Can't sleep- when the pain is awful I can sleep for days, now the pain is slighty under control I wake up every 15-20 minutes.

[Marnie87]

since I've started taking the butrans patches and steroids on top of my Tramadol and naproxen, which was last Friday I haven't slept a for more than 30 minutes at a time. I can't get to speak to the doctor till tomorrow afternoon so please can I have some advice??

[Hidden]

Hi Marnie, sometimes the pain relief can give you a sort of "high" out of it feeling but not really sleeping. That's what a strong combination of it would do to me anyway, and you are on a strong combination but its what you need at the moment.

Sometimes we can't seem to win in these situations, we get the pain under control and then can't seem to sleep.Best thing to do is speak to GP as he is the only one to adjust your meds, it is very frustrating I know.

Sorry I can't be of more help. but at least your getting you pain sorted at the moment and your still resting sleeping or not.

Take care

mand xx

[Marnie87]

Thank you I have a telephone appointment with my gp tomorrow hopefully she will help I just feel I'm on the losing team. One thing goes well and another goes bad

Still resting lots. Thanks mand

X

[Philip]

Im on Butrans Patches too and I must admit they do give you a high and when I first used them I found it really hard to stay asleep due to my whatever it is being high , I take amitryptoline for my pain threshold and I think they help me to sleep better.

good look with the sleep thing.

Philip

[Judi]

Hi, hope you managed some better sleep.

Don't know what time of day you are taking steroids but I was advised by my GP to take them in the morning because if I took them later in the day they would keep me awake. I was on prednisolone. Sounds to me like it's your meds keeping you awake (only a guess from my own experience) hope the talk with your GP sorts it for you.

[LavendarLady]

Hi Marnie, hope you are feeling more rested and had a better night's sleep. I have a friend on Butrans and it does seem to affect sleep by bringing on an artificial "high". I know how tired she gets as she has two young boys to look after as well as working p.t. as well.

I was put on Amitriptylene to help me sleep but I am one of those people who react badly to that type of medication so after one tablet had to come off it. Did try cutting it in half (I was on the lowest dosage) but still had bad result. Tramadol and Naproxen as well as steroids (presumably in tablet form) is quite a combination. Has your GP ever suggested having injected steroids? I have these as and when needed which could be every 2/3 months or every 6 months depending on flares. I was told by my consultant that he wouldn't put me on the tablets as I would never be off them and he preferred to give me a steroid injection when I had a bad flare. I came off Naproxen as it didn't suit me at all and can't take Tramadol as it is morphine based and I am allergic to morphine. Have a long chat with GP about your meds and see if any can be changed to prevent the problems you are having. Alternatively, when you next see your consultant, have a word with him/her as well. there are other meds which are equally as good and which may not cause you to lose sleep. Hope all goes well, Let us know how you get on with the GP. Love LavendarLady xx

[LavendarLady]

Hi Marnie, just a follow up. How did you get on with your GP the other day? Intrigued to know whether it is the Butrans or the combination of drugs you are on? LavendarLady x