LymeNet Flash: Trouble staying asleep

This is topic Trouble staying asleep in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by robi (Member # 5547) on :

I can fall asleep ok but then I wake up every two hours. I haven't slept a full night in about a week.

This is affecting me and I am sliding backwards. I don't see doc til next week.

I have tried valarien, melatonin, gaba.

More suggestons?

I may have to go with an RX and y insurance doesn't cover Ambien.....what are other good ones?

robi

Posted by JillF (Member # 5553) on :

I have this problem and I have a problem just falling asleep.

Flexeril, Ambien, Tylenol PM and all the different herbs, supplements and teas that have been referred on here have not helped me stay asleep.

So, I take Amitriptyline. I get at least 5 hrs of uninterrrupted sleep with it. I usually get away with taking 1/2 a pill - 5 mg a night.

Posted by Biting Back (Member # 6018) on :

So sorry Robi. I know where you're coming from. I used ambien, but recently discovered it made me feel drugged . . . and I thought it was just because my LD was getting worse.

Can't think of any other recommendations, but have you tried any of the natural teas? Sleepy-time is one that comes to mind.

Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :

Danm old lyme alarm clock. MG MG MG magnesium.

Posted by robi (Member # 5547) on :

Thanks for the suggestions.
I think I may have to try the Amitriptyline.

I take a lot of Mag SR, do epsom baths and IV magnesium.

robi

Posted by IBelieve (Member # 6834) on :

I take elavil at bedtime too. It lets me get a good 5-6 hours of sleep. I take it around 7:30 so that I don't feel really groggy the next morning.
Good luck!

Posted by liz28 on :

Robi,

Hi. Sorry you are having this especially irksome symptom.

For me, it was mostly a bartonella symptom. Although I take ambien--and can't stand it, because it's habit-forming--two abx that have made a dent are levaquin and minocycline. I've started on low doses of mino, and am working up to a full dose.

Posted by arg82 (Member # 161) on :

I take 400mg of Neurontin to help me stay asleep. I also take 200mg of 5-HTP to help me FALL asleep. Before finding that this combo worked well for me, I had been on Trazodone, Elavil, and Ambien (not all at the same time, obviously). The Ambien worked the best for me and I still keep some around for times when I have trouble getting to sleep.

Peace and healing,
Annie

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Posted by JillF (Member # 5553) on :

My sister also has the same problem as me (she probably has Lyme but refuses to see a LLMD) and is taking the same thing - Flexeril to fall asleep and Amitriptyline to stay asleep.

She also tried Ambien, Tylenol PM, Nyquil, supplements, etc and nothing works as good as Flexeril and Amitriptyline.

Ambien did not help me stay asleep. And it has weird memory side effects (and possibly nightmares) if you don't get enough sleep.

I hear that Elavil may cause weight gain (? from my primary).

Posted by Paisley (Member # 6502) on :

Restoril (by rx) knocks me out for 7-8 hrs. no drugged feeling in a.m.

best of luck no sleep is tough!

Posted by achey (Member # 6284) on :

robi,

I was having horrible sllpe problems, and benedryl helped me a lot.

Now that I'm being treated for adrenal exhaustion and hypothyroid, I'm sleeping much better.

Hope things turn around for you soon!

Posted by bg (Member # 46416) on :

Yes, for 30 years with no delta 4 sleep.

Have you had a sleep study done to see if you are stopping to breath during the night plus restless leg syndrome, etc? 12-04 I was dx with both.

Just got a CPAP machine w/humidifier .. have had problems since I got a new one last Friday so hopefully, tonight will go better.

I was up at night 4-10 to pee; now 4-6 perhaps so made some headway.

I believe in the last 2 days I had 3 CONTINUOUS hours in bed without going to bathroom.

I'm on ambien, doesn't help much, but when I was OFF it could not get to sleep until 6- 8 AM!

Betty G.

Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :

Not an expert here but regular exercise sure helped me. not strenuous but just mild aerobic. Must be done daily or every other day.

ping

Posted by quic (Member # 5262) on :

Neurontin 300 mg does it for me.
When you wake up, are you numb, tingling, and/or twitching? If so, Neurotin should help.

- Mike

Posted by Foggy (Member # 1584) on :

Anyone try Lunesta, the new sleeping pill that suposedly can be taken for longer periods?

Posted by firecop1066 (Member # 6920) on :

Hi, I think sleep problems were my first and worst symptoms.....I didnt get much benifit from ambian, or restoril, klonopin Definately calms my symptoms....Trazadone worked the best but made me feel groggy in the morning but I get up early....Benadryl is the best for me in combination with some of the antibiotics that are helping a bit this has been my best combo..

good luck I know its miserable...beleive me i know nothing like waking up 3-4 times a night! Jill

Posted by lhm312 on :

I had the same problem, got to sleep ok but woke up every 2 hrs like clockwork. It's like my body had an alarm clock.

I was on 300mg Neurontin at night, knocked me out every night for about 6 hrs. I was on it for a few months, and then got off when I stopped abx and other prescription meds.

The problem seemed to have disappeared. I wondered if maybe the abx was causing it.

Sleep disturbance is also caused by hormone imbalances. Not everything is Lyme, but we sometimes forget that. Before the Lyme, I had sleep problems and found that my estrogen and progesterone levels were off, and am now on bio-identical hormones. But I am also menopausal, dont't tell anyone. Just food for thought.

Godbless.

Posted by beachcomber (Member # 5320) on :

I also wake up often, every hour. It is exhausting. But, I can usually fall back to sleep.

I do sleep better if I have exercised during the day, as someone else mentioned. A little Klonopin helps to initially fall asleep.

Hormones definitely play a significant role in my aleep patterns of late.