Regardless of how much fatigue, I have and how much i medicate for, I have terrible insomnia. Recently I added counting backwards from 1000. It requires just enuf concentration that intrusive thoughts are less likely to keep me awake. Thought I'd share in case others struggle with this. 💤
Insomnia: Regardless of how much fatigue... - My MSAA Community
Insomnia
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![erash profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/2e9806ba815548caf1eb7d9c35dd8f06_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
You can always talk to me, have you got Skype?
Thanks, Erash. Happy you found something that works for you. I'm afraid that would keep me up, trying hard to remember what number comes before the other one. Thankfully, Ambien still works for me.
Have you ever considered Melatonin? When I'm having my bouts of insomnia, it works like a charm. It's non-addictive, and you can pick it up from any drug store or Walmart. I have 1&3 mg tablets. I hope this helps. Blessings
I'm going to have to research again as yrs ago I read that MS ppl should use for limited time as could stim the immune system
I took melatonin for years. Maybe I became resistant to it or something. It no longer worked. My neuro tells me to take Ambien as often as needed. My PCP tells me to take it only as a last resort because it's possible to build up a resistance to it too. I take it if I am still awake an hour after going to bed. I don't take it too often
Erash, I woke up at 4 this morning and laid in bed for 30 min trying to fall back asleep by counting backwards from 1000. Finally got up at 4:30, frustrated after making too many slip ups, forgetting what number I was on. 😉
U can develop tachyphylaxis/resistance to any sleep med. it would stop being effective. Often going off for a few weeks and substituting something like Benadryl for that time will allow your receptors to be more receptive to Ambien again.
Ambien and Melatonin both often work best if u have trouble falling asleep. Less effective for keeping u asleep and much less effective for ppl with problems with early awakening.
Sorry...I taught pharmacology and this stuff is like a nursery rhyme for me...
And you remember it!!! Funny how some things stick and others don't. Thanks, Erash, I'll take care to make sure the Ambien doesn't lose its effectiveness. You and my PCP are in agreement. 😊
@erash I want to pick your brain since you taught pharmacology!! My allergist has me on benadryl and zyrtec daily and prednisone (10 mg every other day) forever for severe allergies to dust, mold, and mites which he said is causing internal inflammation (which we all know contributes to all our autoimmune problems, etc). Is it possible taking those for years my body can develop a resistance to them? Is the benadryl making other night meds less effective (like celexa or toparol or robaxin)? I don't have insomnia, but I do have severe delayed sleep disorder, Takes me forever to go to sleep, sometimes 24 hours, Once I finally go to sleep, if totally quiet, no pain, I can sleep for 12 hours (which of course is seldom!) In Kentucky, my insurance will only pay for 7.5 mg Restoril, It takes 30 mg Restoril to put me to sleep (which I was taking in Miss, before moving here, when working and needing regular sleep time, before disability approved. Ambien makes me sleep walk. Lunesta too expensive) It takes 40 mg melantonin, along with 800 mg magnesium, and 4 muscles relaxers to put me to sleep about 3 hrs after taking. Starting Jan 1, I decided, what time does it matter, and I am letting my body take over, until my new nuero sends me to sleep clinic. I have been to 2 sleep clinics in past 10 years, who both diagnosed me with Delayed Sleep Disorder, prescribed the strong sleep meds, and sent me along my way. KY won't do that. I just wanted to ask you if my body can develop resistance to benadryl and zyrtec?? (I tend to ramble when I start writing.)
agapepilgrim
it's called tachyphylaxis. The receptors for a drug no longer respond and require more and more drug to stimulate the receptors to take action.
One solution might be to go off the specific drug to reset the receptors for maybe 2 weeks (use alternative in interim) then reintroduce the original drug and see if u now respond.
Esp. With sleep meds, may only take 2 weeks before tachyphylaxis develops. Rotating drugs may help.
Sometimes people have paradoxical effects from meds. Ex. Benadryl causes hyperactivity rather than sedation.
Of course steroids can also cause insomnia.
Look on line for interaction checker that allows you to enter each drug and see potential interactions.
Hope this is helpful!
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I'm having trouble staying asleep. I'm awake between 330 and 430 every morning. It's driving me insane. l dont know what to do. I even try to stay up later but that doesn't work either. I am so going to have to talk to my "head" Dr about this. Ugh
Me--problems falling asleep, staying asleep and awaken 330-430am 😐
My Neuro prescribed Trazodone to help me sleep it helps alot
I took that at one time and it knocked me out so bad that l wouldn't get up til 1-2 in the afternoon lol there has to be a middle ground somewhere. lm thinking my Dr will just up my scrips a bit.
Try taking half a tablet, that's what I started with
I wake up off and on all night. The only thing that helps me is listening to a book on my cell phone. Libribox has an app for $1.99 where volunteer readers have read books that are in the public domain. I find that the Jane Austen books are gentle and not too exciting. My favorite is Emma read by Sherry Crother. She has a somewhat monotone voice. I listen to it over and over. Drugs didn't do the trick. This is the only thing that has ever helped me. I just roll over and restart it each time I wake up.
Iona60, ebooks work for me too. In fact I usually fall asleep and can't remember a thing about the story...never finish them and then don't know where to restart the next night. Do you have a recommendation on ear buds/head phones? I sleep with my head to the side and they either fall out or hurt my ears.
I have a blue tooth ear bud set and use only one at a time. The ones I have say AYL on the case , QY8, bluetooth 4.1. They are connected togeter with short cord. I preset everything and leave the earbuds under my pillow. When I wake up, I just hit play.
I've been listening to the same book for months. I just start replaying the same chapter for a few nights.
I'm so glad that I discovered that this works for me. Happy listening!
Thanks! I will have to try that.
My daughter got them for me for mother's day, probably on Amazon.
I will look on Amazon...and while I'm there, I will look for a daughter 😉
My husband and I just got a big laugh from your comment. If you try Librivox, beware, the free version will wake you up with blaring commercials. Paying the $1.99 for the app was the best money I spent all summer.
Found the ear buds, and not too $$$ (yay!). Couldn't find the perfect daughter tho. Will have to keep shopping 😂
Will likely get the e-book audio from my library. Free but you do only get for limited checkout.
So librivox is a 1x fee? I will have to check that out too then.
. If I get more than 4-5 hours of nightly sleep I'm going to have to know where to send you a check Dr Iona 😊😴😴
I found another soothing Librivox reader. Nicholas Clifford. So far, I've just located murder mysteries that he's read. Not sure I could sleep to a murder.
Agree. Murders might not be conducive to sleep 😁
My local library has some new audio reads. I uploaded Eligible by Littlefield. Supposed to be a modern day Pride and Predjudice. Waiting on Bluetooth head phones though
We sound like doctors we have all had so much experience.Sleep is elusive bedpartner for many.I have asked, many questions on what is the trigger:There may not be one
Here is a few what are yours:Do I need to eat, shut down all stimuli tv etc for hour or more before time to sleep and what do I do not to be thinking during that time, light and sound problem,is it a medicine or do I need one.....be positive...I am POSITIVE I am not sleeping properly...see what I mean?Utube meditation videos can be helpful to me, sound machines no....I hear a babbling brook and off I go to the potty!This MS life can only be a laugh once in awhile and Ill take It.I hope this put someone to sleep!..