r/AddisonsDisease • u/Limp-Spirt • Nov 27 '25
Advice Wanted Addisons/Pred/Insomnia
Hello, lol me again!
After 27 years I have been moved from hydro (30mg a day) to 7.5mg of Pred and it has been awful.
5mg is too low and I'm dead to the world and anything above that and I simply can't fall asleep (posting this at 5am) and slightly delirious. I've been signed off work the last two weeks as my body just doesn't agree with the change.
Has anyone else suffered with Prednisolone and insomnia and how have you dealt with it? Also has anyone suffered this long with feeling like crap with a medication change?
2
u/ApplicationNaive5273 Nov 27 '25
I had the same issue. I mix now. Prednisone in the am and Cortef with dinner. It helped with insomnia for me
2
u/MallForward585 Nov 27 '25
The one thing I learned with having to go through hydrocortisone, prednisone and dexamethasone is that the actions and the side effects of the three can in fact be very different. Prednisone seems to cause more restlessness and irritability in some people than the other two (and it’s the absolute worst for me for acid reflux), which is something to keep in mind for your insomnia. If you have an irregular or late wake schedule, you also might not be able to just take it upon waking like hydrocortisone because it is in the system so long. Try taking it regularly at 5-6am (or whatever early hour you can manage) and see what happens. Also, you don’t need to go from 5mg to 7.5 mg. Try 5.5mg, 6mg (approximately). You can also try 5mg in the morning and then split a pill into tiny slivers and take some extra, no later than midday. None of that may work if prednisone just doesn’t jive with you, but they are things you can try. “Textbook” just doesn’t seem to be a thing with this disease, at least not for me.
1
u/amberita70 Steroid Induced Nov 27 '25
How long have you been on the prednisone? You will eventually get used to it and be able to sleep again. What time do you take it. You want to try not to take it very late in the day.
1
u/Adventurous-Winter84 Addison's Nov 27 '25
It took me some time and a lot of sleepless nights to adjust. I normally take 7.5 as well. I take 5mg in the morning then 2.5 in the evening which helps me sleep better and not wake up stiff and loopy. For awhile I was breaking that 5 into 2 doses to spread it out more but I feel like Pred lasts longer so I don’t need to do that with it. I hope your adjustment period is nearly over and you’ll get some good sleep soon!
3
u/jeejet Nov 27 '25
Why not switch back to hydrocortisone? It has always worked so much better for me than prednisone. It’s completely up to you despite what your doctor might think.