opioid less insomnia effect

[halperinchen]

I need help for the opioid which has less issue with insomnia, hi would anyone on opioid for his RLS have no issue with insomnia or anyone here has knowledge or experiences with the opioid that has less issue with insomnia. I need to find one to present to my doctor to switch from oxycodone which has given me serious insomnia. Thanks in advance.

[Joolsg]

I think it's unlikely you'll find an opioid that doesn't cause you insomnia. I have been on tramadol, codeine, Oxycontin and Buprenorphine and I have never suffered insomnia on any of them.It may be that your body will react the same, whichever opioid you take.

I suggest you add a small dose of a sedating RLS med like gabapentin or pregabalin or alternatively, medical cannabis.

[halperinchen in reply to Joolsg]

Joolsg, thanks for your reply.

[Hidden]

I have had insomnia on all opioids i have tried (Tramadol, oxycodone, codeine). Buprenorphine less so, however I had such intense nausea with it that i was awake half the night anyway.

I was taking 300mg of pregabalin on each occasion I tried an opioid and it wasn't sufficient to stop the insomnia.

[halperinchen in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply, Are you still taking Buprenorphine? in what dosage? Do you find it less a issue for you? How did you manage the nausea going with Buprenorphine?

[Hidden in reply to halperinchen]

I didn't continue with buprenorphine because the experience was so unpleasant. I have been pursuing alternative therapies while continuing to take pregabalin with a small dose of clonazepam. However Jools has previously suggested taking an anti nausea such as Zofran (odansetron) or medical cannabis to deal with nausea arising from buprenorphine. This may only be needed while your body gets used to the buprenorphine.

[Jules1953]

I use Temgesic sublingual 200mcg tablets. I place two Temgesic tablets under my tongue 30 mins before bed. Temgesic is micro dosages of Buprenorphine.

[joepublic]

Do you know if you feel like you're awake but physically sleeping as that's what i experience - the time drags as I feel I have been awake all night yet my partner says I have been asleep for some of the time?

[Hidden in reply to joepublic]

That's my experience on opioids also...feeling like I'm awake on and off all night, like in no man's land.

[joepublic in reply to Hidden]

I was going to say it's a nightmare..... it's like a parallel universe sleeping but awake?

[Hidden in reply to joepublic]

I couldn't express it better! That's exactly how it feels.

[TheDoDahMan]

For 3 years I've been on a regimen of low-dose (5 mg twice daily) methadone and it quells my RLS symptoms and I sleep like a baby for 8-9 hours every night. But I hear that in the UK, it works too well to be allowed. I'm in the US. where a few select doctors will prescribe it, but it takes courage and intelligence for them to do so.

[Hidden in reply to TheDoDahMan]

Hi Do, why 2x per day? Did doctor say why? Methadone has such a long half life, is 2x per day necessary? I don't know?

[TheDoDahMan in reply to Hidden]

Actually, my prescription label says "as needed" so my doctor lets me make the decision as to when and how much to dose daily. Each month I'm allowed sixty pills, 5 mg each, which works out to 10 mg per day, which I adhere to. Patients' needs are so variable, and the dosage is so low, that whatever works best for the patient is normally allowed. It may very well be that dosing only once a day, or using a smaller dose could be fine for some people. I'll admit that I've never tried taking the whole "10 mg/per day" in one dose --I guess because I don't want to be in the position of not having "some more" to take if the symptoms come back before the next 24-hr-period is over. So maybe I'll experiment with that tomorrow!

[Jumpey]

I have been on codeine and Tramadol and now morphine. Codeine and Tramadol worked for a good while but eventually caused insomnia.The morphine isn't causing insomnia at tbe moment. I haven't been on it very long so only time will tell.So it may be worth trying a different opioid. Or asJools says Gabapentin. Good luck.x

[ookla]

I've been on several opioids. Oxy was the only one that gave me insomnia. Tramadol makes me sleepy and morphine knocks me out.

[halperinchen in reply to ookla]

Thanks for your reply.

[Birdland]

Methadone is the only opiate that does not given me insomnia.

[Jerry57]

I've been on tramadol for 20+ years, with no noticeable insomnia. My brother takes Buprenorphine, and sleeps well. Hope you find some help.