Narcolepsy Support Group

A sleep disorder (somnipathy) is a disorder in the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders can interfere with mental and emotional function. If you are having trouble falling asleep or having some other kind of sleep disturbance, this group is for you.

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tirednurse 01/04/2010

I have just been prescribed Xyrem by my neurologist. I flunked the Sleep Scale. I am currently on Adderall and Nuvigil. They keep me upright, most of the time, but I am always sleepy. My problem is that I work shifts. Not just on the weekly basis, I will switch back between first and third shift on any given day. My employer is aware of my condition, by really don't care. They have basically threatened by job if I bring in a slip. I get bad headaches when I am on third shift and when I switch over to first I get migranes. I always call off the day I am switched from 3rd to 1st without a day off because of the migranes and I don't want to put someone else at risk when dealing with giving them their medications. So as you see Xyrem is a last ditch offort by me to keep my job. I get the migranes because of the change in time from the Adderall and Nuvigil. I thought Xyrem would give me a good night's rest and maybe I can get off of the Adderall and Nuvigil so I don't get the migranes.

I have been reeding the Xyrem and dosing post and now I'm not sure that it will work. Has anyone out there taken Xyrem and worked different shifts. Or had to take it at different times. I am at the end of my rope here and don't know what else to do if the Xyrem don't work.

deleted_user 01/04/2010

Hi Tirednurse. So sorry to hear about the crud. You have my support. Maybe this can provide a tasty nugget to chew on. I used to inject Imitrex 15x / month for Migraines. I didn't leave home without it. There is a generic available now.

I had to do the night shift a few months ago. Four 10 hour days for 3 weeks and I was a mess. Now I'm back on normal 8hs. 5x wk. The good news is I know Provigil gives me some of my migraines. Normal dose is upon awakening at 5 am and then at 11am. I lowered my dose from 400 mg.(a bit high) to 100 mg. and the headaches have reduced. I'm a little sleepier and sometimes add 100 mg at 3pm. I was getting a headache every 1 or 2 days with 100 mg at 5am 11 am 3am 6pm. Now, the second I feel one coming, pop one Excedrine OTC Migraine and in 15 mins or so it's gone! I have also taken an occasional holiday from Provigil on the weekend.

deleted_user 01/04/2010

I would call the Xyrem Success program and ask them the best way to handle taking Xyrem while working varying shifts. The good news is that Xyrem is out of your system in 6 hours so if you can time it just right, you should be able to take Xyrem with no problems.

xyremhappy 01/05/2010

I was a shif worker for many years. On Sundays I get time to sleep during the day, so I take my xyrem and sleep. This has NOT messed up anything.

If I was middle shift 3pm-11, I would take my xyrem at 12pm and sleep, 2nd dose at 4am.

Night shift 11pm-7am, 1st dose at 8am, 2nd at 12 noon.

happy sleeping

deleted_user 01/08/2010

You should get in writing to the HR department that you have narcolepsy and request a steady shift. Put it in writing so you are covered. Then if anything happens maybe it'll be covered by workman's comp. Or if they are trying to "manage you out" then they can't do it that way because they have to give you reasonable accomodations per ADA law. But it needs to be in writing or it will be "he said, she said" and it should be in the HR office so the paper doesn't get "lost" or stuck in "file 13".

tirednurse 01/08/2010

Thanks for your answers I love this site. n2god I would file for an accomadation under the ADA laws, but I work for the state and they feel that they don't fall under the ADA laws. Heck they didn't allow someone to work that had M.S. said he was unfit for duty, although they knew he had it when he was hired. As soon as you file for an ADA accomadation, or don't play by their rules you are without income. Period no one wants to fight them in a court of law. They always win.

deleted_user 01/09/2010

Wow.. what a horrible situation to be in. That just stinks :o(

deleted_user 01/10/2010

There is this wonderful thing called the Supremacy Clause in US Constitution. It states:

THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE Article. VI. This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The ADA is federal law. Federal law trumps state law only where state law conflicts with federal law. Since the ADA was specifically created to regulate how states treated the disabled ALL states have to abide by it.

IF you want to pursue requesting accomodations, I would request contacting your local ACLU branch and get their advice on how to proceed. If this state run facility gives you any trouble on obtaining your legal right for accomodation, the ACLU would be MORE than happy to stand up for you. They have legal advocates and lawyers specifically for issues like this.

Don't let their implied threats stop you from improving the quality of your life.

Also, Xyrem is metabalised within four hours of consumption. It has a half life of 3-60 minutes. As long as you have enough time in your schedule, you should be just fine with using Xyrem to supplement your shift work and help with the drowsiness.

Good luck.

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