CR Sinemet & Sleep

[BH68]

I’ve recently started controlled release Sinemet at night to reduce morning dystonia. I’m finding my sleep is disrupted - much less deep sleep according to my sleep tracker, and feel fatigued and flat in the morning.

Has anyone else had similar problems?

Many thanks

Ben

[park_bear]

If it is disrupting your sleep try taking an immediate release version first thing upon awakening instead.

[Hikoi in reply to park_bear]

It isn’t quite the same experience park bear. I find my pills work better during the day if I have a long acting at 10pm.

Yes BH68 I do find my sleep disrupted but 15 yrs on I accept it will be like that. It’s like my body wakes up when the meds have worn off. Sorry not much help. Just affirming your experience.

[eschneid in reply to Hikoi]

Hikoi,

Exactly the same sleep pattern as you 16 years in. I recently added 3mg Melatonin 30-60 minutes before lights out(helping) in addition to my bedtime dose of c/l ir + mucuna so I can get comfortable to read & then 50/200 when lights out.

[Jdig]

hi BH, I am sorry to hear about your experiences so far. I started on extended release Sinemet at the recommendation of my neurologist about nine months ago. This was about the time I started using 10 mg of melatonin at night. The net result is that I sleep better, and according to my wife, a whole lot better. A month or two prior to that, I started taking magnesium, and that also definitely improved my sleep, with no apparent restless leg syndrome these last few months. Do you write me if you have any more questions, otherwise, I hope you find relief..

[Esperanto in reply to Jdig]

The same experience, only this works for me with only 1 mg of melatonin, in addition to the magnesium and exentendet release Sinemet. Of course in combination with sufficient exercise, outdoor activity (light) and a not too late last meal (MIND diet).

[BH68]

Thank you for the replies. Interesting to hear of the variety of experiences.

I’ll stick at it for another week, and then decide whether to stop the CR. The morning dystonia it was intended to address is mild, and I’d prefer the better sleep!

Best wishes to all of you.

Ben

[LAJ12345]

my husband had a very bad reaction to the slow release madopar. It made him extremely agitated at night, as well as constipation and severe rigidity of his throat so he couldn’t breather, he had to go off it after a couple of weeks.

[donheff]

I have the opposite response. I take extended release at 10:00 pm and sleep much better. In fact I moved my daytime 25/100x3 an hour later so my last dose is at 6 pm instead of 5 pm. I was getting RLS as the 5 pm dose wore off and before the ER kicked in. Moving the ER dose back to 9 pm worked but then I would wake up at 5 am with RLS. So I changed the daytime schedule. I am often up at 6 am and have mild RLS until my 8 am daytime dose but it doesn't bother me much when I am up and about,

[Tilly56]

I'm fatigued all through the day, I think it's parkinson, I sleep a lot through the day I have to

[hercules957]

I take one sinemet CR one hour before bed and one more at bedtime. Sleeping much better than on instant release sinemet.

[beehive23]

absolutely...i cannot take CR at all...it doesnt allow for rem sleep and gives me some brutal vivid dreams...it scares the crap out of me. hang tough.

[Bondslave]

Yes, I had similar issues with this medicine at night before bedtime.I stopped taking it for about a year, I have recently tried it again and it is no longer a problem.

I did start to use Rytary time release and it did not keep me from sleeping, but my body does not absorb it very well. Just, keep trying everything until you find what works best for you, only you can determine that. You have to be your best advocate / doctor.

Keep up the fight, and do not fall into the trap of quitting.

His Blessing.

[Shloamseeker]

Yes, tried it and although I didn't remember disrupted sleep, my movement symptoms were MUCH worse next day...bah humbug!