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Posted 3/15/2012 7:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all, I'm 22 and a full time student. I was diagnosed 2 years ago with fibromyalgia which is extremely painful (of course it doesn't help that the school's desks are itty bitty and the chairs are uncomfortable). I find that when i take my prescribed medications before bed, i wake up droggy and cant focus in class. But if i dont take it I cant sleep at night. I'm kind of in a lose lose situation.

I guess my question is, is there something i can take or do that won't make me feel like poop the next day?
Posted 3/15/2012 8:32 AM (GMT 0)
Honestly I don't think anyone can answer that for you because we all react to medications differently. The best advice I can give you is talk to your doctor about your medications and the waking up drowsy and see what they recommend.
Posted 3/15/2012 9:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I was tried on several sleep medications and I wasn't able to sleep for very many hours using them and I was very tired the next day. I tried a few sleep supplements and what works for me is L-Theanine to relax my mind and muscles and melatonin. If I wake in the middle of the night I take more. I don't think I'd be able to sleep if I didn't take something.

Good luck to you.
Posted 3/15/2012 11:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks I have been taking flexeril to help me sleep. It works but i dont like the way it makes me feel in the morning, foggy and funny headed. how much L-theanine and melatonin did you start with? My psychiatrist didnot put me on flexeril, he doesnt even recommend it. Would you pls get me started on thes two, or tell me how you started and the dose you do now. I want off flex and on natural helps for sleep.
Posted 3/15/2012 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your replies! I know we all react differently to medications and its hard to suggest something if I myself dont even know if my body will like it. But i really do appreciate your tips on sleeping and your support (:

@ jmw- I've had many bad reactions to a lot of medications so i understand your point.

@ junebug86- I will most definately put classical music on my ipod and hopefully I'll get a goodnights sleep.

@ almost medfree- what is L-Theanine? And is it something i need a prescription for?

@ texas sheep- i currently take flexirol (cyclobenzaprine) with 1 500mg Naproxen. Don't get me wrong during the day this works amazing but when its time for my bedtime dose i wake up feeling discombobulated. I hope this post will help you out too, as well as me (:

Thank you <3
Posted 3/15/2012 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
I actually had a huge problem with flexirol. When I did some research I read it has an 18 hour half life which explained why I would wake up feeling groggy. My doctor wanted to put me on skelaxit (sp?) But I don't have prescription coverage and it was too expensive so now I am on soma why has a very short half life. Right now to sleep I take melatonin, a soma, and 2 benedryll without much success.
Posted 3/15/2012 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I began years ago with 3 mg. of l-theanine at bedtime and 3 mg. of melatonin.

L-theanine is a supplement you can buy at some health food stores.

I am now taking 6 mg. of l-theanine and 5 mg of melatonin at bedtime. In the middle of the night I take 3 mg. of each if I feel wide awake.

One of the reasons I believe I have to take these things is when one is middle aged they lose melatonin and with the fibro I need something to help me relax, my mind and my muscles.

One thing I have found with taking these things right at bedtime is as soon as I feel sleepy I have to turn out the light and try to go to sleep at that time. I read something relaxing, it usually takes me about 15 to 20 minutes to feel sleepy. Before fibro, I never had a problem with trying to feel sleepy when I went to bed and I slept well.

Also try to have a relaxing atmosphere a couple hours before bedtime. No loud music or aggressive tv. I find these things will hinder my sleeping.

I thought of something else. If I eat unhealthy during the day like sugar or caffiene or something fatty or spicy, I have a lot of trouble sleeping. I think fibro constantly has to be tested to see what works for us.

Good luck to you.
Posted 3/15/2012 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Zebra and welcome to the forum.

I have tried just about everything for fibro and have not had good results with any of the muscle relaxants or "fibro drugs." Tramadol gets me through the day's pain, but wakes me up, so I can't take it at night.

Lately I have been trying half a 3 mg tablet of melatonin, which brings on sleepiness in about half an hour, but it doesn't last all night or help with pain. I have half an Ambien if I need it to get to sleep, but that doesn't last all night either.

Some fibromites get pain relief with amitriptyline, smallest dose once at night. It makes me sleepy enough that even if I wake up, I can get at least some more sleep. I wake up with at least some less pain than without it. It doesn't last into the morning if I take it by 8 - 9 PM. But be careful when starting it! Some people react badly. Read what reactions you can get before taking anything.

It's very important with insomnia to go to bed at the same time every night.
Posted 3/16/2012 8:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ZeebraM- I use to take sleep meds, but I stop them because I could never go to sleep without them. I didn't like the dependency issue. I started to look into my sleep habits. I made a few changes and it didn't happen over night. I am finally sleeping well at night. It takes a few weeks to make the change and get into some good sleep habits, but all worth it. I know we want to see results quick, but try it and you will be amazed.
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