New Medication- not working?

[Essie13]

I know it's not directly related to lupus but I have bad sleep problems due to lupus and I know that lupus can cause this and depression to occur more frequently in people.

I was on mirtazapine but gained weight so switched to quetiapine.

BUT it just doesn't work. If anything, I feel less sleepy. Anyone else experience similar?

[whisperit]

Well this is just to say "me too" really; I wish I had some solutions to offer! My sleep became really poor after I had been on hydroxychloroquine and prednisolone (20mg) for several months. I am still taking both (but have reduced to 4mg pred) and poor sleep has been one of the most debilitating of all my symptoms. Horrible, isn't it?

I have tried zopiclone for short periods, which does seem to make me sleep longer, but it cannot be used for long (its addictive) and it doesn't seem to have had much impact overall. My thought is that for some people, both the condition and the medications will alter the normal sleep-wake cycle. Getting back to a normal, healthy pattern is a real challenge. x

[Lupiknits in reply to whisperit]

I drafted far too long a response here, so will try to condense it. If you are getting help from a psychiatrist for depression, he/she may consider prescribing aglomelatine, a newish anti depressant which partly uses melatonin to help regulate the sleep/wake cycle. GPs can't prescribe it.

Otherwise, my sympathies. I'm prescribed zolpidem and have been for years. I haven't built up a tolerance which they think would indicate addiction. I'm bipolar so prescribing zolpidem is infinitely easier all round than trying to nail me down in hyperspace.

Zolpidem does not stop you from waking up if you're in a lot of pain I'm afraid.

[Gcart]

Just something I am having some success with after very poor sleep is gluton free diet.

Not sure if it is that but my sleep pattern is much improved. Not an outcome I expected but so lovely to sleep 🙂🙂

[Stef82]

I’ve been told by my Rheumy to take the Steroids first thing in the morning to be able to sleep at night. Maybe that will help?

To be honest on 20mg Prednisilone I was like an owl at night and couldn’t concentrate on anything. I’m now on 5mg and Hydroxychloroquine 300mg and sleep better but have also long periods at night where I’m awake.