cant sleep

[CCgirl]

I am 4 days after my first shot, did great my first day and then the "side Effects" kicked in, still fairly mild but I noticed my joints were aching at night and I felt like I drank a pot of coffee before I went to bed so I tossed and turned for 2 nights and was tired for work yesterday. I called the NP and she prescribed Ambien for me, she said its non dependent and I think it worked great. Does anyone else have this problem? She said it was common but I worry about taking medicine to sleep every night. TIA

[Awal]

Hey u guys my name is Awal ANd im 15 years old ANd I been having problem sleeping .. I havent sleep 7 days straight n im not even feeling tired n im not depressed or antyhign n went to a doctor but im afraid they might gave me something n it wont work anywyas iono whats going on with me i dont understand this be going on about 4 month now my parent try everything for me but nothign seem to work so i seat n cry at night wishing i die plz help me out cuzz iono whats going on

[quak]

Even after I finished tx, I noticed that I couldn't sleep.  So between Ambien, Benedryl, and Teynol pm I can sleep.  I have tried to take nothing and have had sleepless nights.  I need to get up with my kids early in the morning so I'm hoping I can go back to normal.  Meaning exercising and no more drugs.


Lori

[Tosser]

I also use Ambien, but after several months it has just about lost its effectiveness. I had gotten to the point that I would wake up only three to four hours after going to bed and couldn't go back to sleep, thus the feelings of being both sick and tired all the time. My GP told me to cut the Ambien in half and use it with Unisom, an over the counter sleep aid, but I rotate the Ambien with half of a Tylenol PM some nights and am having much better nights now. As for the caffeine, I am addicted to one large cup of unsweetened ice tea at lunch time. I don't notice a cafeine rush or the jitters from it like coffee or soft drinks, and I drink water all the rest of the time, and most days I consume at least one bottle of GatorAid over the period of the day, although I have to watch the sugar intake.
I also want to note that somewhere between the third and the ninth weeks on Pegasys/Copegus tx there were many nights that I got no sleep at all, nothing helped, but since about week fourteen it seems like I'm actually feeling much more normal once again. It helped finding out my virus was <50 also!
Tosser

[DH Bill]

Did you see my question down below under symptoms? Any comment?

[Sioux]

I take Ambien too, Ususally I just take a half of one. It helps alot.

[CCgirl]

Thanks for the info, I guess I will just have take the pills it sure beats not sleeping I guess because I feel so much better. Mother of three you and I have 2 things in common, 2 we both started this week and 2 we have the same name J. I know you were having a tough time at first I read your post; hopefully you are feeling better. I feel bad only asking questions at this point but until I am on treatment awhile I cant give any advice but I hope I can "Give back" to others on this board in the future... you guys are great!

[jonihs]

I was told not to use any caffeine. Not just because of the effects on an already fried nervous systom, but it is dehydrating. I think you'll find alot of people on the forum who don't drink coffee,pop , or anything w/ dehydrating or nerve fraying substances.

Just wanted to add thar the psychiatrist okayed me for tx., put me on effexor to get ready, and I see my G.I. Tues to get ball rolling on insurance.  I'm a 2b w/ VL 1.2 million.

                             Joni

[DebbieDo]

Glad things are going in a positeve direction for you........

[psychdoc]

I tried to tuff it out without a sleep aid. Finally in week 12, I was missing 2 or 3 nights of sleep a week and cried as I went out the door. My doctor has told me that he will put me on anything within reason so that I can stay on treatment. He put me on Lexapro for the tearfulness and Ambien for the sleep. I believe that I have become dependent on the Ambien but I will deal with that in two weeks when I finish treatment. Midway through tx I was drinking a coke a day. Then I felt worse and have not had any cafeine that is not in chocolate (my vice). Help your doctor or NP help you get through this treatment. That is our first priority.
Prayers for you all,
Barb

[MajNeni]

Jonih, CCgirl and other Newbies,
nice to see your good attitudes as you step forward to treat.

CCgirl, that sleep problem is very common.  Sleep deprivation will make anione, on or off tx, crazy, sick, grouchy and unhappy.
Lots of us on tx who do fall asleep often wake up for a bathroom run during the night - say 3 am - and then can't go back to sleep...
Ambien is really a "lifesaver", since you take it and conk out in a few minutes for a good night's sleep.  With a whole pill, you have to give yourself about 8 uninterrupted hours to sleep, so count back from getting-up time.  You won't function too well sooner than that.  Often a half-tab is enough.
If you're worried about habituation, use Ambien on nights when you know you have to perform the next day.    Go without Ambien before less demanding days.  Pretty soon you can learn your body's response pattern; then you can just take it when you need it, and know if you need 1/2 or a whole tab.  I take it 3-4 nights-a-week now, often half tabs, just whenever I'm extra tired and know I need a sure night's sleep.  
By the way, many people fall asleep with the help of Benadryl (or its generic =).  It's the sleep aid in Tylenol PM; but it is also an antihistamine, and may contribute to dry nose/mouth/eyes.
Maj Neni

[mother of three]

Has any one on this site been told to watch there caffine intake

[lackalustre]

i took ambien for the whole during during tx. i was worried about withdrawals from it but had nothing real big. i still use it some. 1/2 will put me out for a while but had to take another 1/2 to get me till morning.  most of us do have to get up to the BR with a ll the water we drink.

[raheem]

I'm at week 22 of 48 and I know many of you experience sleep problems. I don't know why but I sleep like a kitten (but I don't lick myself!).  I do wake up frequently to sip water but I fall right back asleep again, no sleep aids, no joint pains or anything, just lucky I guess.

[new-sojourn]

I'm so happy for you.  I'm sure you will cl & cl soon.  We ESLD have a whole lotta livin' left.  I'm convinced that w/tx and clean livin', cl'ing is just the start, and will eliminate the need for tansplants.

You're on the one step program now.  The one step is complete your treatment and acheive SVR.  Failure is not an option.  Be tested very early (not 12wks) b/c if its working they can tell w/in weeks and it makes all the rest of the tx so much easier.

[jonihs]

Thanks for the encouragement! I agree we have alot of life left, the last year 1/2 have been so much better. I wouldn't give my worst day sober for my best day drunk, and changing eating habits, getting some excersise and spending good time w/ hubby and family have made this time so much easier. My aunt told me that w/ my positive outlook and guardian angel(very overworked)I'll handle tx. just fine. I have miles of this kind of support both from my family and my husbands family, and every bit of it helps. God Bless You,   Joni

[oldhippiechick67]

congrats! am so happy for you, and glad to hear you will be starting tx soon, and have help & support available!  You Go GIRL!!  Best wishes & all that jazz!  OHC

[hepchristian]

Does Ambian make you drowsy during the day? I've been taking Tylenol PM and sometimes just benadryl for sleeping, and it's starting to not work.  I just did shot 21 this weekend, and I think I am going to be needing someting stronger, but I don't want to be drowsy in the day.

[ral]

It has not affected me in that way at all and I feel we must sleep.

Bob

[Space Coast]

Join the crowd!

[mother of three]

HI, I ALSO WAS PRESCRIBED AMBIEN. I HAD A VERY DIFFICULT FIRST SHOT ,I DID MINE WENSDAY. I WASN'T ABLE TO SLEEP SO THE DR. CALLED THIS IN FOR ME. I'M FINALLY FELLING GOOD AGAIN.AND WORKED YESTERDAY WITH NO PROBLEMS....GOOD LUCK TO YOU. JILL

[ral]

Don't worry I can't sleep either and I take ambien. I think there are a lot of people here that take it. Take what you have to get you thru tx, it is hard enough. My Dr said the same thing we have to get you thru tx and whatever we have to give you within reason I ok with.


Good Sleeping

Bob