Unfortunately it can make you super hyper. I was on it for over a year several different times. It is effective but the side effects are awful.

If you are on it for long term then you might need something to help with sleep. I was on a high dose for an ear thing, then did a taper that took a while. Benedryl helped me but some will say that makes them hyper. Only you know yourself and how you react. So depending on if you are taking a dose pack and it is 6 days or need it for a longer time, you and your doctor need to decide what will help you with sleep. Just call them and ask. Hope you feel better really soon.

I think every MD should offer a sleep aid medication when prescribing Prednisone.

I also think every MD should offer a probiotic when prescribing an antibiotic.

Why the H NOT?

My best advice, tolerate it. Catch up on reading. Try to tolerate it to avoid being over-medicated? Your body is already on high alert. I speak from experience. Get well!

I don't need a sleep aid with it... is why the H not. That is, not everyone needs it :) All right, almost everyone else needs it. And some people can tolerate the not sleeping part since it's typically only a short time. If someone does want a sleep aid, their physician likely will give them a prescription. Just ask.

What about an appetite suppressant when you get steroids too? I also don't need that! Most everyone else does. I'm beginning to think steroids make me "normal". I just came off 21 days of steroids. I made it! Surgery is coming up. I've been to the other specialist (from 7:30AM-1PM yesterday. ALL of the time was in testing. Loads of needles, up and down both arms. Taking stuff that caused awful reactions before...). heavy sigh. I wish magic wands worked.

I hope things work out for you Rob333.

Best wishes to you, rob

Rob, I just read your message. I hope they find whatever is ailing you.

I took a prednisone one time. I fell asleep and slept for over 12 hours straight. Needless to say, I won't take another one.

(((((Rob333)))

Last time I had to take predisone, my house was never cleaner. I purged like none other. LOL

Hope everything works out well for you Rob!

Prednisone is not for me either. It makes my insides shake and I feel like Herman Munster. I didn't feel in control of my own body--not something I want to experience again.

All the best to you, Rob

I've only been given prednisone once; in December when I had such a severe case of bronchitis that they were sure was pneumonia.

It wasn't pneumonia after all and I had a 10 day treatment of prednisone along with a 2 month breathing treatment.

Even after I finished the prednisone I still couldn't sleep. I chalked it up to the breathing treatment I had to take every 6 hours.

Once I discontinued that medicine, I got better sleep.

Bottom line being I can't be certain what caused my sleeplessness, the prednisone or the albuterol. Maybe albuterol takes a few days to get out of your system; I don't know.

What I do know is that I prefer my body medication free!!!!

I hope you can figure out the non-sleeping thing. I don't sleep well without adding any medicinal complications. I was on two rounds of prednisone last spring for inner ear/sinus problems. It worked amazingly well. It really is a miracle drug. It really does have terrible side effect.

Rob, I hope your drs can figure out what's going on and you have a swift and complete recovery.

Robb, you are in my thoughts and prayers; I hope you will feel much better, very soon.

And you are in mine Mrs. W!

I have to tell y'all what level of care I am getting, because it's just so cool. I came to work at the medical center where I have been a longstanding patient because of the way I was treated. The physician who did the testing on Wednesday, is coming by MY office to check out the progress. Normally, one would just send a picture on to them, but she's coming here. It's all on track and I am in good hands. They will fix my health, one way or another.

Back in June 2011 I had to take it for ear infection. I sent this to my sister, a nurse, because I thought she might give me more information about the reaction I had to it. I kept a copy to put in my medical file since the reaction was so dramatic.

Well the steroid pill, Prednisone, really helped clear up the closed ear, so it must have been the Eustachian tube. I am glad I won't have to have an MRI. It is a weird schedule, 6 pills for 2 days, then 4 for 2 days, then 3, then 2, then 1, then finish off with 1/2 pill for 4 days. I had to make up a calendar in Word to keep it straight!

I really went nuts around here last week and cleaned the whole place from top to bottom. One nice side effect I have noticed with the Prednisone pills is I have a lot more energy. I feel like 49 instead of 59! I usually crash in the afternoon, but haven't felt tired at all since I have been on them. I completely cleaned the master bath room including the scrubbing and polishing the tub, vacuumed and washed the floors and rugs, then did second bathroom. Then the half bath. Then the kitchen floor. Plus vacuumed and dusted the whole house. And cleaned the whole kitchen including the oven and stove. I did lots of other little chores including outside work too. And still was not tired. And that was in one afternoon. I wish I could stay this way, I could get a whole lot more done around here like I use to.

I guess I've been lucky. The times I've been prescribed Prednisone, I've tolerated it well and the intended results were speedily achieved. For what it's legitimately used for, it seems to be very effective.

I don't know which steroid is which nor which has what effect, but in sports some steroids are performance enhancing and are banned. Maybe that's why some experience a surge of energy and feelings of well-being. I know that Prednisone can be addictive, which is why the dosage often starts high then tapers down day by day as a weaning off.

Every time I have a bad asthma flare-up I have to take Prednisone for a while. I don't have any definite side effects -- it just makes me feel dreadful. But being able to breathe is worth it.

Not the same steroids. "Prednisone is a corticosteroid. In contrast to anabolic steroids (used by 'bodybuilders')"

And here's the complete reasoning for tapering:

From Mayo

"Prednisone withdrawal: Why do I need to slowly taper down the dosage?

Answers from April Chang-Miller, M.D.

If you abruptly stop taking prednisone or taper off too quickly, you might experience prednisone withdrawal symptoms:

• Severe fatigue
• Weakness
• Body aches
• Joint pain

Prednisone is similar to cortisol, a hormone naturally made by your
adrenal glands. If you take prednisone for more than a few weeks, your
adrenal glands decrease cortisol production. A gradual reduction in
prednisone dosage gives your adrenal glands time to resume their normal
function.

The amount of time it takes to taper off prednisone depends on the
disease being treated, the dose and duration of use, and other medical
considerations. A full recovery can take anywhere from a week to several
months. Contact your doctor if you experience prednisone withdrawal
symptoms as you are tapering off the drug."

Rob -- I said the MD should *offer* a sleep aid (and a probiotic). Glad you don't need one when on steroids, but most people do get 'wired' -- and they don't know that odds are their MD will readily prescribe a sleep aid. Why should the majority suffer sleep deprivation needlessly?

Have I missed hearing what surgery you're having? Wonderful that you can have full confidence in your medical team!

Texas_Gem -- Oh, yes, the albuterol! The first time I had an asthma attack (age 38), I didn't know what it was. DH called for an ambulance. The paramedics correctly diagnosed asthma, but transported me anyway. In the ER they gave me too much albuterol via suppository. If I had ever considered trying 'drugs', that was enough to convince me never to 'dabble'. Yes, I could breathe again, but...psych ward, here I come!

I had weeks of albuterol via nebulizer during and after hospitalization for pneumonia last March. A normal-for-me 2.5 mg of generic Ambien didn't touch it. A full 5 mg barely helped. (An upside of that hospitalization was to be able to be able to be discharged from that pulmonary ward alive; most patients there were terminal.)

cacocobird -- Have you seen a pulmonary MD?. You may need a maintenance medication to control your asthma.

My consult turned into, yes, you're a good candidate for surgery.

rob, thanks for shining a light.

It's good to hear that at least some of the ducks are starting to get into line, Rob 333.

Good wishes and hopes for your journey, for uneventful healing and achievement of better ongoing health.

I'm offering a prayer on behalf of you and your family.

ole joyful

So...you're getting drains in your ears? I'm probably the only person here who is envious. (Still 'underwater' since end of December, but no pain.)

Chisue --

I do have a pulmonary Dr. I was on Advair for years, but it stopped working. Now we are trying Breo.

Thanks to all who responded. Wow I'm new here and you guys really make someone feel very welcome. Rob hope u r doing well.

Are you sleeping yet? I hope so. I came on today just to check. Glad you are still here!

I think it might encompass all of the worst menopausal symptoms in pill form.

Finally have been able to sleep some. Finished last dose day before yesterday. Gave me lots of energy but did not get anything done because I was sick from sinus infection and bronchitis. Hate I missed the opportunity for a clean house. lol Thanks to all who responded. i don't get on here every day so sorry I'm late responding.

For some reason Houzz picks and chooses what name I am posting under. Don't understand why. My other name is melmitchell80. Go figure.

I'm so glad you finally slept! I hope you're over the sinus stuff.

grami, did you forget your divorce thread?

No I didn't forget just chose not to respond to what was not necessary to respond to, as I disagreed with most posts. We found out all we needed to know as the person in question is also follows this thread and came clean and confessed all to the wife. That was the real reason for my post. I do appreciate the debates and opinions however.

That's funny. Hope that made you feel better to say that, however it is not true. I've only posted on here approximately 3 times after watching this site for 10 plus years. Now, I know why.