Does prednisone make you sleepy?
Prednisone does not usually cause sleepiness but may make you feel dizzy, irritable with mood swings, or cause you to have trouble sleeping (insomnia). If your dose is stopped too quickly or if you take prednisone for a long period of time you may feel severely fatigued. Do not stop taking prednisone unless directed to do so by your doctor. Don't drive or operate machinery if you feel tired.
Prednisone is often given to treat inflammatory flare-ups of medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, asthma or severe skin rashes. You may feel sleepy or tired while you recover. If your tiredness does not improve, contact your healthcare provider.
What are the most common central nervous system side effects with prednisone?
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Headache
- Feeling happy or energized
- “Jittery” or shaky feeling
- Seizures
- Trouble sleeping
- Mood or personality changes
- Vertigo or a feeling of “spinning”
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have: shortness of breath, severe stomach pain, blood in your stools; black or tar-colored stools, severe depression, severe changes in your personality, mood or behavior; or trouble with your eyes, vision or eye pain.
This is not all the information you need to know about prednisone for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full prednisone product and patient information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.
References
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. DailyMed. Prednisone tablet. August 2021. Available at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=03228706-92b9-43c9-8d73-c73aa124c58d&audience=consumer [Accessed May 2, 2022].
Read next
What is considered a high dose of prednisone?
The starting dose of prednisone may be between 5 mg to 60 mg per day. A dose above 40 mg per day may be considered a high dose. However, everybody responds differently to prednisone, so what might be a high dose depends on the person and the condition. Continue reading
Is it OK to drink alcohol with Prednisone?
Although there is no direct drug interaction between prednisone and alcohol, mixing them together is not a good idea because some of the effects of alcohol and the side effects of prednisone are similar, so taking both at the same time can increase the risk of these side effects occurring. Continue reading
How long can you take prednisone safely?
There is no set limit on how long you can safely take prednisone. It depends on the dose of prednisone and the condition being treated. It may be prescribed short term or long term. The dosage will be adjusted or stopped based on your response or lack of response to the medication. Continue reading
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Drug information
- Prednisone Information for Consumers
- Prednisone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Prednisone (detailed)
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