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Posted 12/7/2009 11:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All

Another night of not so good sleep.  I know part of it is the pain but got up took my meds still no sleep.

I have my Dr's appt this afternoon just my normal every month or two visit. 

I want to ask him for a different type of sleep med.

I currently take 100 mg Trazadone.  Took Elavil before this on with no real help.

Over the last 10 years have tried many just cannot remember them all or how well they actually worked.

This Sleep med will be needed for long term or until it loses its effectiveness which seems to happen alot.

Thanks in advance for suggestions.

Rhonda

Posted 12/7/2009 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi FunnyGurl.

Sorry to hear of your sleepless nights.

I can understand just how frustrating this must be.
I suffer from clinical Insomnia, and have tryed lots of different methods to try and get some decent sleep.
Everynight before i go to bed i have a relaxation cd that is just waterfalls no singing, or i have another one that is gentle music called massage for the brain, its just so beautiful and relaxing.

I also use essential pure lavender oil on my pillow with i find helpful also.
But the meds i take are very effective, and i have not become tolerant and used this med for the last 3 years.
The quality of sleep is very good, and no waking during the night, and works within 1/2 hour.
In Australia its called STILLNOX-ZOLPIDEN.

Hope you can discuss other options with your Dr, and soon get a quality goodnights sleep.
Let us know how you go

Good Luck
Leisa x
Posted 12/7/2009 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rhonda...

I'm having to think about the same thing (sleep med)... Let's see if I can remember my journey through them:

There's the "hypnotic" set of sleep meds: Ambien (which, I think, is Stillnox...which Leisa mentioned), Lunesta, Sonata, etc. These work well for many people; some people have too many side effects. The Ambien can make you get up in the night, and do things you can't remember...the "hypnotic effect". It's funny, I had to stop it for that reason...but the few times I've had to take it since (sleep study, hospital, etc), it didn't do it...so I don't know. Lunesta leaves a funny taste in people's mouths, I've heard.

Rozerem helped for awhile for me, and then stopped working...not sure what "group" that med belongs in... I also have tried Restoril...

Then there's the valium...ativan...xanax family that also helps w/ sleep. Again, these help some people greatly, and again! -have too many side effects for others.

Elavil and Trazadone - that you said you've been on - are usually the meds a doctor will start w/ to help w/ sleep.

Unfortunately, it's pretty much the same as with pain medication - it's really a trial and error type thing. There's not only find the right medication, but the right dosage. Along with the medication, Leisa had some good suggestions to help w/ sleep.

I hope your doctor appointment goes well... And that you get something that works for sleep. Let us know how your appointment goes.
--Tina
Posted 12/8/2009 7:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi to all,

Yes your correct Momto6boys, the med is called Ambein- Stillnox

I am lucky to have no side effects whatsoever, once i am asleep i do not wake during the night .

So 1 tab at night has been a life saver for me, as i was only getting 4 hours sleep a night, then up caring for 3 kids.

Again everyone is different in relation to meds, so its all trial and error, getting the right does and meds take time, which can cause a huge amount of anxiety especially when you have been deprived of quality sleep.


Hope you are able to speak with your Dr and i am sure you will find the right medication in time.

Best of Luck,
Keep us posted.
Cheers
Leisa x
Posted 12/8/2009 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

I actually have the appt this afternoon.  Monday morn had to call and canc it for I did not sleep well b/c of migraine.

But tu  for the advise I will bring up these meds to my Dr and see what we do from there.

I hope you both have a great day and as Painfree as possible.

Rhonda

Posted 12/8/2009 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
I take mix for sleeping.  I aloso take the 100 trazadone.  I also that a muscle relaxer Robaxion.  The first time I took this mix I slept the first good night of a lifetime. Mine was as simple as just adding one med.  Hopefully you will find something to help with your sleep.

Laurie

Posted 12/8/2009 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
I'm using Robaxin and of course my Lunesta....Yes by the way it does leave a funny taste in the mouth. I'm also on Trileptal which helps to put me to sleep. But, even with those meds.....I still am only getting around 4 hours of sleep a night and still I wake up in a horrible amount of pain. I've added my soft Celtic music to this night regimine as well as scented baths just before bed and other things that sometimes work and sometimes do not.

Scarred
Posted 12/10/2009 2:48 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks Laurie for the advise

yes went to Dr yesterday.  We discussed the sleep but I don't think he felt comfortable trying something else.  I may talk to my psychatrist or Back pain specialist about this change.

I do take tramadol 100 mg, 10 mg flexeril, 1 5/325mg percocet, 50 mg topamax and 100 mg trazadone at bedtime.  Since adding the percocets a couple weeks ago it has been a little better.  But now after thinking of it and discussing it with my reg Dr I feel it may be pain that is waking me up so many times and not letting me sleep for many hours over 5 max.

Tonight I will put a pain pill of muscle relaxer next to bed if wake in pain will take it and see how that works out.

I have so much pain with my spine issues and fibro sometimes it is unbearable.

Thanks Scarred for the info as well.  I did try Lunesta years ago eventually lost its effectiveness with me.  You are right about funny metallic taste Yuck.

Yes I would love some of that music or white noise or one of those waterfall, rain etc machines.

Thanks for all your advise

Rhonda <3

Posted 12/10/2009 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
hello all,

   The best sleep aid I have tried is AMBIEN CR  12.5. It works great. My wife says it makes me snore, but as everyone should now by now, the ONLY time I am not in pain is when I am sleeping and even then I have dreams my foot hurts and might yell out once in a while, but its better than using up alot of my meds all night long and try to keep as many as possible for the daytime.

                                       Just an opinion

                                  Hope Everyone has a Pain Free Day

                                                 Kind Regards.

                                                         Mike

Posted 12/10/2009 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Be careful.  I also take a few more meds with my night pills.  I looked at all yours and they all can supress the respitory system.  Google it alittle before you add more. (relaxant)

Heres one for you.  I just read in your last post that you take 100 tramadol.  I take the Ryzolt ER for pain.  Its tramadol extended release.  I take the 300 mg in the evening just for pain waking me at night.  It gives you a solid dose of 300 mgs for 24 hours.    I take it at night for it has a spike effect about 6 hours after you take it.  It helps me alittle during the rough am hours when pain wakes me around 1 or 2 am.

Laurie

Posted 12/10/2009 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
I take ambien 10mg.

trazadone stopped working for me at one point.
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