Insomnia

[erash]

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. 💤

[jimeka]

You can always talk to me, have you got Skype?

[erash in reply to jimeka]

jimeka, given our 6 hour time difference, that could work. I would skype you at 2am and it would be 8am your time Although, I doubt that would help me fall asleep. I'd be too excited by the real time conversation and

I'd have to remember my skype password

[WAshingtongirl]

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.

[Kj9681]

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

[erash in reply to Kj9681]

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

[WAshingtongirl in reply to Kj9681]

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. 😉

[erash in reply to WAshingtongirl]

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...

[WAshingtongirl in reply to erash]

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. 😊

[agapepilgrim in reply to erash]

@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.)

[erash in reply to agapepilgrim]

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!

[jackiesj in reply to Kj9681]

be careful I hallucinated on a small amount...scary.Works great for my son

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

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

[erash in reply to Jesmcd2]

Me--problems falling asleep, staying asleep and awaken 330-430am 😐

[WAshingtongirl in reply to erash]

Erash and Jes, reading about your (what I would call severe) sleep issues makes me appreciate my sleep patterns. I'm sorry it is such a struggle for you. Thanks for reminding me of what I DO HAVE or CAN DO. Some days I lose sight of that. Wish I could share my ability to sleep 😴 with you. 💕

[MichaelFleeger]

My Neuro prescribed Trazodone to help me sleep it helps alot

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to MichaelFleeger]

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.

[MichaelFleeger in reply to MichaelFleeger]

Try taking half a tablet, that's what I started with

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to MichaelFleeger]

I might half to. This 3am stuff is for the birds. Although it's nice and quiet and l can answer everyone on here

[erash in reply to MichaelFleeger]

Trazodone didn't help me 🙁

[MichaelFleeger]

How about tamazapam

[erash in reply to MichaelFleeger]

That worked for awhile for me, now on Lunesta with some benefit.

[Iona60]

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.

[erash in reply to Iona60]

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.

[Iona60 in reply to erash]

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!

[erash in reply to Iona60]

Thanks! I will have to try that.

[Iona60 in reply to erash]

My daughter got them for me for mother's day, probably on Amazon.

[erash in reply to Iona60]

I will look on Amazon...and while I'm there, I will look for a daughter 😉

[Iona60 in reply to erash]

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.

[erash in reply to Iona60]

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.

[erash in reply to Iona60]

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 😊😴😴

[Iona60 in reply to erash]

Yes. Just once $1.99.

[Iona60 in reply to erash]

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.

[erash in reply to Iona60]

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

[Iona60 in reply to erash]

At my speed, I'd probably have to renew a library audio book 10 times to get through it.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to erash]

Ha!!😁

[WAshingtongirl in reply to WAshingtongirl]

Goodness, that didn't pop up where I intended-the daughterthread. So cute! Thanks for the chuckle.

[jackiesj]

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!..