Insomnia meds

Hi All hope everyone is feeling well I'm on wk 30/48 my problem is I take AmbienCr 12.5 for Insomnia well I have been on it since april or may can't rem. brian fog well it's not working any longer my body is to used to it the  most I will get is two hours of sleep in 24 I have a doctors visit today any suggestions  on what he can perscribe I took a ambian last night about 10:30 and than took another at four still nothing I hate all these med I had to miss a day of work because of this

[FlGuy]

At what time do you take your pm dose of riba?  If it's later in the evening, try to make it earlier and move your am dose earlier too, so they are about 12 hours apart.  Also, watch what you eat and drink in the evening, cut down on any caffeines, sugars and carbs.  Try to avoid/actions thoughts that tend to 'incite' you.  Consider relaxation techniques to chill you out before you try to sleep. Don't fall asleep with the tv on.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Have you tried Lunesta?  Thats what I used and it helped.  Sometimes you get use to sleeping pills and they lose their effects and need to switch to another type.  Let us know how you make out.

Beagle

[Algernon]

The same thing happened to me during TX.  My doc switched me from Ambien to Clonazipam.  This really worked for me.  I slept longer and more deeply.  An added plus:  it's an antianxiety med (nice complement to the Riba).

Warning: it can be habit forming so if you have tendencies in that direction, this drug might not be the best for you.

Good luck to you.

Algie

[hep-c-alot]

Thank you for answering so fast how often did you take it. is it safe to take everyday. how do you mean it's habit forming. never been hooked on drugs in my life. what are the sx's sorry for so many questions I'm desperate

[52TELE]

Tired? Sleepy? Could you use a nap? ME TOO!!. I wonder why its two hours? Always two hours? One night I slept three hours and had "sleep hangover " the next day. I dont know what to tell ya HCA , Nothing really works for me. If I take enough of something to knock me out , I feel like hell the next day. I've decided to change the way I do things and I stay up when not sleepy , sleep whenever I can , and somehow I'm going to make it.

note: the first thing I do , if I lay in bed for more than an hour , I immeadiately get up and eat a bowl of ice cream. Then watch CNN , FOX , MSNBC reruns from the day before. I'm really caught up on current affairs , to say the least.

Good luck

(your getting sleeeepy.... verrry sleeepy...)

[hep-c-alot]

Thank you all for your concern I try to take my first dose  7:00Am and my second dose between 6:30 and 700pm but I try to have a big bowl of ice cream with my second dose for the fat content and I drink plenty of water intil I go to bed at 11:00 I take my ambiem cr about 11:00 and hopefuly be asleep by 12

[Algernon]

I took 1 mg at night (a low dose).  I now take 1/2 mg at night.  I stopped it for a while and tried Ambien and Benadryl but it just doesn't work yet (12 weeks post TX).  So I started the 1/2 mg again a couple of days ago.

I don't have any side effects except that it makes me sleepy when I want to go to sleep (what relief).  It's important to me to sleep when it's time to sleep because I have two children who go to school early and then I go to work.  I feel fine the next day.

The package insert says it can be habit forming.  That's where I got that.  My doctor wasn't worried about it at all.  But you should ask your doctor.

It's also cheap because it's been around a long time.  I pay a $10 copay for the Clonazimpam, $25 for Ambien.  Of course, I'd pay almost anything to get a good night's sleep. (I also follow ALL of the sleep rules--dark room, white noise from a fan, scent of lavender, regular bedtime, etc (for me, sleep is almost a full-time job!  When will that Riba wear off???)

[Fisheress]

I hear ya about having to take so many meds, and now your sleeping being all screwed up.  I am 3 weeks post tx, sleeping like a baby now.  I do take a 10mg Lorazapam at bedtime although that would never work for you being you have taken stronger meds.  Now when I had insomia and did not sleep at all for days on end, they finally gave me Trazodone 50mg.  Took one at bedtime and OMG....did I finally sleep!  I was KNOCKED OUT!  It was GREAT!  I was sooooo wore out from not sleeping and watching soooooo much tv.  Surprised the TV is still working, never got turned off for weeks on end!

Good luck, hope you find something to help you sleep, if not, inquire about the Trazodone.

Nighty nite for you I hope.....
Fisheress

[way]

I take ambiem also and for some reason it does seem to lose it's punch after a week or ten days. Drug tolerance maybe?

I do have some luck switching off and taking benedryl and even melatonin, then going back to the ambien.

For otc benedryl really does work if you take two (50 mgs)

Now I'm taking aterax for itching and really don't know if I should be taking benedryl also, Guess I could call the pharmacy.

[Forseegood]

Hi, I have suffered insomnia for years, but of course I wouldn't compare it to the insomnia of treatment...one thing though, I respectfully disagree that using tranquilizers will not work cause a person has been taking "stronger" sleep meds...I know a few people who switched to tranqs after taking sleep meds and were able to "relax" into sleep better then getting zonked by sleep meds (and consequently getting a longer sleep time)...me for one, ha ha! If I really go days without sleep, I'll take a little bit of an ativan (though of course on tx you'd prob need more then that). Also, I know some people who were able to take this old medication called traznidone(?) and that helped them sleep on treatment like nothing else...course that's completely anecdotal...anyway, hope this helps...at least on the lit, it says that ativan is the most "liver friendly" of the tranqs...

[Forseegood]

hey, I got a bit bull...Petunia, and she's rally sweet! The only thing she locks her jaws onto are these really good homemade dog bisquits I get! ha ha! be well...

[cuteus]

plus, since they have been reading the forum for a while, they most likely know many of the names here and after a while of us peeking into their lives, we will know them better, and would have learned about the struggles with AIH.

I was basically thinking of the slots we sometimes open that ask: how are you today, so and so? or how is your dog, etc. i think we can keep those to the other threads.  I hope it is more clear to all reading this.  No one is saying;'don't enter', it might sound like it, but it is not meant as such.

[GrandOak]

Thx, like I said above, it's not a problem.  But as Doug pointed out in another thread, this is one of the most complicated forums which I too have ever encountered when it comes to following threads and at times becomes increasingly more complicated.  He also made a good point that by lumping comments which do not pertain to the thread subject into a thread to reduce the number of threads often times results in tangent discussions (much like this one I guess) occurring and some floks may miss useful information, the ability to provide an answer, or participate in the discussion because they skip the thread due to the subject line.

Combine this with some of the recent threads where it seems like some must think medhelp is not doing a good enough job controlling their forums and appear to be self-appointing themselves as moderators to impose rules and regulations over those spelled out in the terms and conditions for the forum or taking those already defined out of context to justify new ones.

Quite frankly, it's tough enough to deal with the ins and outs of this disease and the various complications, effects on mind and body, etc. that to have to try and keep straight undocumented rules and regulations which are being imposed for a forum can be too much for someone who is simply looking for information, support, or just needed to vent the frustrations of dealing with the disease, medical community, or insurance companies.

[mycoldfeet]

diazapam (valium) is a schedule 4 drug which means if taken improperly has a chance of abuse, because if more than prescribed or taken with alcohol enhanses the effect. It is not physically addictive, but as with a lot of sleep aids, it maybe phycologically addictive, but as with AD's you don't have to be weened off. I took them for 48 wks, relapsed and started again a year later 10mg 3 times a day, and it controls my riba and lets me sleep at night. so talk to your Doc and see if he's an AD man (which AD's can take up to 10 days to work and have many sx) just my opinion.

[cuteus]

frankly, this is the most complicated format that MH has chosen since I started here.  It was not good having only 6-8 slots for questions a day, but now with so many opening daily, it has become increasingly difficult to follow, even for those of us who have been around for a while.  I don't know if the new program MH has includes automatic archiving of threads that have not been active for a while,  that would lessen the amount of time spent scrolling. I wish the threads were not unlimited, but it is not up to me to change that.  
As for making rules over what is stated in the terms and conditions, I don't know who might be doing that and it might seem like such to some, but many times suggestions ate just that, suggestions, not making up rules beyond what exists. All we can do here is suggest, we can not advise, and we can not make rules up.
I am sure MH would welcome ideas on how to make things easier for most members.
did you get a chance to look at the bottom thread? reading it can elighten you as to what is going on.
I know you have to be stressed to the maximum and I can not even imagine the amount of thinking you are doing right now, and the frustration of running out of options has to be irritating, but try not to read too much into comments made.  Over the yrs, folk have commented that this seems to be an exclusive club of hep c people going through tx, which is not the way anyone intended it to be, it just happened.  We could have had 'waiting' folks opening a little chat thread just to compare notes without interfering with a 'rash thread' or a hep b group, etc. It just seems as if the other ailments have moved on, when found no one they could relate to.  I did not want that to happen to maari and friends, I, for one, want to learn about the other hepatitis struggles but can't participate because i have not much to contribute, being hep c oriented, so I let them be, ask questions when confused, and share when I can.
My suggestion to you was only in reference to the personal exchanges we sometimes engage in, on a personal level. We can do that in one of the many threads opened whose questions have been answered already. It was only suggestions.
I hope you feel better and your tx becomes easier to deal with

[Forseegood]

I agree with this concept, I think sometimes when people make suggestions, people can misinterpret this as rule making, when they are merely suggestions...

I also agree that a certain form is followed by many members, that is only tacitly implied ...if I'm going to just chat about something off topic, or say something jokey in answer to some other jokeyness (is that a word?)....I try to see if the question in the particular thread has already been answered...whether it's a NO answer (in that no one has any input on the question and therefore can't answer it, and a poster let's the questioner know that)  or various answers have already been given ...

I try not to joke or go off topic if a question is just hanging there with no responses yet....I personally feel bad doing that..I guess this is just my own "form" that I've picked up here, that many posters employ from what I see...I do this out of respect to the questioner, I don't want them to misinterpret my post and think that I do not respect their question...

That being said, I see that some people are very sensitive, and don't like their theads being hi-jacked off topic at all...they may not know the "implied" rules here, or they are just plain sensitive...in cases like that, I just figure I have to let it be there problem to sort out...

In fact, I wish there was more hi-jacking of threads, instead of a new topic thread for every little thing, kinda like it used to be, cause threads get hijacked anyway and it gets to be really messy with tons of hi-jacked threads the way it is now....it's almost impossible to follow now...

Of course more then 3 or 4 new threads a day, but not as many as now...I guess if posters wanted a board with all threads to stay on topic, titled and all....there would have to be a rule to that effect....and certainly more monitoring then there is now, because not everybody is going to adhere to that, I'd take bets on it...just my take, one opinion among many....

[GrandOak]

Overall I tend to agree, the exception perhaps being the hijacking of threads. The light banter between folks I can see, but not if important information is being exchanged.  As Doug and myself has pointed out, exchanging such info in a hijack could very well deprive someone from receiving who may desparately need it, and may not even know it at the time.

As for suggestions, when they get repeated ad nausium across several threads (i.e. "here's an example", "here's another example", "this should have been in an existing thread", etc., etc.) or in the same thread, I tend to see it less as suggestions and more of an attempt at enforcement of them.

Like I indicated in a previous post, similar to Doug, I've been around since the days of BBS (i.e. CompuServe, AOL, etc.) and Unix-to-Unix, which became the basis of the internet that morphed into what we know today as the WWW.  I've also seen flame wars on newsgroups/forums/email reflectors which make what many call flames today seem like candle light in the night.  More often than not they started with good intentions, but as folks became like pit-bulls with their jaws locked on a position, refusing to back down, and the level of insults, rude remarks, and innuendos grew ,good intentions became burnt ash and many folks wound up hurt in the aftermath.  That is why I sometimes feel compelled to stand up and speak out when it appears as though folks are exerting their strong wills to subvert others to adhere to their suggestions.

But this of course is getting quite a bit of topic and may likely fan some cinders, so perhaps best be put aside.  I guess the slight increase my labs today showed from the ones a couple of days ago maybe coming through now with a bit more --ss and vinegar too ;-)

[cuteus]

I did not want to utilize any more slots in the AIH question, so i hope you see this here.  You are not stepping on any toes, and noone is being excluded from any thread. If you scroll down to the AIH thread (many moons ago) you will notice a few members that have been doing what we, the hepc group, have been doing. exchanging info, stats and socializing.  Their common illness and its symptoms (though many resemble hepc symptoms) can sometimes be unique to that illness, and only someone with the illness can relate, much like us with hep c.  Perhaps I could have stated it better, but in no way did my post mean stay away and don't interfere! never can do that! what it meant was; let's limit our chats for hep c to the other threads already opened and allow the AIH to continue their socialization, chatting and exchanges, in the small space they have "reserved".  Naturally, if any one has something to contribute at any time, I am sure that they will welcome any tips and resources that we can share.
stay well

[susan400]

I've taken Benedryl, Trazadone, Ambien, Ambien-CR and Lunesta.  Tried these all at one time or another.  Tried Benedryl w/Lunesta, or Benedryl with Lunesta.  BTW, my insommia has been worse off of treatment.  My body either decides to sleep with the meds, or not.  I think that if I take any one of them for more than a few days in a row, they don't work for me.  So, I'm trying the switch off between Ambien and Lunesta.  Actually, Benedryl gives me the biggest hangover, go figure that one out. And NO, I won't be smoking pot to fix this problem.  I just wanted to get that out of the way there.  My insurance company actually said that they would not pay for any more Ambien CR. So, my doctor's office and I put in an appeal for it.  They take so long to make up their minds at the Ins. Comp.  The only reason I have any Ambien at all is because my mom and dad had a prescription for the Ambien and they're no longer taking it because they said they didn't need it.  So, they gave me some of theirs since I was formerly prescribed it.  I suppose when I run out of all my sleep meds, I'll go for awhile without sleeping and THEN, if it's still a problem, I'll go to a sleep doctor.  I'm sick of doctors.  I just want to be myself again. I've also been doing the get up when you can't sleep policy.  I try to go to bed at the same time every night (when I can) and get up at the same time in the morning.  I can't nap during the day, my body won't cooperate in that either.  I don't drink caffeine after early hours.  I exercise before 6 pm so that I have a good 3-4 hrs before bedtime. And I use low watt lightbulbs in the bedroom to keep the light exposure down when I have to get up to go to the bathroom.  Also, I cut back the liquids at 6 pm.  That's my SOB story.  I feel like such a whiner.  Susan

[anise]

I don't think you are a whiner!  I didn't have insomnia during treatment, but I sure am now.  Usually, I can sleep for about 3 hours then I am wide awake.  When would have thought that after treatment some of us get insomnia.  My NP is now giving me trazodone, I think it is too low a level, it is not working.  Benedryl dries me out and gives me body cramps.  Ativan doesn't work.  I am now taking clonazipam, just started it so will don't have any data on it.

BTW, paxil is a weight gainer????  I was just upped to 20 mg a day.  Has there been studies on this?

[GrandOak]

Sorry, I thought twice about using that analogy. Being an ex-exhibitor/breeder I know how sensitive an area that can be and that most dogs are not mean by nature, but rather poor breeding or abusive owners. But I went against my better judgement there.

Thanks for the kind thoughts, I actually found out that yesterdays labs showed increase in Hgb and platelets from where they were two days ago.  A good sign that the additional tests being run today should also show cell production is still occurring, and that I'm not going through all these aches and pains in my bones for naught.

Maybe Procrit increase is finally taking effect and I can avoid needing a transfusion anytime soon.  The thought of going through that without knowing what is all involved does concern and scare me.  But it isn't the first time I've been there during this tx and probably will not be the last either.  One day at a time!!

[cuteus]

that is one reason I chose this thread, because I saw that the question was answered, and frankly, I don't think anyone will get 50 slots of sleeping aid input anyway. Maybe 10, and then, 40 slots are vacant and unused. It used to be unlimited comment slots. Can you imagine unlimited questions and unlimited comments? yikes!!
I guess it would be easier, if I am going to hijack a thread, to make sure the "to" field is filled with the basic topic of the comment. I just never know how much that field can hold.

I don't see a lack of hijacked threads in the future, where all you see is one question and all comments pertinent to that question only. It would involve changing a whole lot of folks here, including me.  MH does have that in the rules, about sticking to the subject matter within the thread, but I wonder if it applies to a patient to patient forum? It might not, like the 2 question rule.  I, for one, will try to use the "to" field more, since I see that it would make for easier reading.

[Forseegood]

hey, I was just joshing you, it's a good analogy aferall, it just doesn't apply to my little Petunia!!! ha ha! Wish I could post a pic of her here, he he, don't I sound like one of those obsessed PTA moms?