What to do about insomnia

[loopey]

I have had terrible insomnia for the past couple of years. One of my doctors gave me Ambien which didn't work and anyway you can't take it for a long period of time.

Another gave me Lorezapam which did knock me out but I would still wake up several times a night and be unable to go back to sleep.

I have also tried Valium with the same effect. I wake up at about 2 AM and can't go back to sleep. None of these medications are to be taken for long periods of time. So I tried natural remedies like Valiarian and Melatonin. They don't work for me.

I don't see my neuro for several months and I am at a loss as to what to do. Are there any effective sleep meds that one can take for a long time?

Thank you.

[xrayeyes]

Same boat

I have been suffering from insomnia also. Hate it. Average about 4 hours a night. My physical rehab doctor put me on Serax, only worked every 4th night and only got 5 hours. Saw my Neuro Thursday, switched me to Tranzadone, took it last night for 1st time, slept 3 hours, up 1 hour, able to fall back asleep for 2 hours. On the lowest dose for 2 weeks, if still not sleeping he us going to increase.

I tired natural remedies, did nothing. Hope this helps.

Hope you find something that works for you.

[jreagan70]

Hi loopy:

As you've found, sleep meds are only for short-term use, and a lot of people don't really get much relief from them.

It might be worth seeing your primary and getting a sleep study to see why you keep waking up so often. You can speculate about it, but nothing beats hard data.

There are also environmental and behavioral modifications that can help you get to sleep and get back to sleep. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been very helpful for some insomniacs. Meditation can allow your brain to rest in some of the wavelengths achieved in sleep so you can at least give your brain some healthful rest even if you aren't sleeping much. With those, though, you have to be willing to do something active to change your situation. That means you have to work at it. As the saying goes, nothing changes until you do.

There are also many medications that can be used in the short term to help you while you're learning new techniques. Your current doctors may only be familiar with a few of them, and you may not be getting the benefit of a sleep specialist who has the option of prescribing something different.

Hopefully, if you get a sleep study and get evaluated by a sleep specialist, you can get some real sleep.

[Poppy7402]

A couple of very simple techniques I use from time to time are taking a dose of Magnesium if I wake in the early hours and can't get back to sleep, or just turning on the light and reading for a little while. This seems to re-set my brain and allow me to relax enough again to get back to sleep.

Not being able to sleep is akin to torture

[pennstater]

I go thru cycles where I wake up after 4 hours of sleep and have trouble going back.

The worst thing is to turn the TV on, or use any electronic device since the light stimulates the brain.

I will get up and have a little warm milk or decaf tea, read some, and listen to music that is calming. If my mind is racing or thinking of things, I write it down. Sometimes, just knowing that it is on paper relaxes my brain.

If I can't fall back, I try not too nap too long or late in the day. If I allow myself to do this, then the cycle starts again.

I try not too have caffeine after 2 pm. I also watch any nighttime snacking, as I think this sometimes contributes to sleep issues, with sugar spikes. If I do snack, I try to keep it low sugar or natural sugar, like in fruit.

I do agree that a sleep study is a good route if you haven't had one. Hope you can get some relief.

[Tia1]

I have the same problem. I have tried so many things including having a sleep study in which I found out that needed a c-pap machine, problem is I can't fall asleep, so I'm laying there for hours with my nose covered, looking and feeling ridiculous. I kept at it for months and gave the thing back.

The sleep aide that works for me if I only use it when i'm desperate is benedryl. It keeps me from losing my mind, knowing that something will help. I use it for vacation or when I'm so tired I'm in danger of hurting myself due to clumsiness.

It works if I use it like every two-three months or less and only for a few days at a time. I've tried ambien, trazadone, valium, etc. In fact my doctor told me to get in bed and take the ambien. I was so excited, I took it about 7pm (wanted to make sure I could function the next morning) my husband took over the household and the kids and I got to listen to him tell the kids "shhhh, moms sleeping for hours and he tip toed into the bedroom later to me being wide awake and miserable.

Medications don't seem to work for me. I am surprised and scared to think that benedryl could stop working altogether.

Jreagon, I would love some ideas as to what other meds may be available. I exercise to the point of exhaustion, I yawn all day and then I can't sleep! I do okay for long stretches, then I just want to cry. I don't fight it anymore, which means I'm not fighting my pillow and getting angry. I pray and know i'll sleep eventually.

It does feel like torture!!

[KatW]

Insomnia was one of my first issues and continues to be a problem. I have amitriptyline to take if I am absolutely desperate to get sleep and nothing else will work. It does have some side effects so I only take it if I haven't slept well for a couple of days and I don't have anything crazy going on the next day.

[marti]

Yes, insomnia was one of my first symptoms too. I just quit sleeping. And it is absolutely torture.

I have a terrible time just falling asleep. I've tried every trick in the book. This is going back some 16 years! I finally just gave in to the meds. But I notice that Klonopin is not working as well anymore. I always start out with the smallest dose and cut that in half.

I honestly believe that diseases like MS come with a built in sleep problem. Of course we're anxious.... why wouldn't we be??

Sometimes I use a noise machine. It just gently plays things like the sound of the ocean or rain... there's a lot of them in one machine. My best thing is just falling asleep on the couch with the tv playing. Now that I'm retired I just don't care as much. I can always nap during the day.

Good luck and sweet dreams.

[thisiswater]

I feel your pain!

I suffer terribly from insomnia. After trying every med in the book, my doctor put me on Seroquel (generic quetiapine). I take a pretty high dose: 200 - 400 per night. But I SLEEP and feel like a human being in the AM.

Since I'm just about to embark on my MS treatment plan (of my own design) I must be awake during the day!

Sometimes it just takes the right med or med/cocktail to work. Don't give up and try working w/ your neuro, not a PCP. If the neuro can't make it happen find a sleep specialist.

Fair winds!

[Aarcyn]

A few years ago I was talking to a friend about my chronic insomnia. She recommended I read a memoir about one woman's search for a good night's sleep.

it helped me just to read about it. The author even made me laugh. I find I take a more zen approach to sleep.

Wide Awake: A Memoir of Insomnia by Patricia Morrisroe

[bobus498]

A couple of bong hits with some really potent indica does it for me.

Seriously, if you live in a state where cannabis is legal,it's the only thing I have found to be consistently effective and I've been using the same amount for 5 years and still get good results.

And If I do happen to wake up in the middle of the night...GUESS WHAT..... it's safe to use again.

[Aarcyn]

A couple of bong hits with some really potent indica does it for me.

Seriously, if you live in a state where cannabis is legal,it's the only thing I have found to be consistently effective and I've been using the same amount for 5 years and still get good results.

And If I do happen to wake up in the middle of the night...GUESS WHAT..... it's safe to use again.

I smoke marijuana too. A powerful indica. Worst case scenario is that I may not sleep but at least I am in a good mood.

my adult kids think it is funny that their mom is a "pot head." Both don't smoke but approve of any relief marijuana can give.

[bobus498]

And the extra bonus is that the marijuana is also effective for spasticity and works faster than anything the medical profession has been able to give me ........AND.........when it became legal in my state, I was taking almost half a gram of opiate pain meds (oxycontin and instant release morphine) daily and had been for almost 10 years. Two months later, I was opiate free, have been ever since and hope I never have to go back to taking the things.

[Min]

Like most people I have no answers on how to deal with insomnia. I take lyrica diazepam endone and stemzine at night. I may be get an hour dozing but then the medications start to wear off and back comes the "painsomnia".
Sometimes I resort to more meds after a couple of restless hours,so what else can one do. Tried lots of things but nothing really works. Oh well that's MS for you !!!!

Glad some of you have success with marajuana, not legal here.

Regards Min

[Thinkimjob]

Drugs and Audible books.
Medical MJ is not yet legal in Australia. Coming soon, I think.
Illegal stuff will see you in court. Drug-driving tests are all the rage.