How to overcome sleep problems caused by meds

[RamblingSeminarian]

I'm 26 and have Churg-Strauss Syndrome, for which I'm on high daily doses of prednisone.  I also suffer from terrible insomnia...granted I had insomnia before I was ever diagnosed with the CSS.  I know that prednisone can cause sleep issues, and I really need to get some sleep.  I also have ADHD.  I've tried trazadone with mixed results. I currently take Prednisone, Qvar, Foradil, Zantac and Adderall.  I would prefer not to add another pill to the mix if I can help it, the less med interactions I chance the better....any suggestions?  It's quite common for it to be after 3am before I can get to sleep...and with being in graduate school, I have to get up in the mornings for class.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

It looks like your insomnia is not due to Adderall. But we can not say this with certainty. You will probably need to consult a sleep specialist in this case. You also need to consider any stress or anxiety that may be interfering with your sleep.

Regards

[RamblingSeminarian]

I should have been more specific....I've had the insomnia since before the Adderall as well.  I've also changed the dose/schedule of the adderall so that my afternoon dose is the smallest dose of the day.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Adderall is probably causing the trouble. You can adjust the time of the day when you take Adderall, and that should solve it.

Prednisone does cause sleep problems, but I guess you mentioned that you had insomnia even before you started taking Prednisone.

Regards