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Insomnia – I want to sleep! (Predsnisone?)
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Insomnia – I want to sleep! (Predsnisone?)

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Insomnia – I want to sleep! (Predsnisone?)

  • Post
    • August 22, 2017 at 3:32 am
    Sharon93065
    Participant

      When my liver numbers went thru the roof my 4th treatment of Opdivo/Yervoy was cancelled and i was put on Prednisone.  50 per day for 5, then 40 per 5 etc.  Weaning down on dose. My AST and ALT have come down, being tested by weekly.  But i have not slept since the first night. I wake up at 1:30 to 2:30 and that's it.  I'm  up.  Sometimes i can go back to sleep at 4 or 5am for only a  hour or 2  but not always.  Too tired to get up to go to church yesterday.  I have message to my oncologist to ask 'liver' doctor what can i take maybe even 1 to 2 days a week to sleep.  I have trazapan, xanax, benadryl, melatonin.  I thought melatonin would be more natural but i read it does something with our immune system.  He told me on my last visit not take take xanax.  I've only had one since May anyways, i try not to.  All these go thru the liver so we're not supposed to take them.  I looked up  my Health Summary and it's called Drug Induced Hepatitis.  To make matters worse I am sure i have a bladder or UTI infection, so drinking lots of water etc.  I did email him to include urine test in todays liver panel.  So last night in the 3  hours sleep i did get up got up every hour to potty.  Has anyone else had insomnia from Prednisone?  I've drank hot mile with chamomile tea. I even read a teaspoon of honey tells the liver to give you sleep.  Didn't work.  I am taking a xanax at midnight tonight.  I set my alarm, I'm sure one pill won't hurt me (I hope). Or s hould it be a benadryl???   I am upset that Kaiser has me waiting a month for my new Petscan. I am calling Membership to complain tomorrow.  I am both worried and excited to see what has been going on inside of me.  The inital large bump on my back disappeared the day after the 2nd treatment (Icould feel with my hands.)  But I feel stuff going on in other places I'd like to know about.  And thank you for those that have sent me those wonderful messages about not being too upset about missing my 4th dose.  Sharon

       

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    • Replies
        • August 22, 2017 at 4:26 am
        sgreenberg
        Participant
          Sorry to hear – insomnia sucks. My wife has been on Dexamethasone (steroids, like Prednisone) for many months now. She uses Cannabis with a high CBD% to help her get to sleep, with much success, and supplements with Benadryl-like sleeping pills. Worth a shot!
          • August 22, 2017 at 4:48 am
          jennunicorn
          Participant
            Melatonin is my go to sleep aid. My oncologist recommends it and there is no strict data stating any major immune affect, if anything it can have anti inflammatory properties which I always enjoy due to having constant inflamed joints. It is also safe for the liver. So, if the melatonin helps then I’d go with that as long as your doc is ok with it too.
              • August 22, 2017 at 1:44 pm
              Sharon93065
              Participant
                Thank you as always, your input help. Read what I wrote below about it.
              • August 22, 2017 at 12:46 pm
              Linny
              Participant

                I was on prednisone for a different ailment and yes, it can cause sleeplessness. 

                Predisone suppresses the immune system, so if you feel you have a bladder or UTI infection, I'd call the doctor right away to get that checked out.

                I find that a single Benadryl helps me sleep better than Xanax. 

                • August 22, 2017 at 1:34 pm
                Sharon93065
                Participant

                  I really do appreciate your input this morning.  At midnight i took a xanax and with one potty break i slept until 5am!  Yeah, now it's 6:30 and time for my thyroid.  I did get urine tested and will treat whatever is going on with my bladder etc today as soon as my lab results are in.  When I travel i put drops of melatonin in chamomile tea, but when i was googling it and read about immune system i thought i had better wait to hear back from onconologist.  I won't take the xanax often, i just hadn't slept that long in like 10 days!  And i was a zombie.

                  • August 23, 2017 at 7:36 pm
                  Bradley75
                  Participant

                    I had the same problem and they gave me Ambien.  Works better than all others I tried combined.  Not sure if it can cause liver issues or not, but it is the only way I got through the Prednisone month.

                      • August 25, 2017 at 6:06 am
                      Sharon93065
                      Participant

                        My oncologist called to say i can take melatoni or xanx.  Since my liver numbers are coming down and my   Prednisone is being redduced.  Found out from a Kaiser retiree today that Kaiser will pay for acupunture.  My Dr did say it might help with fatique.  I will call Kaiser tomrrow and find o ut.

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