Has anyone with PD/Dementia taken Melatonin with good results?? I know sleep is a big issue with PD but my hubby is barely sleeping.

[shall1019]

I take melatonin along with klonopin and Tylenol PM and sleep very well. The Klonopin is for restless legs.l

[Norton1 in reply to shall1019]

Hello,

May I ask you how long you have been taking Klonopin and have you tried it without taking Tylenol PM and melatonin?

Regards

Norton

[shall1019 in reply to Norton1]

The Klonopin about 1 1/2 years. I think I started them all about the same time. I had about 3 months with no sleep or just an hour or 2 a night. My doctor and I were getting a little frantic.

[Norton1 in reply to shall1019]

Thank you Shall 1019 for your reply.

Norton

[Norton1]

Hello,

Fortunately, I have not developed dementia from my PD, but I have had bad insomnia for several years and have tried quite a lot of sleep aids one of which was melatonin. It was my experience that it did not really work and I have dropped it. I tried Amitriptyline which did work of a fashion, but gave me horrendous night sweats which may have been due to upsetting my blood sugar levels. Until recently I was taking Zopiclone which was really effective, but my GP said that you are only supposed to take it for a few weeks. Still, having no sleep is torture so, I would go back to your doctor and have him manage your husbands insomnia which can only aggravate his symptoms if not kept under some form of control. The upshot is, do not think that melatonin is the answer from my experience.

Best wishes

Norton

[Hidden]

The trouble is when you go to the docs with a problem, the easiest solution is for them to prescribe a drug, it seems there is a drug for anything and everything now.

The problem is you take it, and after a few days you end up usually with unwanted side effects, some we can cope with, some can be quite bad.

We go back to the GP, They prescribe another drug to counteract the one they has just given you. You take it, and you get side effects, you go back to the GP etc etc .

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

true

[jjmoore]

I am at a loss. My husband has both parkinsons and dementia and yet he sleeps 10 - 12 hours a night and has now taken to having a nap in the afternoon. Makes me wonder why he is different to all other parkinsons sufferers. Joan

[Hidden in reply to jjmoore]

everyones parkinsons is different. I have virtually no visible tremor, yet a friend with the same diagnosis trembles unceasingly. My gait will seize up if my meds are off, yet my friend has no problem walking, ever. everyone's body is different and everyones response to this disorder is different.

[Hidden in reply to jjmoore]

Hi Joan, my hubby was sleeping long hours like yours for quite some time but has now reverted to sleeping for an hour or two and then he's up for a few hours and then back for an hour or so. When he sleeps regular hours, he is so good mentally and physically but without he is miserable. I wonder if it's just a brain interruption that will eventually pass. We don't see our Movement Specialist until the first week in January but I hope things improve before then.

[Hidden]

This is the problem with PD, everyone who has it suffers different from everyone else, yet they say the cause of it is the same

[judam9]

i don't know how many years since i've been diagnosed. but have seen a neurologist the time it was diagnosed. before bed i take 1 tylenol PM , 1 5 mg valium , 1 trazadone . a muscle relaxer, and i usually sleep thru the night. maybe get -up once for the bathroom.

[MagicMax]

The first problem is to determine why a person with PD cannot sleep; is it due to pain, too much energy, medication, high blood pressure, etc. I experienced cognitive problems initially and melatonen helped me sleep. Now, 6 years later, pain is my worst problem. 400 mg of Gabapentin takes the edge off the pain and allows me to fall asleep in about 20 minutes. I once had day -time sleepiness due to taking MAIO inhibitors such as Mirapex, Requip, Roperinal, etc. Hope this helps a little.

[My_Hubby_is_a_Parkie]

Try asking your GP to refer you for a sleep study. I know several Parkies that use a C-pap to sleep and it helps. My husband was taking Lunesta for sleeping put now takes an antihistamine to help him sleep. The C-pap will help the "restful" sleep occur and may help with the multiple naps throughout the day. Good luck.