Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
I'm going through the worst bout of insomnia that I can recall. I either can't fall asleep at ALL, or if I do fall asleep (as I did early this evening) I wake up after a few hours and can't go back to sleep.
I take valium for muscle spasms and 15 years ago it also helped with sleeping. Now I don't even feel it. It helps my spasms but I don't get tired from it.
I want to speak to my doctor about it next month and wonder if there are any good sleeping meds out there that people here can recommend. I've taken Ambien, and it does work most of the time, but when it doesn't work the problem is waking up and being unable to fall back asleep. It's really the only one I'm familiar with. I've heard it has been reformulated to work all night- anyone know about that?
I've taken phenergan for nausea and THAT used to make me really sleep well, but lately I'll take 1/2 of one and it won't work. It gives me kind of a hangover in the morning, as well. If I take it and it doesn't work, I HATE the way it makes me feel. I'm going through that right now.
I've heard of others mentioned here, but wonder, for CP and for a person taking pain meds, what is the best one? Since my old doctor passed away I've seen commercials for tons of sleeping aids, but can't seem to recall the names at the moment. But I CAN recall the commercials- isn't that weird???
I don't need to take something every night, but I want something for the nights when I have the ability to sleep ALL night. For instance, Saturdays are usually my easy day when I catch up on sleep. So if I took something to help on Friday night, I might actually MAKE it through the night.
I'm leaving on a road trip- just my 2 year old son and I, and we're staying 3 nights in hotels and the rest of the time at my cousin's house. No one there has insomnia, and they have normal sleeping patterns. I end up laying in bed reading, or watching movies on my laptop or Kindle as my son sleeps next to me.
These trips are very hard on me physically b/c I don't have DH to help out with my son and whether I sleep or not, I am "on call" 24/7. So when I get back I am so drained I SHOULD sleep for a week, but my body won't allow that. Sometimes the pain wakes me, but often there is just no reason-I just wake up.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
I take valium for muscle spasms and 15 years ago it also helped with sleeping. Now I don't even feel it. It helps my spasms but I don't get tired from it.
I want to speak to my doctor about it next month and wonder if there are any good sleeping meds out there that people here can recommend. I've taken Ambien, and it does work most of the time, but when it doesn't work the problem is waking up and being unable to fall back asleep. It's really the only one I'm familiar with. I've heard it has been reformulated to work all night- anyone know about that?
I've taken phenergan for nausea and THAT used to make me really sleep well, but lately I'll take 1/2 of one and it won't work. It gives me kind of a hangover in the morning, as well. If I take it and it doesn't work, I HATE the way it makes me feel. I'm going through that right now.
I've heard of others mentioned here, but wonder, for CP and for a person taking pain meds, what is the best one? Since my old doctor passed away I've seen commercials for tons of sleeping aids, but can't seem to recall the names at the moment. But I CAN recall the commercials- isn't that weird???
I don't need to take something every night, but I want something for the nights when I have the ability to sleep ALL night. For instance, Saturdays are usually my easy day when I catch up on sleep. So if I took something to help on Friday night, I might actually MAKE it through the night.
I'm leaving on a road trip- just my 2 year old son and I, and we're staying 3 nights in hotels and the rest of the time at my cousin's house. No one there has insomnia, and they have normal sleeping patterns. I end up laying in bed reading, or watching movies on my laptop or Kindle as my son sleeps next to me.
These trips are very hard on me physically b/c I don't have DH to help out with my son and whether I sleep or not, I am "on call" 24/7. So when I get back I am so drained I SHOULD sleep for a week, but my body won't allow that. Sometimes the pain wakes me, but often there is just no reason-I just wake up.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
My poor hubby sleeps like you describe. He sleeps the best between 4:30 and 5:30 when he has to get up to go to work. Cruel, cruel alarm clock.
Docs these days try to bend over backwards NOT to give people sleep medications. Their research shows that they don't help all that much, often lead to addiction, and long term effects are really not known. They will do a lot of teaching about sleep hygiene, and tlk about cognitive behavioral therapy, which has been shown to be as effective if not mores that medications. Sleep apnea is often the culprit as well and a sleep study should be done. All that being said, I believe there are some folk that need the medication and don't respond to all the above malarky. Try to stay away from benzodiazepenes like valium. They are addictive and you will build tolerance to them, as you have experienced. Ambien is ok, but seems to lose its effect over time. There is a formulation that lasts longer through the night - Ambien CR. Lunesta is another one, and is the only one approved by the FDA for long term use. It works well but has some side effects (bad taste in the mouth for one.) IF waking up after a few hours is the problem there is one called sonata that can be taken at that time, lasts only about 4 hours to get you through the rest of the night. Stqy away from the antihistamines. They have a lot of hangover effect and dry you out too much, can cause confusion and increase your risk of falling. Some folks do very well with a small dose of a tricyclic antidepressant like imipramine or norpramine, but these have some hangover as well, and the drying out problem. Trazadone works well for many folk. Some docs are using atypical antipyschotics for sleep in low doses, but this is no approved use of these drugs and in my opinion, inappropriate use. I would stay away from them (seroquel, zprexa, etc.)
Hope that helps some. It is a horrible problem. I have had it for m entire life and at this point I take lunesta every night. Good luck to you.
Vanyel
Kee- I feel SO bad for your hubby and understand what he is feeling!
Vanel-
Unfortunately diazepam is the ONLY med that works for the RSD muscle spasms. I've been on the same dose for 15 years so I don't get any side effects, thank God. But I don't take those at bedtime always- they're for when the RSD muscles flare and cramp, which is 1st thing in morning and usually around 3pm. They don't make me sleepy so taking them at bedtime would be useless. I'm not addicted- though I do know my body, after so many years, is dependent on it. If there were a cure for RSD I'd be thrilled to stop taking it, but my spasms are so bad they make me cry. At least there's a med that works for them.
I don't have sleep apnea so that's 1 good thing. I've always been a light sleeper and something- either a noise or maybe the RSD pain wakes me up and then I have a helluva time getting back to sleep. I thought the ambien worked well but it wore off too soon. I'm going to talk to my doc about trying it again, even if it only was on Friday nights. But I am curious about Lunesta. I just wish I could sleep like normal people! I HATE waking up b/c I know I'll be up all night. I try to read or watch tv, but by then my body is hurting and I'm caught in a cycle.
Maybe when allergy season is over? ;)
I tried ambien...it kept me awake all night, plus I've heard so many bad things about it, I'd never try it again. That's just me. Hope you find whay will help you. Best wishes. debby
Lunesta
Ambien (allergic to it)
Dalmane
Restoril
Seroquel (atypical antipsychotic, left me feeling like a zombie)
Trazadone (built up a tolerance)
I hope this helps you and you can find one that works for you. Good luck!
Gentle hugs,
Jenna
Then my doctor gave me a script for Trazodone and its the best medication that I have ever tried for sleepless nights. Now sleep about 6 hrs compared to 1 to 3 hours.
I hope this info is helpful to you and best wishes to you!!
Around here, AmbienCR is considered the "cadillac" of sleep meds but is to be used only for short term relief.
Remeron worked the best for me...45mg. at night til it wore off after about 3 yrs. I'm going to ask him AGAIN, since I've been off it for a few mos. if i could give it another shot.
There are so many on the market....my own opinion, don't go by the commercials you see....they come down to the manufacturer making the bucks on a new product aimed at vulnerable people.
I think your best shot is what you are doing, talking to people here who have used different ones and can speak from experience.
Just be sure you discuss any new med with your dr. regarding mixing with any other meds you use.
Of course, what works for one of us won't necessarily help you but it would be a safe reference.
I hope you and your dr find something.
hugs...
marcie