Buprenorphine - paired with sleeping tablets, UK

[smilingjane]

Hello all

I take 0.800 mcgs of Buprenorphine for RL and R, arms. This works well for me in 'covering' my RLS.

I have had very poor sleep for the last 30 years, ever since my thyroid stopped working and my Restless legs increased in severity, (post partom).

Buprenorphine makes my insomnia worse. I won't stop that medication because it is the only on that I have found highly effective

My query is does anyone know of or have experience of sleeping medication that would not exasperate RLS and that that GPs or nurologists may prescribe in the UK.

I am prescribed 0.5 mls x 3 of Clonazepan which my Nuero suggested I take together at night. This only allows 2/3 hours sleep and I'm awake again.

As some of you might remember, I have sevear Chronic Fatigue.

I experimented 2 nights ago with 6 x 0.5 Clonazapan taken in two slots, 10m and 3am which made me feel so much better the next day.

Clonazepan does not make me sleepy through the day. I was able to go to the shops, meet with a friend and have a normal day. The first time in years.

I feel my chronic fatigue is 'simply' many years of lack of sleep.

I am frustrated that when asking a GP for help with sleep before, I was refused.

Can anyone advice. I am desperate to get back to work and to be able to go walking etc. Currently I rarely leave the house.

I feel strongly that a good nights sleep is what I need to live a normal life.

I have a GP appointment tomorrow. Any advice would be really welcome.

Thank you friends

[SueJohnson]

Clonazepam is probably the strongest medicine for insomnia. You could try zopiclone but I doubt if it is any better.

[smilingjane in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you for your response. It seems I simply need a higher dose.

[Simkin]

I just find any sleeping tablet makes my legs far worse.

[2689]

I also have opioid alertness from Temgesic. It works really well for the RLS but like you, it keeps me awake so I I take .25mg Alprazalam(zanax) sometimes a tiny bit more every night just before bedtime. It really calms me and assists my sleep. Have been careful not to increase the dose. I have just seen my specialist and he is happy with this. Have been on this regime for 18 months.

[smilingjane in reply to 2689]

Thank you 2689, I will take that to my Nuero.

[dickJones]

Hi. I have the same enervating side effect at the same Buprenorphine sublingual tablet dosage. I’ve tackled it successfully for just under a year now by alternating Zolpidem (5 ml chopped in half), Melatonin (from the health shop at 10 ml) and Zopiclone. My GPs have tolerated this regime because I’m not exceeding their prescribed dosage each time and I’m inserting a benign, non-dependency med between each Z med cycle. Different strokes for different folks, of course, but maybe worth a try. Good luck!

[SueJohnson in reply to dickJones]

Be careful of melatonin. It makes RLS worse for most.

[smilingjane in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue,

[smilingjane in reply to dickJones]

Thank you Dick, wow that seems an interesting way to find a solution. Do you take the three on alternate nights?

[dickJones in reply to smilingjane]

No. I’m issued with 28 tabs in each course. I complete each run of the Z-meds and run the melatonin between each, continuing it until its efficacy is maintained. NB This is a regime agreed upon with my surgery and it may not work for everyone. And yes, melatonin can exacerbate RLS. My treatment regime is specifically for PLMD.

[teakabeagle]

Be careful with sleep aids, especially with Buprenorphine as they both can a cause respiratory depression, especially if you have sleep apnea. I’m lucky that the .5 mg of Buprenorphine makes me sleepy, and I have been getting 6-8 hours of sleep a night.

[smilingjane in reply to teakabeagle]

Thanks Teakable, yes I am aware. I take Clonazepen which isn't an ideal partner for Bup' seems to work okay, atm anyway. Do you mind me asking, what time if day you take your 0.500 mcgs of Bup'?

[restlessstoz]

Hi Smilingjane. I found ever since I started on buprenorphine that it made me wakeful at night.

Eventually I tried to take gapapentin at night to help and it worked. I now take 600mg gabapentin to get a good nights sleep and find it helps.

I can't remember why I started to do this, I think I read that it calms the brain so thought it might help. It certainly has given me better sleep since I started taking it. I'm fortunate that I don't get any side effects from it.

[smilingjane in reply to restlessstoz]

Thank you reztlessstoz, another one for my list to try if the below dosn't work.

Really pleased you have found Buprenorphine and something that helps you sleep. So important.

In the last couple of days I have made an appointment to try some 20% TCH CBD oil. Not particularly cheap but if it works.

I will report back to all