SLEEP ! I NEED MORE,PLEASE WHAT WORKS FOR... - Cure Parkinson's

Cure Parkinson's

25,342 members26,643 posts

SLEEP ! I NEED MORE,PLEASE WHAT WORKS FOR YOU?

OREOLU profile image
43 Replies

Hi, if you have PD or a caregiver, what are using for good sleep? I mean uninterrupted sleep for 8hours or more if possible? Please don't tell me valium or drugs in the same class, I have tried them and I hate the side effects. I am currently on Mirtazapine 15mg and Melatonin 3mg,which worked for a while, giving me 5hours uninterrupted, and 8hours interrupted. But now, I only get about 4 hours sometimes with ridiculous dreams, including nightmares . If I can get at least 6hours deep sleep, I would be glad.

So please help.Thanks.

Written by
OREOLU profile image
OREOLU
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
43 Replies
Kt088 profile image
Kt088

The melatonin seems to work for me, although I’ve rarely been able to get 8 hours, more like 6. Cbd oil can be helpful too. Best of luck.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to Kt088

Hi K1i2t3 How much melatonin gives you 6hours? Is it Cbd oil with thc or without?

Kt088 profile image
Kt088 in reply to OREOLU

Six mg and the cbd oil I use has just one mg of thc but sometimes I use one that doesn’t have any.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to Kt088

Thanks K1i2t3.

in reply to Kt088

Hi

OREOLU:

See my post: "Anxiety, Sleep, and Sertraline (aka, Zoloft)" at:

healthunlocked.com/parkinso...

Note that that post is 5 months old, and it is still working for me (i.e., this is not a placebo effect!).

It really attenuates the volume, intensity, and "stickiness" of the anxiety (which greatly improves my sleep)...

Also, I don't experience any adverse side effects (or at least none that I could attribute to the Sertraline).

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to

Hi Levod You hit the nail on the head right away. I have something on my mind lately, which might be the stressor. I understand that most anti depressants work for a while and then stop working. Maybe, it is time to try something else. I will talk to my doctor. Thanks for your input.

Godiv profile image
Godiv in reply to

Levod, do you mind my asking how much Zoloft you take? I take 100 mg and I don’t have any kind of positive sleep effect. However, I have taken 50 mg for years; maybe that’s made a difference.

in reply to Godiv

75 mg

Do you suffer from anxiety? Does this anxiety prevent you from getting a good nights sleep? Does the Zoloft help reduce your anxiety?

Godiv profile image
Godiv in reply to

I do suffer from anxiety. But mine is more of a social panic disorder type thing that’s been exacerbated by Parkinson’s. It doesn’t really keep me from sleeping I don’t think. Although probably I have more generalized anxiety now too. I’m trying to think of when I wake up how I feel. I probably am thinking of issues and various horrors, So I suppose it does affect sleep. I think Zoloft helps with the social anxiety, but I don’t think it does with the generalized feeling. That makes me wonder if I’m not taking enough or if it’s worn out for me, because I would think if it’s helping with Serotonin levels, I wouldn’t be bothered by any kind of anxiety.

alexask profile image
alexask

I use 10 mg melatonin. I used to use 5mg. Since upping the dose my sleep quality and quantity appears to have improved But it might just be coincidence.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to alexask

Hi alexask As long as it works, it is worth trying. Thank you very much.

Kia17 profile image
Kia17

Hi Oreolu

May I ask about your diet? Carbs, gluten, soda,coffee, dairy,sugar, animal protein, physical activities?

Thank you

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to Kia17

Hi Kia17 this is an area that I haven't really thought about as it relates to sleep, i.e diet of a pwp, except eating animal protein at night only to manage c/L. I consume small sugar everyday in a about 1/4 teacup of fruit juice. I drink a cup of tea once or twice a week in the mornings depending on the weather. Eat some dairy three times weekly in butter. No coffee and moderate carbs with small gluten daily. Do stationary bikes 15mins daily, lift weights moderately and walk 10 to 15miles per week. Any advice please.

Kia17 profile image
Kia17 in reply to OREOLU

I have removed all the foods mentioned in my earlier comment from my diet.

There is no difference between too much and a bit of Gluten, Dairy. In my opinion they are the main risk factors to our health. A good source of magnesium and B6 has also helped me.

Walking fast every morning and every day is another factor to my well-being. I avoid sleeping during the day. I take minimum amount of carbohydrate and animal protein.

Leafy green vegetables like Kale have amazing health benefits for us.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to Kia17

What is a balanced diet for a pwp as it relates to sleep?

Godiv profile image
Godiv

I’m terrible about doing this because it’s cold outside now, but morning sun exposure is supposed to help sleep. I guess it sets up the body to produce its own melatonin in addition to whatever you add.That and turning off electronics early, and sleeping in a room that’s as dark as a cave is supposed to help. I do sleep better when my room is really dark. It helps but it’s not perfect; I still wake up a few hours after I go to sleep.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to Godiv

I do all that. Thanks Godiv.

chartist profile image
chartist

Certain types of magnesium are additive to the melatonin as is zinc. If you carry significant tension in your chest and shoulder areas, applying mag oil to those areas will relax them fairly quickly and also be synergistic with the melatonin. B6 can also improve sleep and you will find some melatonin supplements with small amounts of B-6 in them for the purpose of helping the melatonin to help improve sleep. Here is something I wrote about this problem.

healthunlocked.com/parkinso...

Art

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to chartist

Well detailed, thanks Art.

Millbrook profile image
Millbrook

My husband takes melatonin. It has helped tremendously with his nocturia worsened by BCG treatment for bladder cancer. He was waking more than 10 times a night. After 10 weeks he wakes 3-4 times now. Melatonin also helps him get back to sleep faster. He currently takes 35 mg of melatonin and I am hoping to get him back to 2-3 times which was how it was before the last BCG maintenance aggravated it.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to Millbrook

Hi Milbrook Isn't there a limit to how much melatonin, a patient can take for sleep?

Millbrook profile image
Millbrook in reply to OREOLU

Read up the post on melatonin by chartist (Art) on advantages of melatonin

LAJ12345 profile image
LAJ12345

No caffeine after midday. No sugary things after dinner. Bright morning sun and enough exercise to physically tire you too. If you’re not tired it’s hard to sleep.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to LAJ12345

Hi LAJ12345 It sure makes sense to avoid caffeine and sugar after dinner. Thanks for your input.

MarionP profile image
MarionP

Melatonin works quite well for many. I've found to be very helpful. Before I hit the clonazepam (which is heavy duty) I try the melatonin first, a combination pill of 5mg instant release\5mg extended release. If I wake up early,, I take a small instant release pill then the next night I will take 2 of the 5\5 pills at bedtime. If I wake relatively late, a few hours before rising, then I take a regular 3mg at that time does the trick fine. Very ssfe at larger doses than these.

Now if agitation or stimulation were strong anxiety is the problem for you, low dose clonazepam is very effective and not harmful.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to MarionP

Thanks MarionP.

SonarsMom profile image
SonarsMom

I do 5 mg melatonin and 5 ml cbd oil before bed and I am able to sleep between 6-9 hours every night. I do sometimes have nightmares but believe that's PD related rather than from any supplements or meds I take. I'm almost always able to go right back to sleep after these nightmares. I am sugar free, lactose free, and gluten free. I also never expose myself to intense TV, reading, etc in the evenings. I stay off my computer and phone for at least an hour before going to bed and read in bed to fall asleep. I work out HARD at least five days a week and try to get out in the sun every day for at least a few minutes. All these actions have helped to exacerbate my PD and also enable me to sleep better. IMHO, you can't do "some" of these actions, but need to practice the whole package. I think the working out piece is especially hard for some people (I know it is for me!) but I think it slows down the PD, helps me sleep better, and expands my life.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to SonarsMom

Hi Sonarsmom, is the cbd oil with or without thc?

jeeves19 profile image
jeeves19 in reply to SonarsMom

Exacerbates my PD? Did you mean to type that?

jocelyng profile image
jocelyng

I take 10 mg of Melatonin and 50 mg of Clonazapam. Works for 6-7 hours most of the time. Last night less; sometimes more. I was on more Clonazapam but found that it had a negative cumulative effect during the day-I was completely exhausted. This amount seems right.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to jocelyng

Hi jocelyng, I will discuss with my MDS. Thank you.

AaronS profile image
AaronS

I learnt to contiously turn my brain of and learnt to tell my body to relax, hard to do but well worth the effort. I got better sleep from also a red light hat . I went from tremors- up every 1.5 hours about to pee myself to now sleeping thru some nights maybe 1 get up not busting to wee, turning over in bed, straight back to sleep - minimal tremors. No supplements although I have used magnesium throughout my life on and off. I do find if you wake within an hour of going to sleep the brain must be doing a clean out dump kind of thing, because that is when I notice i am absolutely out of dopamine and that time really is hard to go to the toilet or turn over etc.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to AaronS

Hi AaronS you are lucky to be able to sleep without any supplement as a pwp. Thanks for your input.

healthabc profile image
healthabc

whatever your sleep remedy, add an epsom salt (aka. magnesium) foot bath to the bedtime ritual, soak for 20 mins or more. Wonderfully relaxing, adds another layer of benefit to sleeping rituals.

bassofspades profile image
bassofspades

Cpap

NRyan profile image
NRyan in reply to bassofspades

lol! Yes, Cpap for you. Glad it is helping!!! It should be ruled out for all with PD.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to bassofspades

Hi bassofspades Thanks for your input.

searider profile image
searider

Hi i found taking 350mg magnesium 2hours before bed and 500mg of Inositol 1/2 hour before bed works for me but because it is natural body products it takes about 2 weeks before good results happen , also i am 5mg of melatonin to get me to sleep faster 5 minutes before in go to bed but only if i am still not feeling sleepy .i hope this helps

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to searider

I will try this. Thanks.

Kwinholt profile image
Kwinholt

Also, with everything else, try a weighted blanket. Karen

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to Kwinholt

Hi Kwinholt. I will try anything that would make me sleep.Thanks.

tellme profile image
tellme

Hi, I took Mirtazapine for 6 months. I had to stop the treatment, because I was having horrible nightmares!

I take herbal sleep supplements from a vitamin company called "Now". I also take 20:1 THC to CBD drops before bed. I sometimes do some yoga breathing as well. I used to vape THC before bed, but I didn't like how I felt the next day.

You may also like...

help please PArkinson RLS, need to sleep

and can’t sleep before 1am and then i am up at 4am or 5am If i take it at 9pm, i can sleep well...

Need help please to manage one more sympton

feeling / fear of falling backwards. My question please whether someone has experienced this (all...

Parkinson's may progress more overnight - what do you use to help you get a good night sleep?

helps aid sleep. I understand we tend to get less deep sleep, sometimes called 'delta sleep' with...

What PwP need is regular rigorous exercise motivations NOT more levadopa

neuroprotective and slows down progression 4. \\"Drugs holiday\\" do not improve the efficacy of...

Help need sleep advice

the day So I moved him to melatonin he takes between 5-10 mg He can sleep a lot goes to bed at...