Post Tx Sleeping

[pilgrim1951]

I finished 48 weeks of SOC 2 weeks ago.  I have been on Celexa and Ambien CR for the better part of tx and have been thinking about when to stop, but have had a hard time sleeping through the night for about 4 or 5 days.  Has anyone had any sleep problems after EOT?  I realize my body is going through a turn-around to try and get back to normal, whatever that is...I forget =)  Any thoughts?

[newleaf09]

I'm going through the same as you.  EOT 4 weeks ago.  I took 200 mg. benedryl through most of TX and occassional Ambien.  I developed an allergy to something in the benedryl 1 week post EOT and had to stop it.  I slept fine the first night or 2 but since then I lay awake for about 4 hours before falling asleep because I am just a little too wired to shut down.

I asked the PA at the clinic why I couldn't sleep and she said possibly still an effect of the interferon and it may take a while to straighten my sleep out.  She gave me Lunesta, but I don't really want to take it.

I still try to fall asleep many nights but get so crazy without sleep that I've made a rule for myself that if I can't pop off by midnight, I take Ambien or Lunesta.  Thanks for posting.  I hope we'll hear from someone who can remember how long it took to start sleeping normally again.  

[annieCinMD]

I had a 2 week break from tx and I noticed I am sometimes waking earlier, not necessarily a bad thing, as my energy level has increased a great deal. I have had periods of being wound up as well, unfortunately sometimes they were in the middle of the night. I found that the mental acuity and depression lifted pretty much in 2 weeks but some of the other stuff hangs on, and probably will for a few months. I would probably hang on to the Celexa and Ambien for a little while. I was able to cut back my Xanax to none during the day, but was told by my doctor to keep taking it. I'm also back on Tx for 4 more weeks. Do consult with your doctor about this, but my feeling is you need more time. These medications have extremely long half lives. There is a reason they tell people not to attempt to become pregnant or impregnate someone else for 6 months. Should be a clue! Good luck to you and wishing you SVR.

[nygirl7]

I still take the Ambien two and a half years post treatment and barely sleep even with that but I always had problems sleeping anyway.  Sorry I can't be more help than that but as for me I want to stay on them forever and ever and ever cause at least I fall asleep quickly even if I have to wake up again.

[thegypsy9164]

I have no clue.  I am very funny about taking meds.  I just do not like to.  Doc gave me Lunesta but I don't take it.  I sleep like ****, when I can sleep.  I messed up my brain chemistry from all of the extra curriculars I did in the 70's and 80's and have to live with terrible insomnia all of the time.  I'd love to hear a real cure.
Joey

[pilgrim1951]

Pre-tx, I never had trouble sleeping.  It killed my wife because within minutes of my head hitting the pillow, I'd start start to snore.  But, sleep was terrible within a couple of weeks after starting tx and because I had such bad sx's, I had to take something to get some adequate sleep.  I just wondered how other people faired after ending tx.

[epiphiny]

Hmmm, this has been addressed is different ways on the forum.  It does seem common that folks have trouble sleeping after treatment stops as the drugs do have a very long half life...

I had been using sleep aids all through tx and stopped everything when I stopped the riba and IFN.  My whole world went upside down and I couldn't sleep and had withdrawals and I had to go back on the sleepers and then crossover to diazapam. I am now on a slow taper system which should see me off the diazapam at approximately the same time that Riba and IFN are out of my system.  I'm really hoping things will balance out.

I can't stand that I had to start taking the sleepers again but so far things are working.

I also find that chamomile tea is very helpful just before I go to sleep and I have a better quality of sleep than the night I forget to take it...

Good luck

Epi :)

[powerbuilt]

             it has been a month since finning tx,was using lorazepam 1mg for four months ,quit cold turky,it was hell for about six days days,taking one pm tyonol a night and will start at 1 half pretty soon then quit, what a roller coster ride this has been, starting to feel good again,hang in there thing will get better

[Kristina538]

Congrats on finishing!!!!! :-)
I'm 6 months post (starting to feel really good)...   I continued with half or third of the zoplicone (I think similar to ambien), and then went down to quarters.  (I got a pill cutter from the chemist which really helped).

When I stopped I took a paracetamol for a few nights.   I now use a third zoplicone about once night in 3 weeks, if I have the 'I'm wired' feeling and need to work in the morning.

I wonder, too, how much my thyroid influenced the sleep patterns (I tended towards hyper).  

I didn't try to come off anything post tx until I started feeling less fragile and more human (which was as close to normal as I figured I might get).  Good luck; early days and wonderful to hear you've finished.

[copyman]

try taking a "non" drug supplement called Melatonin before bedtime. You can buy this in health food stores or vitamin shops.