Monday, June 1, 2009

Prednisone vs. Ativan and Melatonin = I'm awake and miserable

One of the few things that I hate more than insomnia is taking pills (especially prescriptions). I will try everything before taking a pill. So, when I finally accepted a prescription for a chemical sleeping aid I was pretty desperate for a good night of sleep. And yet I'm awake. One of the side effects of Prednisone is INSOMNIA! {insert exhausted scream here} Dr. F warned me this might happen, and to combat it he suggested I take a whole melatonin and a whole ativan. I was a little hesitant to take so much sleeping aid (I'm pretty sensitive to medication, there was a time when a quarter of a melatonin would put me over), but I did it and I'm still awake. I am exhausted and sleepy, I even have that weird lighteheaded-dizzy-fogginess that you get when you take sleeping aids. But after laying there for over 2 hours and doing the counting and breathing techniques, I am getting no where. On the brighter side, the interferons make me sleepy, so that combined with the melatonin and ativan may work. Or it may mean extended irritability and moodiness. Fun.

On a slightly related note, there have been no changes in my vision or the pain in my eye. I was hoping for fast results, but I guess I need to be patient.

11 comments:

  1. Be sure to take the prednisone in the morning - not at night. Also, have you heard or and/or tried Trazodone? Works for my insomnia like a charm. Sent from my hospital bed...

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  2. Oh Susan, you're back in the hospital? Not good at all. He wanted me to take the first dose last night to get it started working and all the future doses in the morning (by 9 am he said). I'm seriously hoping that taking it in the morning will make a big difference tonight.

    I took Tradazone briefly in college before they switched me over to Ambien. I was taking the lowest dose possible and still couldn't wake up in the morning. Funny story, on one occasion I took it and the next morning headed to my organic chemistry class. Of course I sat near the front and proceeded to fall asleep. That wouldn't be so bad, except I make a moaning/talking sound until I fall deep asleep. Awkward.

    So, Ms. Susan, which hospital and if I'm up for it, would you like a visitor? Email me.

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  3. I'm over at UCSF as always, which is a bit too far to be visitor friendly. Plus I'll be knocked out all day tomorrow for tests. I came in a week ago with fevers hitting 104.5. Stupid FUO! I am really getting nervous about having the stamina to walk down the aisle.

    I feel asleep in an 8 am calculus class. There were these flimsy little desks... so I, and the desk, started to TIMBER! Thankfully the guy next to me caught 'us'. Needless to say, after being asked to leave, I dropped the class.

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  4. That's a pretty funny story.

    Try to think positively about the wedding. You'll make it. Just keep resting and let them take good care of you. Keep us update on everything.

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  5. Curious about something: YOu are on Betaseron and you take melatonin? I also have MS and Occipital enuralga. My pain specialist recommended I take melatonin. I bought some and then read the bottle and it says if you are on any immunosupressants, you should NOT take melatonin. (I am on Copaxone.)

    I called my specialist and she was unaware of this contraindication and put me on a sleeping pill instead.

    JUst wanted to mention it as you may want to check it out!

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  6. Hi Lelainia, I just read both bottles of melatonin (I've used it for years) and neither of them have warnings, but I did a Google search and you're right. Thank you so much for passing that on. I guess I just took my last dose of melatonin and I will certainly mention this to my doctor when I speak with him this morning.

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  7. Yo Chris. This blog is great. Thanks for the good info. My blog about MS is hardly as informative.. but feel free to take a read. I'm at mypackmanhand.blogspot.com

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  8. Oh.. And can I take hydrocodone and prednisone at the same time?

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  9. Hi Da Journalist,

    Welcome to my blog, I'm glad you are enjoying it. Unfortunately, I am not a doctor and can't give you medical advice. There are some websites out there that you can enter all your prescriptions into and they will tell you if that's a bad combination. However, my suggestion would be to contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about drug interactions or side effects. Good luck.

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  10. Ativan has a troublesome history of abuse and ignorance associated with it. People expecting some magical pill to solve all their problems on a daily basis, following the advise of a doctor rather than there own body. I lead a stressful life and sometimes there's no amount of relaxing watching movies etc to get my body to calm down. I always want to get up and run workout etc. If used properly it's a lifesaving medication for me, losing my hair from stress Gilberts syndrome etc finally I am able to enjoy my life again enjoy movies etc. Used properly it's a tool I wish to have at my touch at all times available. Responsibility and moderation to all.

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  11. i found this while googling whether or not melatonin was good for MS or not b/c i have hear conflicting opinions.

    and just would like to say i feel your pain. ive had chronic insomnia for 5 years and usually i cant sleep without a pill, even when i was borderline medically exhausted.

    and im 21

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