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Avatar universal

Treatment and Insomnia

I had a case of insomnia last night after my first shot yesterday, woke up about 1AM after 3.5 hours sleep, and that was all she wrote. This is very unusual for me... I can probably count on one hand the number of times this happened to me over the past 30 years. I'm usually out like a light, and sleep all night.

I know this is one of the possible side effects of tx, and if this is the only one I get, I'll count myself lucky. Other than this, I can't say I've really noticed any sides at all. I get a little headache for about an hour after I take my meds - but, I'm kind of hoping this is a good sign, as it's one of the most common side effects reported for the trial medication I am taking. Could be an indication I'm getting the real thing... I have an 80% that this is the case in this study.

So, any information on sleep issues would be appreciated. I'll talk to my study nurse later today, but for now, I wonder if anyone could share info with me.

** Do you think it's possible it was just "day 1 jitters"?
** If not, is it the Riba or IFN that causes this?
** Does it seem to lessen as you adjust to treatment?
** What do you find helps you sleep? I prefer not to take sedatives if at all possible.

So, really, except for a couple tiny red spots where I did the shot, the sleeplessness was the only thing I noticed. Any advice would be appreciated!

Robert
22 Responses
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233616 tn?1312787196
wow robert....didn't realize you were just starting tx...but thank goodness for these forums!!

I'd say it varies how soon riba can interrupt sleep. INF can too...just because it ups your defenses like with any virus symptoms get worse at night and INF level and fevers can interfer with sleep...but the bigger culprit may be Riba, though whether it would kick in that fast is the question.
The anticipation leading up to tx can cause a lot of consternation however.

what I would suggest is start with something natural first, like Melatonin. Your pineal gland makes it, then the liver conjugates it 9converts it into MEL-6, and without it no one can slepp. Often a sick liver can't conjugate well...so a little help there may solve.

I'd avoid benedryl and tylenol like the plague. Very hard on the liver, So is Ambien but some folks need it. The only issue is that it IS addictive in the sense that it takes weeks to sleep well again after a long course of it, and it is closely related to the Benzo classification of drugs (valium, ativan, librium) which is considered the most additive of all classes, and more dangerous to withdraw from than heroin.
Many folks don't known the risks of the newer benzo like drug, ambien included, and for this reason I'd suggest you familiarize yourself, and only as a last resort go to this.
I took my doctors word that this was drug was not harmful, now I have permanent tremors all night, every night. This is a known side effect of prolonged use.

Since treatment last quite a long time, other avenues might be wisdom. Take your Riba doses early morning, and early evening to avoid the stimulating effect. The Riba peaks at about the 4th hour, so the earlier you take it the better chance of sleeping well.
Also try warm showers, clean bed, calm music, turning the TV off or turning your back to it....I even took to using a little mirror to watch the TV since it let less light in my eyes. It turns out even the small amount of light from an average tv will cancel out your natural melatonin, it's the dark that triggers the brain making it...so I watched TV  in a little 3 inch mirror (since I had to have something on and can't relax in dead quite) and this little trick helped my doze off.
Of course in the end, rest is VERY important and so for some a strong approach may be needful, but when I retreat I will sure try EVERYthing in my power not to repeat my mistakes of the past.
good luck to you and feel free to PM me if you want.
MB
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I tried the benadryl and managed about 5 hours last night. Hopefully it will get better as it goes along. At least I got enough so I feel more refreshed this morning.
Helpful - 0
1431734 tn?1421011671
oops, after 2nd shot i realized i may have been holding syringe horizontally the first time when checking dose and drained off the good stuff. as this time i held upright, following directions and none came out when i depressed the plunger. the picture is misleading as the syringe in horizontal! damn!
Helpful - 0
548668 tn?1394187222
I didn't managed more than 2 hours sleep two nights in a row and went into the Docs for help.   Ambien (Zopliclone here) - 4-6 hours sleep and I found I only needed half a tablet.   It was a Godsend.
Helpful - 0
1431734 tn?1421011671
i set the kitchen timer by my bed just in case and have not slept thru yet as i am sitting up reading with lights on. worked well last nite too.
meanwhile i have a quick question; my injection dose is 180 and there are markings for 135 and 90 on syringe. it seems there is a fair amount of excess to push out before i reach the 180 to inject. i believe i am doing the right thing as i follow directions but the dose on pack says 180 so why do they add so much extra with the high cost of drug? thx
best luck, hang in there, babs
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
That's an interesting approach Babs. Take the riba so it doesn't hit till you're already asleep. If I can't get any rest tonight, I'll give that a shot tommorrow. Only thing I'd be concerned in waiting so long for the Riba is that I might doze off without taking it.
Helpful - 0
1431734 tn?1421011671
i am only a week in tx and finding my sleep pattern is interrupted. i find that if i take dramamine (same thing as tylenol pm with out the tylenol) 40 minutes before bed  and just as i am about to doze i down the riba with 8oz. water. that has worked the past 2 nites. i too and Leary of heavier meds especially with a history so i think best to save for desperate times. good luck, babs
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm going to try that Tylenol PM. I can run down and grab some.

Marcia, they're not overly concerned about the clock actually, as long as I take them between 10 to 12 hours apart. My study nurse said I can adjust my times to whatever I like, morning, afternoon, evening. I'm on 1200 mg riba, 3x morning and night. Can I take 5x in the morning and one at night? Haha, just kidding, just kidding :-)

I'm lucky in that my work schedule is flexible, so I can pretty much set up my day as I like. I tried to lay down again at lunch for a nap.. but no dice. I lay there, and lay there and nothing. I'm super tired too.. you remember that feeling in the "old days" when you stayed up all night partying and then went to work without crashing? I'm feeling about like the end of that work-day now :-) Only difference is that I'm 35 years older now.

Robert
Helpful - 0
476246 tn?1418870914
Oh... I guess that was not good. I just realized you're in a trial. They probably make you take your meds after the clock.
Helpful - 0
476246 tn?1418870914
It is the riba, but can also be the shot... Try to play around a bit with the times you take it... Take the evening dose earlier. Maybe around 5 pm. Take the higher riba dose in the morning. I mean, if you are on 1000mg, take 3 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon.

I remember the shot making me feel a bit speedy. You could switch to doing your shot in the morning, if that is the case.

Helpful - 0
1372757 tn?1305916571
Tylonal PM works for me.
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
It makes me sleep eat but so far I haven't gone out of the house - just wondered why I felt sick in the morning until I realized after dieting and being good all day I ate fettucini alfredo in the middle of the night.

;-/
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Some people have problems with ambien - I never have and I have used it for a long long time with no dose increase - ever.

Mike
Helpful - 0
96938 tn?1189799858
I used to be Leary too.  Like you, I got over that phase in my life.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
"Just a note on ambien. Don't take it when you don't need it."

Amen to that. I have to be especially careful, as I've had some issues with hypnotics in the past. I put all that behind me 8 years ago when I quit the alcohol, so... I'm really super leary.

Thanks for the info!
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
I dont think it was a real sleep at all but I have never in my life slept well so for me it was just nice to be able to put my head on the pillow and go straight out but sadly yes I am addicted to it mentally now and panic if I dont have them.  So FLGuy is right take it when you need it but......be careful. But on treatment it's almost impossible not  to need it.

I'd get the pills and put them aside just in case - maybe mentally they will give you peace and you will just fall straight asleep. That happens to me (unless like I said I dont have any then I can't sleep from those jitters!)
Helpful - 0
979080 tn?1323433639
just got of the phone with my nurse
i am sleeping only 2-3 hrs every night now (on wk20)
what does everyone think of Lunesta vs Ambien ?
Helpful - 0
96938 tn?1189799858
Just a note on ambien. Don't take it when you don't need it.  Typically, I used it shot night and one or two following nights.  It gets you to sleep easily and I woke without a drugged feeling.  The only drawback was that I never got more than 6 hours of sleep. But, the 6 was probably enough anyway.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Riba takes several weeks to really get into your system.  My thoughts are it's the jitters.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So it's the Riba that does it eh? I talked to my study nurse about it, she says Ambien is no problem, but she did encourage me to give it a week and see what happens. If I absolutely just can't sleep, she said call back and they'll order me up a supply ASAP.

I'm gonna try it for a week and see what happens before I commit to taking anything.

I'll try rotating my meds earlier in the day as well. I get up super early out of habit, 5AM at the latest, so I'm usually in bed by 10 or so. I'll try backing them off to 6AM/6PM instead of 8AM/8PM and see what happens.

Deb, was it a restful sleep though? Or an "artificial" one?

Thanks, Robert

Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
Ambien saved my life. Even with it the damn riba keeps you awake (in the beginning try taking it earlier but every 12 hours) eventually though you will build up a high serum level in your blood and nothing can be done about it.

Except, beg for Ambien CR that helped me at least get some sleep and when I'd wake up I could go back to sleep instead of tossing and turning and watching the clock.

All in all you made out pretty well - this is a REALLY common side unfortunately.
Helpful - 0
96938 tn?1189799858
Ambiem. It's generic, it's chaep, not addictive and it works.
Helpful - 0
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