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Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): Meet others & Share Your Story
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Sep 10 12:05pm | Replies (1906)Comment receiving replies
I am female, just turned 77 and a few days later was diagnosed with PMR. Apparently mine was pretty advanced (6 weeks since onset), because my doctor started me with 50 mg Prednisone daily. So far it seems to be taking care of most of the pain. Hoping to see a rheumatologist before too long, and see when I can start tapering down. Right now my biggest problem is trying to get sleep. I seem to be averaging about 4 hours a night, even with my doctor's prescription 5 mg. Zolpidem each night. I was accustomed to about 7 hours before starting Prednisone. I don't drink any caffeine except 2 cups of coffee at breakfast.
Replies to "I am female, just turned 77 and a few days later was diagnosed with PMR. Apparently..."
Hi @centralflorida, You are not alone. There are other members who have shared experience with problems sleeping while taking prednisone. Here's a link to the discussions and comments by other members - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/comments/?search=prednisone%20%20can%27t%20sleep. You might also find the following article helpful.
-- Does prednisone cause insomnia? Tips for better sleep:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/does-prednisone-cause-insomnia
I don't know if this is helpful or practical since I started at 15 mg. 50 is a high dose so maybe you do have something more severe happening. I found relief with acupuncture, but the problem has been returning recently and I plan to ask him to address it again the next time I see him. Also, you need to find someone knowledgeable! Best of luck.
So I am an 83 year old male diagnosed in Jan 23 and on gradually smaller doses of prednisone until October of last year. In October my PCP added a biologic, Kevzara and ended prednisone entirely. On Kevzara until February of this year when it frumpy WBC and had to come off. Now on a non-steroid anti-inflammatory Meloxacam. I feel fine except when first getting up. But after 15 minutes all good. I take it once in the morning. Have no plans to ever take prednisone again.
Good Luck
Hi @centralflorida, that seems a high dosage of prednisone for PMR - it's usually about 20 mg. I had symptoms of PMR/GCA for a year before diagnosis and was prescribed 40 mg of prednisone to start with a 5 mg taper every two weeks. It did give me insomnia.
I was off prednisone a year and a half, then had a relapse of GCA and started taking 40 mg, but it did not disrupt my sleep this time around. Now I'm down to 5 mg.
Best to see a rheumatologist as soon as you can.
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It's understandable that you can't sleep on 50mg of prednisone. It's a very high dose for PMR. Most starting doses are 15mg - 25mg and it's reduced fairly quickly down to 10mg, after which reductions are made more slowly. Australia's standard start dose for polymyalgia rheumatica is 15mg. Is there some other reason your doctor has you on such a high prednisone dose?