Hi!

I am 21 and have been fighting lupus for the past couple of years as well. I was completely opposed to sleeping pills before trying them. Honestly, sometimes you just need to be able to break the cycle of not being able to sleep. I went on the sleeping pills myself for 3 months and then was able to come off of them. Maybe you will only need them for a month or two!! I hope you feel better.

Same here. I been diagnosed with lupus for almost 3 yrs and been having sleeping problems for about 10 mths now. I take so much medication for my lupus and other medical conditions,that I think that's why I'm so mooding most of the time. My doctor prescribe me sleeping pills, which helps at times. Honestly, what I been doing lately is changing my diet, resting more(even when I'm not tired), and taking easy at work(I do what I can and don't stress myself), and my husbands helps me with the chores at home. It's helping me sleep a little longer at night. So try to take it easy and rest at much at possible.

i've had lupus for ten years and i also have the insomnia. i don't know if it's an actual symptom of lupus or if it's something else, but as shell121 said, sometimes you just need to break that cycle and sleeping pills will help you to do that. i've used them occasionally when i've had to but the majority of the time i don't use them, so don't feel bad if you need them once in a while.

oh my god again...I thought I was losing my mind I thought I couldn't sleep because I wasn't busy enough ,, now to find out that lupus causes insomnia.

I also have Lupus and was only recently diagnosed; however looking back I have had it since I was 16. I am 21 now, but have always had trouble sleeping and still do. I received my Bachelors degree last year and teh insomnia actually worked in my favor (I pulled quite a few all-nighters, but I know how miserable it can make you! I have tried just about every sleeping pill out there and none of them have worked too well for me. I reccomend trying them out though because they have helped a countless number of people and as long as you take them as perscribed and don't abuse them it is unlikely you will become dependent on them. I haven't found one that helps me; however I have found that anti-anxiety drugs sometimes put my mind at ease enough to dose off. Don't be afraid to try new things different things work for different people. Good luck!

hi it could be you worrying, but i think it's down to corisol levels. if you work out try to do it in the am. limit your caffeine, etc.... try valerian root. good luck to you.

Hey-

I have insomnia too- it can be a side effect of the lupus and the prednisone (for me, it seems to be the prednisone). I'm taking Ambien and it helps, but I have a whole routine now, including mellow music, stretching, relaxing mentally, hot herbal tea, relaxing scents etc before I go to bed. It makes a huge difference. A really good website with suggestions for lupus and insomina is:

http://www.lupusgw.org/templates/lupusgw/template.php?mnu_item_id=4&page_id=402

Good luck and sweet dreams.
K

HI! i am 21 and have insomnia as well from all the drugs. I don't like taking anything i don't need but there came a point that i had to have sleep and i couldn't get it on my own. Lunesta and Rozerm work really well, just dont take them if you dont have enough time to get in 8 hours. If you are up too soon The feeling is really really weird, like being awake underwater. Good luck at college!

Ive had insomnia now for 15 years and tryed alot of different things over the years. I have found a great doctor about 8 years ago and she put me on Clonazepam It doesn't make me sleepy or drousy, My problem is my brain won't shut off. I would lay in bed for hours with my brain raising.I take my pills and go to bed and fall to sleep.I hope this will help.

Do you drink alot of Sodas? alot of tea? alot of coffee? IF so I would stop drinking it or limit it to just a couple of drinks a day, No caffeine past 5pm, I would drink more water, and also writting in a journal can help eliviate some of the symptoms of insomnia. dont exercise past 7pm. Dont leave the radio or tv on while trying to sleep. Even if it is just a nap, NO lights on more than a night light. I would not eat past 7pm. and leave your studying to daytime. Reading a book can sometimes put you to sleep especially if it is a large boring one. I would try all of these steps prior to any additional drugs. ALL drugs have sideeffects on the body. Prayer helps to ease the mind also. A nice hot bath helps to relax prior to bed. Also you may get some essential oils such as violets and jasmine and lavender to help you to rest. Stress is a big rest deterent.Therapy can help, as can eliminating the stressors in your life. DOnt borrow worry and stress, If friends , boyfriends, family cause you stress and worry because of thier problems, just realize everyone must deal with thier own. You cant change anyone, no matter how hard you try. THe only one you should be worried about is your self. And then again dont worry about that either cause God has you in the palm of his hands. GOD BLESS

I guess my reply would just a support. To tell you that you are not alone. And I guess I am the one here who are taking sleeping pills too long. I am taking sleeping pills more than a year and half. I don't know what happened but one day I went to doc. for diagnose of lupus he prescribe me steroid and cellcept that night since that night also I was awake until morning and now I suffer insomnia even if I am already off of prednisone more than a year...

I have had Lupus for at least 6 years and sometimes I have the worse time getting to sleep.It got worse after I had breast cancer 2 years ago..some times I lie awake until 5:30 and I am up at 7. I use benadril OTC when I need to it makes you a little drowsey and my onocologist gave me anti anxiety pills that help my brain stop thinking about every thing I have to do.. so I do think stress has alot to do with it.. I will get out of bed go into the other room and turn on a very dark light like a 25 watt or so and sit in the dark and not do anything that uses my mind just sit there.. after 20 minutes I'll go back to bed .. and some times that helps. good luck

Yes that guy insomonia is my friend... I can't stand him though. I take medications sometimes but it doesn't work. I see a lot of great suggestions here that I am going to try. I know they say to get off the computer about an hour before you go to sleep, something about giving you energy.

i certainly have had this problem because of my meds (just read the side effects). I have this problem of waking up at the weirdest time in the morning like around 3 am and I twist and turn on my bed.
I've taken melatonin (which helps) but don't want to take it on a regular basis. I also tried bedtime tea 1 hour before going to bed (trader joes) and it also works.
I also read about taking a certain type of magnesium supplement with your calcium will help you sleep like a baby..but i still yet have to get the book.

Insomnia can bring you to your knees. I know from experience how awful it is. I've suffered from it for years.

Please be careful with prescription sleeping pills. While they work wonders for most and serve a much needed purpose, they can also be tricky...When you take them PLEASE make sure you immediately go to bed. While on Ambien I, and many friends, have experienced blackouts...basically you've taken your pill, but you are awake and don't know you are. People have been known to eat without remembering and wonder why the heck they are gaining weight, or have a friend talk to you the next day about the lengthy 3 am conversation you had with her and you don't remember it. In more extreme cases, people have gone out of the house and driven places.

Just be careful and I hope you get back to a normal sleep routine...I'm still trying. :(