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Severe Insommnia

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Posted 2/21/2010 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I am going thru a bout of severe insommnia - I've managed about 4 hours of sleep total in the last 3 days - and that's after taking sleeping pills. I've tried all my usual tricks - lavender on my pillow, warm milk, deep breathing, total muscle relaxation (HA!), listening to meditative music...nothing has worked.

Part of the problem is the awful hot flashes I'm going thru because of the Cymbalta and Tramacet (and Oxycontin I would guess). They are complete body flushes from head to toe, and I end up dripping wet. I'm getting them probably 7 or 8 times a night (and more frequently during the day). I'm reluctant to stop the drugs though, as I'm getting good pain relief finally. I keep a cold pack by the bed when they happen, and then when they're done, I get the chills - and the cycle repeats itself throughout the night.

So....other than what I've tried so far, does anyone have any other ideas or suggestions? I see my doctor in early March and I'll ask her as well, but I'm hoping some of you might have ideas I can try.

Thanks in advance!

Pam
Posted 2/21/2010 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Do you think that any of the sweats at night could be your hormones? Or do you think it is because of the medications? When I first started taking all the medications I take now, I would sweat at night and you could smell the meds. Hopefully this will go away with time, but I would talk to the doctor about it. Night sweats are no fun. You wake up hot, and sweaty, but cold at the same time. Atleast I did.

I hope that you get some relief soon.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/21/2010 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
I certainly would let the doctor know what you are going through.  It might be worth changing meds to get the sleep.  Sleep is very important for fibromites.  Without good sleep, we will have more pain and fatigue.  There could be other meds in the same class as the ones you are taking and they might not cause these flushes.

 

Sherrine

Posted 2/22/2010 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
Pam
You might want to take the tramacet at some time other than bedtime. I take straight tramadol and it wakes me up and gets me going, makes me happy and energetic, so I take it in the morning and afternoon, but not at night. Neurontin(gabapentin), on the other hand puts me to sleep, and I only take 100 mg because the 300 I was Rx'd conked me out way to hard.

I went through a helpful online program which consisted mainly of keeping a strict waking and bedtime schedule. They want you to get off all sleep and pain meds, but that's ridiculous for us fibros. There was a lot more to it. The program was in my insurance's website, but there are probably more available online.

I get hot flushes that wake me up. If I keep the bedroom pretty cold at night (colder than my hubby likes) I sleep much better.

JustLive
I swear AT Trazodone. It gave me restless legs, twitching. I can't take ANY antidepressants because they give me suicidal thoughts, and I am NOT suicidal!
Posted 2/22/2010 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
I've taken Trazodone for several years with no side effects. It is the only thing (med or otherwise) that lets me sleep.
Posted 2/22/2010 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
Alcie - Love your name. That was my grandma's name. I believe you are the only other person I've "met" with the same name.
Posted 2/22/2010 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and ideas. I see my doctor at the beginning of March, so I'll discuss some of these drug options with her to see if we can find something. I managed to sleep some last night, but had horrible twitching and nightmares, so not sure if the sleep helped or not.

I sure appreciate how helpful people are here...thanks again!

hugs,
Pam
Posted 2/22/2010 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
I have been so fortunate not to have had night sweats through the whole menopause thing. Now temp control is a different story just don't break out in a cold sweat. I've been tempted to set the video camera up and watch myself sleep one night to see what all I'm doing in my sleep. I know I wake up enough to take a drink several times a night due to dry mouth.

 

I slept til 5:20 this morning and was very happy. Still not enough sleep but better than it has been. I always go to bed at 10:00 pm and go right to sleep with xanax but it's the early morning waking that is a problem for me.

 

Hope things get better cause we do need our sleep.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

 

 
Posted 2/23/2010 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
i was on cymbalta, and i got horrible night sweats from it. I would be completely soaked the entire night. i finally went off it, since it wasn't doing anything, and the night sweats went away completely. i think it is one of the side effects of cymbalta



-Aliza
Posted 2/23/2010 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Aliza,

I don't doubt this is because of the Cymbalta, more so than menopause. The problem is, the Cymbalta is really helping with the Fibro..so it's a matter of weighing which is more important to me.

Thanks for your thoughts, and thanks again everyone for all your input!

hugs,
Pam
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