If a person experiences insomnia while taking prednisone, taking the medication in the morning may help minimize the disruption to the sleep-wake cycle. Alternatively, a doctor may suggest splitting the dose between morning and night.
Prednisone takes time to work, and some people are able to fall asleep before the effects of the medicine kick in. Unfortunately, others have medical conditions that require them to take prednisone twice daily. This is more effective, but it's more likely to cause side effects, including insomnia.
If possible, try not to lay down for a few hours after a dose of prednisone to avoid symptoms of heartburn.
Steroids do not tend to cause significant side effects if they're taken for a short time or at a low dose. But sometimes they can cause unpleasant side effects, such as an increased appetite, mood changes and difficulty sleeping (insomnia). This is most common with steroid tablets.
DO NOT take melatonin with corticosteroids or other medications used to suppress the immune system.
Using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and salicylates such as aspirin may increase the risk of toxicity and gastrointestinal side effects when taken with corticosteroids.
Prednisone has a tendency to raise the level of glucose, or sugar, in the blood, which can cause increased body fat or diabetes in some people. It is important to avoid "simple" carbohydrates and concentrated sweets, such as cakes, pies, cookies, jams, honey, chips, breads, candy and other highly processed foods.
Sleep disturbance: Prednisone keeps some people awake. This is because it affects the hormones that help you feel energized (cortisol) and sleepy (melatonin). So it's common for people to report difficulty sleeping while they're taking prednisone.
Key facts. It's best to take prednisolone tablets or liquid once a day in the morning so it does not keep you awake. The most common side effects are problems sleeping, weight gain and indigestion.
The best thing you can do to minimize side effects from taking prednisone is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. That means eating smart, exercising regularly and getting plenty of sleep. While taking prednisone, you should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, and add supplements to your diet.
If a person experiences insomnia while taking prednisone, taking the medication in the morning may help minimize the disruption to the sleep-wake cycle. Alternatively, a doctor may suggest splitting the dose between morning and night.
Getting plenty of rest is also essential. This can be difficult because prednisone can interfere with sleep. One way to cope is to improve your sleep hygiene. This includes avoiding food and electronics before bedtime and sleeping in a cool, dark room.
If symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever or unusual digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation) occur during corticosteroid therapy, notify your physician.
It mimics the stress hormone cortisol. When taken for extended periods, prednisone interferes with the body's natural production of cortisol. As a result, it is not recommended to stop prednisone abruptly. Doing so can cause body aches, fatigue, fever, and other uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
Since steroids cause your body to retain more water, it's also common to experience urinary frequency, says Kaplan. Just knowing that this can potentially happen — and that it will soon pass — can help.
Frequent urination isn't the most common side effect of prednisone, but it's also not unheard of. One member said, “When I take prednisone or budesonide, I urinate much more frequently, which is a known side effect of steroids.
A 5-day course of prednisone can cause short-term side effects, including changes in mood, appetite, sleep, and energy. The severity of the side effects depends on the dose of prednisone. Low doses are less likely to cause adverse effects than high doses of prednisone.
This medicine may cause changes in mood or behavior for some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you have depression, mood swings, a false or unusual sense of well-being, trouble with sleeping, or personality changes while taking this medicine.
Prednisone generally works very quickly — usually within one to four days — if the prescribed dose is adequate to reduce your particular level of inflammation. Some people notice the effects of prednisone hours after taking the first dose.
If you are taking Prednisone just once a day, take it in the morning with breakfast. The morning is best as it mimics the timing of your body's own production of cortisone. Taking your dose of prednisone too late in the evening may cause difficulty sleeping.
Take prednisolone with breakfast so it does not upset your stomach. Taking prednisolone in the morning also means it's less likely to affect your sleep. If your prednisolone tablets are labelled as "enteric coated" or "gastro resistant", you can take these with or without food but make sure to swallow them whole.
Prednisone affects areas of the brain that manage the regulation of different neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine — the “feel-good” hormones. Feeling happy is a great side effect some people feel with prednisone. Other responses are more menacing, especially if you don't know what to expect.
Fluid retention can cause weight gain but as steroids are reduced, fluids will usually reduce as well, along with some of the weight gain. Drinking plenty of water and exercising can help with fluid retention.
Your symptoms may be a return of inflammation, not withdrawal. Tapering too quickly can cause a flare to happen. If your disease flares, you may need to go back to a higher steroid dose for a short time to get the inflammation under control.
Steroids may increase your risk of developing ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding, especially if you take these medications along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or aspirin. If at all possible, don't combine steroids with NSAIDs.