30 of doxepin. When I went off Pred I could not take that sleeping med as it was too strong. Now I take 3 mg of Lunesta. It is ok. I like it. Some nights are better than others. Hope this helps.
Although her disease isn't RA, it's extremely rare. Took forever for her to get the right diagnosis - until she went to a university rheumatologist. I can relate to the Hitler/Mary Poppins personality - she was both of those when on Pred. When she came off the Pred, oh dear, a real challenge. Today she looks and acts perfectly normal.
I just like everone else who has this disease knows how devistating you feel after running around all day and you get home and all you can think of is getting in bed. Then you have your family who needs your attention and you are so pooped. Then you feel guilty
TAKE CARE
DAWN