Prednisone and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Jeh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2016

For Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia "Second time with AIH, first time about 7 years ago and it wasn't caught until my hemoglobin had bottomed out. In the hospital for about a week and on a drip for a few days, then 90 mg of prednisone for a month, then a year, had the moon face, weight gain, and insomnia until I got down to about 10 mg, reducing. Got to 5 mg, but it starts again, so moved up to 50 for 2 weeks and a few more months reducing. Finally stopped and stayed stopped until a few months ago. Back on 50 mg for a week, then it seemed to turn around, but dropped to 30 mg and it started up, so on 40 mg but still see evidence of RBC destruction, so will see what's happening in 2 days on a new testing. Side effects so far this time: insomnia, mood swings, short of breath, irritability, and mo."

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2020

For Sinusitis "Update: side effects of prednisone were weight gain (temporarily), anxiety, insomnia, difficulty concentrating. These issues began to clear days after the end of treatment. My initial post was 10/10 on December 30th. The latter side effects are difficult and interrupt daily life the most, depending on your daily routine and work responsibilities. Exercise was extremely easy, and my lungs felt great, so I was able to run and continue weightlifting during the entire treatment. See December 30th for full treatment dosage. From 10/10 to 7/10, good for short-term use (x"

• not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2017

For Ulcerative Colitis "I had my first UC flare at the end of March, lost 40 lbs, and was bleeding so badly I was hospitalized on IV prednisone for 7 days. My symptoms remained. I've been on 40 mg prednisone for 4 weeks now together with Lialda. I finally stopped bleeding 2 weeks ago, but it has not been a fast process, a wonder drug for me. My doc took me off Lialda because she is not convinced it is working. I am still on 40 mg prednisone and the pain is still there, not as severe though, and I go 3-5 times a day and about the same at night. Side effects: weight gain on belly and moon face, peeling skin, neck and leg pain, heart palpitations, and a hard time sleeping."

• ina...
• September 28, 2018

For Immunosuppression "60 mg for 10 days for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL). Fully effective. Within 8 hours of first dose, hearing distortion/loss and 'something in my ear' feeling gone. Side effects: - First day only, elevated heart rate (103 bpm vs. 60 bpm) and eyes felt scratchy. - Insomnia: 2 - 6 hours of sleep per night. Melatonin helped. - Brain fog: walked around in a daze most of the time. - Face numbness. - Eye issues: eyes swollen and tight. Vision like looking through pinholes. - Abdominal swelling: bloated feeling (no gas). - Lower leg swelling/tightness: had to keep socks off because they hurt my feet. Positive note, skin issues cleared up. If you have sudden hearing loss, noise, and a feeling that something's in your ear, go to the emergency room. If you have SSNHL, you only have a few days to start treatment. Otherwise, the hearing issues could be permanent."

• Cry...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2017

For Ulcerative Colitis "Brought my severe pancolitis into remission. Had to have 40 mg through the vein, then moved on to tablets to wean off. Prednisone saved my life but also has the worst side effects I have ever experienced. Use with caution and only in dire circumstances. Side effects for me included a massive moon face (this facial swelling goes down after you start reducing the dose), face and body acne, severe and shocking anxiety and depression, paranoia and psychosis, joint pain, hot flushes, trouble sleeping, and tons of nervous energy. It is worse the higher the dose. Wean off slowly. Withdrawal symptoms are just as bad, if not worse."

• Sar...
• July 9, 2018

For Crohn's Disease, Active "I have been recently diagnosed with Crohn's disease. I was advised to start Humira injections, but I was too scared. So, I decided to go for Prednisolone. I began with 40 mg per day. Symptoms of Crohn's soon improved, but the side effects of prednisone itself were really, really nasty. I have lightheadedness, spinning in my head, weakness of muscles, unable to walk normally, blurred vision, dryness of eyes and mouth, shaking hands, insomnia, increased appetite, skin rash, panic-like attacks. I eventually got Humira and am now tapering down the Prednisolone. I've been on Prednisolone for more than a month."

• mjm...
• May 24, 2015

For Ulcerative Colitis "I was hospitalized three times last year for ulcerative colitis and severe anemia. I had tried Asacol, sulfasalazine, and nothing worked. I was afraid to try the prednisone, and when I finally did, it helped immediately. I could kick myself for waiting so long and almost dying from blood loss before I got it. The side effects that I had were insomnia, feeling wired and roid ragey, and after 7 months on it, I gained around 50 lbs. It gives you the mad munchies. It's not a long-term fix because of the long-term health risks: diabetes, vision loss, hump neck, weight gain, and it also suppresses your immune system. Remicade worked for me while I was on prednisone, but once I tapered off, I had the most terrible joint pain, arthralgia, and edema."

• Mon...
• November 20, 2015

For Epicondylitis, Tennis Elbow "A few weeks ago, I took prednisone for 5 days. I have a pretty bad case of tennis elbow (can't open a can, comb my hair, turn the doorknob, tie my shoes...). I took 50 mg the first day, 40 mg the second day, etc. The only thing I can tell is I had a hard time sleeping for the first two days of treatment. Other than that, it was like taking a placebo. Absolutely no difference, still in pain. I am surprised and puzzled."

• Hat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I have been given prednisone for a bout of poison ivy and another time for bronchitis. Each time I am unable to sleep, concentrate, and have insane pain in my legs. I hate this stuff. It makes me feel like I'm flaring. So much joint pain. But my sickness gets better, so I suck it up."

• Pli...
• September 2, 2020

For Allergic Reactions "Was put on 60 mg prednisone for 4 days due to an allergic reaction to penicillin. Day one was okay, day two insomnia, increased anxiety, and hot flashes. Day three mental mood changes including depressed mood, a crying spell, and more severe anxiety to the point I thought I was going crazy, my heart rate was elevated as well. Stopped the medication, and over the course of 2 days, I’m slowly feeling better, perhaps a lower dose would have been better."

• Jim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2019

For Gouty Arthritis "Have recurrent gout in the foot area (not toe). Prednisone begins working almost right away. By the second day, the pain is gone, and I can walk normally. I cannot take NSAIDs because I am on blood thinners, so prednisone is ideal for me. The only side effect I notice is mild insomnia at bedtime."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2020

For Allergic Reactions "I was given prednisone 50 mg for 5 days due to a contact allergic reaction all over my body. After 2 hours, the itch subsided greatly, and the rash slowly disappeared. I did become very anxious, then tired. After sleeping for two hours, insomnia kicked in, and I was up for 4 hours. After the initial problems, it seems to be working great. Remember to take it at the same time every day. I was one hour late, and the rash came right back."

• b a...
• December 2, 2015

For Inflammatory Bowel Disease "I experienced trembling, nervousness, weight gain, facial flushing, mood swings, puffy face and neck, leg and foot cramps, and loss of sleep. I was on this drug for 5 months. My stool improved somewhat on the high dose (40 mg), but when my dose was slowly decreased, my diarrhea and stomach pain increased. Now that I am completely off prednisone, I am back to square one. This product was not effective for me."

• Kay...
• May 19, 2017

For Asthma "First of all, if you don't need to take this drug, please do yourself a favor and don't start the dose. I wish I had read reviews before starting the dose, as I look back, antibiotics should have been sufficient for my symptoms - I only had acute bronchitis. The problem came when I completed my dose, and the withdrawal symptoms kicked in. I started shaking, couldn't see clearly, my heart started beating fast, very anxious, couldn't sleep, felt like I was literally losing it! Almost ended up in the ER, but following other reviews, I decided to find ways to relax and not think about what was happening: yoga, meditation, playing sleep music, and that's how I managed it. My advice for you: stay away from this drug, and if you're trying to get off it, do your best to relax."

• Dar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2019

For Sinusitis "I was prescribed prednisone for sinus infection and ear blockage. My wife told me I didn't need a steroid. I was prescribed this by an urgent care 'doctor.' I was given a 14-day antibiotic and the steroid. While taking the steroid for 12 days, I gained 6 lbs, had severe insomnia every night, diarrhea 2 or 3 times a day, no energy at all. I was extremely irritable and very difficult to be around. I should've listened to my wife and requested what works for me, Z-Pak, and went on my way. No more doc in a box for me and no more prednisone."

• Ren...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "This medicine, prednisone, has made me feel bad from day 2. Not sleeping, nauseous, shortness of breath, and feeling bad EVERY DAY. I will take a shot if I ever have to take this again. The side effects are true. It's not worth it to be on this medicine!"

• Pet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2023

For Sinusitis "I am currently experiencing a terrible bout of sinusitis and am unable to breathe through my nose, which causes me a great deal of anxiety as I am not a mouth breather. I was unable to get any meaningful sleep. My doctor put me on an 8-day plan of prednisone with a dosage of 4-10 mg for 2 days, followed by 3-10 mg for 2 days. I am on day 4 of the treatment, and my breathing has improved greatly. The side effects can be tough for a few days, including anxiety, depression, and lack of sleep. I have not slept in 30 hours and took 2 lorazepam to calm my anxiety, which seems to be working. I am hoping to have a decent night's sleep. If I ever have to take this treatment again, I will because I cannot tolerate the symptoms of not being able to breathe."

• Mar...
• October 14, 2017

For Pharyngitis "Well, I'm on day one of taking prednisone for mono and strep throat. This would be the fourth time taking prednisone. I was sick for two days. Had horrible body aches, chills, fever, cold sweats, everything to do with strep and mono. The doctor prescribed me prednisone, and I start feeling better less than an hour after taking it. The only downside is you can't sleep. Other than that, I like the drug because it wipes out the disease fast. It's heavy duty, but should not be taken for a long time as it destroys your immune system. It's great for short-term use, though."

• Ash...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 28, 2021

For Asthma "I use prednisone twice a year. Spring and winter. I get a cold, and then I end up with a chest infection. My combined inhaler, Fostair, helps briefly, but the short burst steroid treatment usually works. I usually take 40 mg for 5 days, see if it makes a difference. If not, I then take a second dosage, another 40 mg for 5 days, which usually does the trick. I do get side effects like jittery, insomnia if taken in the evening, and I get a bit wired, where I talk a lot and cannot sit still. Moon face with lots of water retention, and the last time I ended up with a UTI, but that's because I went into a paddling pool on my last day of taking back-to-back steroid treatment."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2021

For Eczema "I believe it's helping my late-in-life (50+) diagnosis of eczema, though I'm concerned about the immunosuppressant aspect (especially now - August 2021). Itching definitely improved after just 1-2 days. I'm taking a medium to low(ish) dose (10 mg per day) and hope to taper off soon and use topical pred. and the other OTC tools mentioned here and elsewhere. I also prefer a lower dose because I get too much insomnia at higher doses (20-40)."

• Rom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2024

For Skin Rash "I developed an acute full-body rash after using an Old Spice body wash. The rash spread fast and got worse over the next few days when I tried to treat it at home. Got a prescription for methylprednisone for a week, which had no effect. My dermatologist suggested a two-week course of prednisone. I was TERRIFIED after reading all the side effects and waited another week before developing enough courage to try it. Once I took the first dose, I could see the dermatitis start to go down, and it improved with each day I took the medicine. It was the only thing that worked and a lifesaver. The dosage I was on was 60, 60, 60, 40, 40, 40, 20, 20, 20, 10, 10, 10, 5, 5. I think all the side effects I had initially were caused by my own anxiety of taking the meds (i.e., insomnia, nervousness)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2016

For Allergic Reactions "On the second day, I have severe bloating and gas, also major insomnia."

• hat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 21, 2012

For Lymphoma "Taken on days following R-CHOP therapy, and it is an emotional roller coaster at higher doses (100 mg per day). However, it did keep inflammation down. I felt very awake and edgy."

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2024

For Fibromyalgia "This is the only medication that helps my fibromyalgia when it is out of control. To me, it's like a miracle drug! The only thing is you're unable to get much sleep."

• Oh ...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 16, 2022

For Cluster Headaches "Immediate relief. Not just a masking, but a solution. Personally, I experience trouble sleeping, but no other downside."