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Insomnia

I have been on hydrocodone/apap 10/325 for about three months for surgery on my hand{carpal tunnel and Dupre's}  then I was taking it for knee pain which helped.  I was given Meloxicam 15 mg once a day, this has made all the difference in being able to walk again.  I went off the pain meds have not een able to sleep or get to sleep since I went off the pain meds, maybe 2 or 3 hours a nite.  Also ,am taking clonzepam 4 mg a nite tried to fo off of this med and had seizures till I started on again. Been on Clonzepam for about tenyears.  It no longer works but am afraid of seizures if I go off.    Being a nurse I know this is bad but last nite I took 2 pain ill and slept like a baby first time since I stopped.   What can I do to help myself?
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4113881 tn?1415850276
Getting Some Sleep During Opiate Withdrawal

Natural Remedy's -

There are also other alternatives to sleep aid medications that can help during opiate withdrawal. One thing that works well for a lot of people is the use of hot baths, hot tubs, and trips to the sauna. These methods help relax the body and can be great for dealing with the chills and aches/pains. Exercising is another option but is something that can be quite difficult to do when going through withdrawals. When one exercises, their body releases endorphins just like how our bodies do when we use our drug of choice. Not only is exercise healthy for you, it will also often leave you feeling tired at the end of the day. Some decaffeinated tea, warm milk, or hot coco before bed can be soothing for some as well and is great for helping with the chills. Coffee isn't a bad idea during the day to get you up and going while withdrawing but should be avoided close to bedtime. The great thing about these methods are that they are not addicting or habit forming.

There are also several relaxation techniques that can be beneficial as well. When I first heard of these, I thought they were just a bunch of B.S. but must admit they did actually help a little after finally giving them a chance. Relaxation techniques include breathing exercises, mediating, and listening to those audio tapes that play peaceful sounds or music. Lets face it, when you're withdrawing you're basically willing to try anything to help yourself get through those rough times. I also find creating and sticking to a going to sleep and waking up schedule helps a lot to with sleep. What I mean by this is to not have nights were you're up until 3 A.M. and wake up the next day at 11 A.M. then following the previous day by going to bed early and waking up early. Make a schedule and stick to it.

A breathing exercise that I have found to help with not only getting to sleep but relaxing works by lowering your pulse and clearing your mind. For some people, this works well while others may not notice much of a difference. It takes a little practice to get used to as well. It can also help when you have a panic attack or are frustrated. This breathing exercise is called the 4-7-4 technique and works as follows:


    Sit down in a chair with your back straight and hands together meeting at your stomach.
    Your fingers should interlock at your stomach with the backside (opposite of your palm side) of your hands facing out.
    Inhale and take a 4 second continuous breath of fresh air and hold it in for 7 seconds.
    After holding your breath for 7 seconds, release your breath for 4 seconds continuously
    Continue this 3-5 times


Another thing that may help is simply reading a book, surfing the web, or watching a little television before bed. It will help keep your mind busy while giving you some entertainment to pass the time and relax. However, don't just sit there for a few hours watching television, surfing the web, or playing video games as this can have the opposite effect. Try doing something that you really enjoy that doesn't take up a lot of your energy. Having a good environment around you before you go to sleep can make quite the difference so make sure you're in a relaxed, quiet, and comfortable environment each night.

Herbal Methods -

There are also some natural herbs out there that are said to help with sleep. While I have never tried any of these herbs, the ones I most commonly hear about are Valerian Root and St. John’s Wort, which can usually be found at stores like GNC or Vitamin World. There are other herbal remedy's out there as well. I have also heard Lavender can help. Don't look at these herbs as something you shouldn't talk to your doctor about as some of them carry side effects or can have adverse effects with other medications. As always, be smart and talk with your doctor!
Helpful - 0
7671414 tn?1395660495
great ideas.I wanted to comment on Thomas recipe.U can get all but l-tyrosine at walmart...I did.Right now they have an adkins protein drink on sale that I also got.Good luck..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Like CRSeaside said, talk to your prescribing MD about this. We have the Thomas Recipe to click on down below with helpful items to go to the health store and drugstore to purchase. But stopping pain meds after 3 months will involve a week of discomfort. You slept last night because the pain med served as a sleep agent. As a nurse you know that when we take a sleep aid it will eventually need to be paid back with some insomnia. Try to look at it as temporary. Your sleep WILL return. Avoid using OTC sleep aids other than Melatonin. A hot bath before bed will do wonders. But do expect a few days of rough insomnia. During that time sleep when your body says and forget about "bedtime" sorry to say.   You will need some sick days from qwork to go cold turkey off the pain meds. Maybe a weekend plus a few workdays after. 3 months on the script isnt real bad to get off of.

As for the Clonzepam, that will involve a long slow taper. It might be a good idea to have it charted by an expert who has your medical history on hand.

I wish you the best on getting your life back.
Helpful - 0
6726276 tn?1421126668
What else can you do ? For sleep?  Guided imagery. Yoga breathing. Melatonin.  How long were you off the pain pills?  Then you took 2?  
  You are a nurse. It might have been enough to take 1/2 of a pill.  You may be a good candidate for a slow taper. Talk to your prescribing MD about this.
  Good nutrition. Fresh air. Alternate pain relief.  Best to you. Pamela
Helpful - 0
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