NEED SLEEP AID.....WHICH ONE

[fresnoborn]

I HAVE BEEN A VISITOR OF THIS FORUM FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW AND I HAVE LEARNED ALOT JUST BEING HERE. I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN A NEW POST SINCE IT WAS THE WEEKEND AND THINGS ARE USUALLY SLOW SO HERE GOES....I HAVE BEEN ON A SLEEP AID FOR 3 YEARS NOW AND IT'S CALLED SEROQUEL. BUT I READ THAT SEROQUEL CAUSES SOME HEPATITIC SOMETHING OR OTHER IN 15% OF PATIENTS THAT USE IT. THAT WORRIES ME SOME AND I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE IT TO SOMETHING ELSE BUT I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO CHANGE IT TO. I ASKED MY GI AND HE SAID THAT SEROQUEL WAS OKAY BUT I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT ANYMORE CAUSE OF WHAT I READ ABOUT IT. SO WHAT I AM ASKING IS IF ANYONE OUT THERE MAY BE TAKING SOMETHING THAT IS SAFER FOR THE LIVER AND HELPS YOU TO SLEEP. I DID TRY TRAZADONE FOR A WHILE BUT IT CAUSED ME TO SWELL UP AND I LOOKED LIKE A STUFFED TOAD (FOR REALS). SO....I AM OPEN FOR ANY SUGGESTIONS.  THANK YOU

[Forseegood]

Hi Frez! Anyway, I'm no expert or medical person, but I have been dealing with insomnia for years now. I got a bit addicted to ambien years ago, for a short while, so I know more than most how dangerous it can be to get too dependent on meds for sleep. (We're talking in an instance of not being on treatment now.) I try not to take anything unless it's been like 3 days or so with little sleep, because I tend to get sick from not sleeping, especially in my head! ha!. I personally think that the liver is not going to "like" any med, and only like good food and water, but we have to take meds sometimes, especially during treatment, so it comes down to the question of which ones are the easiest on the liver. That you'd have to talk to pharmisists and docs about, although you can do some researching yourself on the net of course, I will try to remember sites that actually do comparisons.

I don't like to take sleep meds per se, sedatives. They are harder on the liver mostly, and I'd rather relax into sleep. That's just me. So on those occasions, I'll take a quarter of an xanax or a tranquilizer in the benzo family like that, can't remember the other one. But that's just me, I'm sure I'll get some arguments about that. Actually, I tried this new sleep med that is supposed to be non-narcotic, Lunesta. I'd venture that the fact that it is non-narcotic might translate to mean easier on the old liver, one would think. It worked pretty well but I understand it's kind of pricey, they all are really. I also do non-med things like hynosis and meditation, really helps me. Also all the sleep hygeine things. Hope this helps.

[Henry4]

Ambien (4 hours) or Lunesta (6 hours) are similar drugs, both are addictive, but the good thing is there is little morning-after sides.  They work for most people when taking the right dosage and people who say they don't work probably aren't taking enough.  Both aren't bad for the liver.  To me, there is nothing worse than not getting at least 5 hours sleep a night, I'm not good for the whole day.  I seriously weighed the positives and negatives of addictive sleeping aids for months, and now I am happy to say I sleep every night for at least 5 hours with Lunesta.  But they are expense, so be aware.

On the other side is Melatonin, more natural and available without a prescription.  It works for a lot of people, but there too, you have to take a large enough dose for them to work.

Good luck.
Henry

[Forseegood]

Hi Henry, sorry to disagree with you, and this is my own opinion, but I worry when people say these drugs are "not bad for the liver." This would imply that they are completely benign to the liver? That's going a little far from all I've read and according to docs I've spoken to. I think it's more a question of which will cause the least "insult" to the liver over the long term. If you take them once in awhile at smaller doses, of course the "insult" is greatly reduced. And too much of these drugs can indeed be toxic to the liver. Once more it's a benefit/risk game, considering the right circumstances(eg.not a lot of liver damage) and small doses over long term usage. Because we all know that no sleep can be harmful to the system as well. When it comes to treatment, all bets are off with a lot of people.. many need to take sleep aids on a regular basis just to get through it.

As far as melatonin, you won't find anyone on this board who is a bigger advocate for supplements and herbs than I am, in helping our immune systems, etc., but with all I've read the jury is still out on melatonin...there are many in that community who argue against it, being that it is a hormone and there isn't a lot of data on it. I do know some people who swear by it, but like I said, it is a hormone, something to not take lightly.. especially at higher doses.

[cuteus]

How have you been?

[Henry4]

I am confused.  I was called for a trial of nm283 and I don't know what to do.  Tx again?  A third try?

[cuteus]

what phase? if it is III, I would go for it, a couple members have reported a good response.

[Drugs Sucks]

what ever u put into ur stomach or into the vains it goes to the liver anyway.. we ended up taking meds for some reason or another!! Sleep aids i had to stop do to it make me stay awake so i'll sleep late at night and get up early in the morning and if i have to take a nap then night can be tore up from the nap..
smoking M/M helps me relaxe and sleep but that not always the cure either but it help for the side effect though..
Taking sleeping pills u will have to ask ur doc. and taking acetaminophen that what in tyl. and most sleeping pills, that not good for the liver it a toxin to the liver if taking alot more then 8 a day everyday Stop while on TX or slow down..