← Return to PMR, prednisone and Poor Sleep or Insomnia

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@mikeinnp

Hi folks,

New to PMR and dealing with fatigue and insomnia presumably due to prednisone. I wake up every night between 2 and 3am and then tired through the day.

In poking through the internet I came across the pharmacist in Utah who claims to be deeply knowledgeable about prednisone and has formulated a twice a day (morning and evening) supplement that claims all kinds of relief, not from PMR, but prednisone side effects.

I'm naturally skeptical about the value of any supplement for any reason but wanted to keep an open mind.

Does anyone have any experience with this pharmacist's Nutranize Zone product?

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Replies to "Hi folks, New to PMR and dealing with fatigue and insomnia presumably due to prednisone. I..."

Hello @mikeinnp, Welcome to Connect. I don't have any experience with the Nutranize Zone product but hopefully some other members may have some experience to share with you.
You will notice that we moved your post to an existing discussion on the topic here:

-- PMR, prednisone and Poor Sleep or Insomnia:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-prednisone-and-valerian/

@shonnie started the discussion asking about Valerian tea and others also have shared other suggestions. Here's an interesting article on topic.

"In some studies, more than 60% of people using prednisone reported insomnia. People who take this medication may find that it takes longer to fall asleep or that they wake frequently during the night. They may also sleep for shorter periods and find that overall sleep quality is lower."
-- Does prednisone cause insomnia? Tips for better sleep: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/does-prednisone-cause-insomnia

Have you tried any types of a calming tea before bedtime to see if that helps?

Hi @mikeinnp, I don't have experience with the supplement. Stay away from anything with melatonin as it stimulates the immune system. (Melatonin comes with a warning not to use if you have an autoimmune disorder). I started on 40 mg of Prednisone for Giant Cell Arteritis, and like you, I would startle awake after a couple of hours of sleep. I used to get up, have herbal tea with lemon balm, valerian, chamomile, and read, sometimes for a couple of hours. I went back to bed when I felt tired and could usually get a couple more hours of sleep. This lasted until my dosage of prednisone was lower - maybe under 10 mg. Now I'm off it and have no trouble sleeping. Take care.