Cant sleep

[bbj2856]

I  have been off the peg and rib for about 8 weeks. I never had problmes sleeping before treatment but during treatment I took ambien and it did not help much maybe 3 opr 4 hours max. I tried other things but nothing semed to help.
Now 2 months latter still dont sleep. any one else seem to have this problem. If they do leave suggestion.
thanks
bbj

[working dog]

post tx i couldn't sleep for a couple weeks...then i stated advill pm gel....it worked great! after a couple months when i could exercise i was fine sleeping without anything....you might also try a indica pot...to get a body high...it may help ....good luck...billy

[ceanothus]

Did you take Ambien more than 3 nights per week during tx? If so, your body has probably become dependent on it to some degree and you may need some help getting back off it. My excellent internist insists that patients who use Ambien long term not use it more than 3 nights per week for just that reason, and she prescribes other things for the rest of the week (varies with the individual, but one standard is Benadryl one hour before bedtime. She also insists on good "sleep hygiene", meaning keeping a regular schedule for bedtime and waking, no bright lights, tv or computer screens just before bed, if you don't fall asleep within 20-30 minutes you get out of bed and sit somewhere quiet and read something very boring until you feel sleepy. Her long term solutions for insomnia tend toward things like low doses of antidepressants that have drowsiness as a side effect, melatonin, or acupuncture. I've personally found melatonin to be very helpful, and it's very cheap too. I buy it at Trader Joes. The only downside is that a smaller dose works better but the pills come in a pretty large dose. I aim for 1.25mg, which means I have to cut the 5mg pills into quarters. A dose of 2.5mg or more will be more likely to induce nightmares (a possible side effect that I experienced the first night ONLY), and next-day drowsiness. All of the above is applicable to insomnia that is a result of feeling too wakeful. I've recently developed an additional sleep disorder that requires different treatment and I'm going to make a separate new post about that under the heading of "Restless Leg Syndrome and Interferon."

[PJ1966]

Yes I had really bad insomnia last time and with working it was really difficult.  I felt like someone who has sleep apnea and not treated.  I had to take Ambien in order to sleep a few hours each night.  It continued long after the treatment ended.  I relapsed so now I start tomorrow.  The doctor is taking me through the shot process tomorrow and making sure I'm on the right schedule for everything.  I'm going to ask about getting something for rashes in case I have one as I live 2 hrs away from doc and don't want to deal with it later.
Hoping I can hold off on sleep med until it happens and hoping it takes a while till it happens.  I can't believe it won't since it happened before just under the 2 med tx.  Now with the 3, it has to be worst!  I'm looking forward to starting and hopefully being cured so I'm reduced my responsibilities and load considerably to take care of myself.  The anemia is bad also.  I had it really bad last time and they had to reduce my riba plus do the procrit.  Hope your insomnia improves quickly.  Good luck!

[BoceprevirGal]

  I have been o Tx for a week now, and my insomnia is worse than ever, although I've always had it.
  Hopefully, once we get our 6 moth post tx SVR results, we can sleep well.
   I know Medical Marajuana would help my insomnia,
but I have children in the house, it's too expenisve, and bad for lungs, etc.
  I'm way too frightened to take a sleeping pill, with kids in the house, etc.  I do try to exercise for at least 45 minutes daily, in an attempt to tire myself out, but I exercise in the morning. Exercise in the evening will keep you up also.
  Remember to turn all lights out, because the blue light from the tv or computer screen may also cause insomnia.  I just force myself to remain in bed, from 11 pm, until 6 am. Being horizontal, and peaceful resting, is also good for our bodies.
  

[jogo68]

Hi I also have sleeping problem and it start from the beginning of my treatment (now week 14). My doc says sleeping trouble is familiar side effect. from Interferon (about 20%) I can agree, because my worst night sleep is the first two or three after the Intf injection I´m not anguish or anything like that I just can’t sleep it is like steady pulsation in my head, but my pulse and blood pressures is ok. Rest of the week is poor deep-sleep but light sleep is better than not sleeping at all. I’ve also been given good advice taking second Riba earlier but my doc was not happy with that idea. I take it 7am and about 5-6pm.
I´ve been fighting against sleeping pills but after two terrible weeks ( 12-13) with other s.e. as well I called my doc and he gave me Imovane (light sleeping pills). I slept first night but the second I woke up two hours after scratching like hell, no rash but my skin was like burning so the sleeping pills did not work at that time. Day after I was giving Atarax (allergy drugs, calming as well) and I was finally able to sleep, nice after two really bad weeks. Atarax make me in a haze (it is enough before) and gives me a headache.
The itch is getting dawn (hope it was just s.e. from Inc) so I skip Atarax last night but that was my day for Interferon injection so I slept poorly to night. It is good for me to know I have sleeping pills by my sides but I will not take it unless I need it. But when do I need it? It is for me to determine. Imovane,  means double brain fog, extra fatigue and headaches the day after but calm the nerves. So my Kindle is a good friend this nights. Last two weeks was a big nightmare so I may need it again.
We are fighting the dragon and it is tough and no route is easy but if the price is beating the beast for good I’m willing to keep on going like this one day at time. I’m going to hell with Pollyanna by my sides and I will go through  Good luck and I hope you get something that works for you. Good night.(sometimes I like to stun Polly down or or kick her).

[toby47]

I Know the feeling.Finished tx 7 months ago and have the same problem. Hate to take pills for the obvious reasons, but once a week I'll take an ambien.If I take more often it doesn't seem to work as well and I'll feel worseI.I Take a benedryl and sometimes an ativan.On the bright side I get more accomplished, see more t.v, and read more books.I try to take it in stride as svr was what I got and that trumps most everthing else.I hope our insomnia lessens over time ,but the tradeoff ain't bad and I'm sure your svr will help you sleep better.Goodnite----Toby