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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Eliminate this bothersome side effect of prednisone.Why do steroids keep you awake at night?Cortisol, a natural hormone in the body, is responsible for the body’s fight or flight response; it keeps the mind alert and stimulated. Corticosteroid medications like prednisone can mimic the action and produce the same desired effects and side effects as cortisol to varying degrees in different patients. Since cortisol is responsible for the fight-or-flight response, prednisone, along with other steroid medications, produces the same stimulatory effects, which can lead to a disruption of the normal sleep-wake cycle. This is the reason why steroids can potentially cause sleep disturbance, especially insomnia. Can I take a sleep aid while on prednisone?There are no known interactions between commonly prescribed sleep aids and prednisone. However, this does not mean that drug interactions do not exist. Please be sure to consult a healthcare provider before taking a sleep aid while on prednisone therapy. Experts recommend taking a mild and safe over-the-counter sleep aid such as melatonin or chamomile if prednisone is causing sleep disruption or sleep deprivation. Many patients find that this helps to reset their sleep patterns and relieves insomnia.It is also a good idea to practice good sleep hygiene. This means having a fixed sleeping and wake-up time every day, prioritizing sleep, and making gradual adjustments in sleep timings. Regular exercise during the day can also benefit sleep by making you tired and helping you fall asleep. However, vigorous exercise just before bedtime can have the opposite effect by increasing your level of alertness.What is the best time of day to take prednisone?Steroids can cause sleep disruption, especially when they are taken in the evening. If this is the case with you, talk to your doctor about taking your entire dose of prednisone in the morning. This may help prevent sleep deprivation. With a morning dose, any alertness that prednisone causes should dissipate by the time you’re ready to go to bed and make it easier for you to fall asleep. References:1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7357890/2. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/8-prednisone-side-effects-how-to-minimize-them/amp/
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