waking up during the night

[McPam]

I am only able to stay asleep about 3-4 hours...no problem falling asleep, just staying asleep is the issue. I only have caffeine in the morning, exercise during the day, and try not to take naps. Nothing seems to help. The last 3 weeks have been rough...any suggestions how to deal with this issue? For meds I am taking carbidopa-levidopa and ropinirole.

[rons]

Yes that's my last three years

[BillDavid]

Me too......only more like two to three hours. I am on same meds.....talked to my Neurologist about the situation. Seems like restless leg movement wakes me up, he pointed out that I was taking repinirole. which is also used for Restless Leg Syndrome. Also have noticed that my bed movement is very restricted, usually sleep on one side, such a hassle to move to move to the other side that it disrupts slumber of my spouse. Some times I get out of bed, the reenter laying on my other side....good for another two to three hours.

Usually get up and spend an hour or two on computer (like now) or TV, then back to bed on original side good for another two or thee hours, this is less disturbing to my spouse's slumber. Finally if I get too tired in the day, I do nap occasionally, usually for an hour or so.

BillDavid

[soup in reply to BillDavid]

If turning over is a problem have you though about silky sheets and nightwear. This is a very common problem and people have found these useful.

[BillDavid in reply to soup]

thanks for the suggestion.

[Johnson]

Yes I suffer with the same lack of sleep problem, typically only 4-5 hours with the help of 25mg amitriptyline otherwise I take the same meds as you.

[Pete-1]

This is just another way in which PD disrupts normal life. I can rarely sleep more than 4 hours and often only about 2. I don't generally feel very tired as a consequence. Perhaps after several days with only say, 3 hours does the lack of sleep accumulate to leave me feeling very tired.

I snooze a lot in the afternoons and when control is possible I try to nap during my drug off periods.

Otherwise if I can I do something useful in that time lost through normal sleeping patterns being almost inverted. It is only required that I don't wake anyone in the house.

[PatV]

My neuro prescribed klonopin for sleep which I combine with valerian and melatonin. Usually results in 5 to 7 hours sleep. Sometimes wakeful for no apparent reason or awaken too early but I'm retired. I go with the flow.

[McPam in reply to PatV]

I'll have to call my neuro and see what he thinks about meds...I did try melatonin but it does not work to keep me asleep, just makes me drowsy to fall asleep.

[movinngroovin in reply to PatV]

Ditto-Klonopin an melatonin. these were also recommended on the MJF Seminar yesterday---

[Norton1 in reply to movinngroovin]

Movinngrovin

I have heard Klonopin mentioned previously on several occasions. Did they mention at the Seminar that Klonopin could be taken long term?

Thank you

Norton1

[movinngroovin in reply to Norton1]

No problem with it long term--a break from it I believe gives it a new start up--ask your pharmacist for a best answer..

[Norton1 in reply to movinngroovin]

Movinngrovin

Thank you for getting back to me.

Kind regards

Norton1

[landman]

I have same issue. I got over it. I now embrace the quiet time. I am grateful for waking up. I always have plenty to do. I am also grateful that I am retired. If I had to report to work on 4 hours of sleep, I probable would have a different view. Listen to your body and watch what you say to yourself. IE: Instead of saying I can not stay asleep. Say I want to sleep longer.

[gmunsot]

After many years of insomnia I asked to my doctor ( a psicotherapeutthic) somethig for sleep and started witth one I can't remember the name but actually I sleep very well 8 hours more or less with Halcion (TRIAZOLAM) with a plus; I can awake if is necessary.

I hope to be good also for you

Regards

Guadalupe

[Norton1 in reply to gmunsot]

Gumnsot

How long have you been on Halcion and is it for long term use. So far as you are aware, can it be taken in conjunction with most parkinsons meds?

Regards

Norton1

[gmunsot in reply to Norton1]

Hola Norton;

I have imnsonia problem for more than 10 years, after 3 years sleeping only 2 or 3 hours I went to the doctor and started to have pills, I can't remember the name but with Halcon I have more than 5 years and of course, with not only my parkinson med, and others for my problems.

I really fell good because I always awake well and the most important to me, In any case of emergency I awake inmediatly.

Regards

Guadalupe

[Norton1 in reply to gmunsot]

Thank you Guadalupe

Thank you for taking time to answer my question. I hope that you continue to do well on your medications.

Kind regards

Norton1

[VTmom]

Hi McPam, I too take carb/levi.....I noticed increasing dosage 1/2 pill made me sleep longer without interuptions and usually lets me sleep till 4 - 6 a.m.

[McPam in reply to VTmom]

Interesting...I just went from a 1/2 pill of carb/levi to a full pill 3x daily...no change in sleep patterns.

[JohnPepper]

Hi MacPam. I have had exactly the same problem, ever since my first symptom started, way back in 1963. I talk a lot about his in my book, "Reverse Parkinson's Disease'. You do not have to buy the book, in order to see what I did about it, you can go onto my website, reverseparkinsons.net. and read many articles on this subject. Don't give up. I found that when I stopped worrying about it, and instead of staying in bed and tossing from side to side, I either read a book or got up and worked on my computer. I did not always stay awake, I often went back to sleep again, but not for too long. The big thing is not to let it get you down. Be positive and get on with your life.

Good luck!

John

[froggatt55]

Hi McPam - are you a fellow Scot by any chance?

How I deal with exactly your problem is to get up when I waken, check Emails, Websites and play online Chess then have breakfast and then go back to bed when I can fall back to sleep for another 2 to 3 hours.

Obviously it interferes with your day but my partner is good about this - if it is time for her to waken when I go back to bed, I take her up a cup of tea!

This morning I wakened at 06.00, got up and made breakfast - a pint of fresh fruit smoothie made by myself and porridge - went back to bed at 07.30, slept to 09.20 then left at 10.00 to go to the gym

There are times when I cannot go back to bed because of appointments or people to see / things to do and then I just tough it out

I have been diagnosed for 11 years but I'm lucky that I always waken "On" and don't start my medication until 10.00

Hope that helps you

Kind regards

[McPam in reply to froggatt55]

no, Italian/Irish...lol. I am getting used to my quiet time during the night...I read, use the computer, weave, etc...but it bothers my husband that I am not resting, and inevitably I am tired and need to nap during the day. We are going away for a few days to celebrate our anniversary and this will be a challenge in a hotel room...oh well, one day at a time.

[soup]

I am not convinced that being awake during the night makes any difference to how tired one feels during the day with Parkinson's.

We non Parkie people cannot quite believe it because it sounds so logical, but it seems to be the case. The body clock is so altered that even forcing yourself to stay awake during the day will not keep you asleep during the night.

[Pappy214]

2 XANAX 1MG EACH , 2 NORCO 10/325 , 1 CELEXA 40 MG AND ZYRTEC D I SLEEP 6-8 HRS ON THIS COMBO BEEN ON THIS ROUTINE 3 YRS + 2-3 HITS OF HIGH QUALITY INDICA BLEND MARIJUANA . LIGHTS OUT !

i ALSO DO YOGA 5 TIMES A WEEK AND WALK 18 HOLES OF GOLF 3-4 TIMES A WEEK . IF THIS DOESNT WORK I GO ON A VACATION FOR 3-4 WEEKS AND THAT USUALLY RELAXES ME FOR A FEW WEEKS AFTER MY RETURN TRY A CRUISE OR FLY TO AMSTERDAM.

GOOD LUCK

[gmunsot]

Bon voyage

[Joanne_Joyce]

It's encouraging to learn that I'm in good company. I wonder how many of us post on this site in the wee hours of the morning.

[metacognito]

If you favor natural solutions as I do, give 'Melatonin 10 mg' a try (available in time released versions with 5mg immediate to induce a sound sleep, and 5mg phased-release throughout the night).

[McPam in reply to metacognito]

thanks, I'll give this a try...I tried the regular melatonin 3 mg...no results...but what you said about the 5mg phased release sounds like it would work.

[Silas]

That has been my experience for the past 12yrs too.

[JAYNIE]

Hi, check with your doctor first, mine okayed this. over the counter is a chewable pill I keep at my bedside. when I awake around 3 to 4:00 A.M., and can NOT go back to sleep, I take "MID - NITE PM

it tells you it is all natural, and be sure you have 3 hours to sleep. Only once it did not work for me. But don't turn on TV or read. keep lights off and close your eyes, within 15 minutes....you are asleep.

[Billbokamo]

The ropinirole (requip) is dehydrating. Getting up and taking three swallows of water usually puts me back to sleep. I hope it works for you.

[HealthSeeker7 in reply to Billbokamo]

Dehydration can wake anyone up, not just PWPs.

[alexask]

Mannitol helped my sleep and other parkinson's symptoms. It does make you rather regular though. Otherwise I would go with 10 mg Melatonin.