I take Lunesta and it's been a lifesaver, literally.
I've bought and tried EVERY single herb and natural product out there- at least $1,000 spent- melatonin put me to sleep, but only for 2 hours,
tried time released melatonin, and had an out of body type experience *shudder*
Not sleeping, and I mean truly not sleeping, was incredibly detrimental to my health.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Maybe it's because people don't hit rem sleep with them.
I guess the real question is, will someone die faster from taking sleeping pills or not getting enough sleep? We still need to sleep (catch 22).
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
I don't know, I think other things will kill me before a Lunesta pill.
I also go totally under with it, and wake right up not groggy.
Do I like having to have a pharma pill? No. Welcome to the year 2013 I guess.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
If I could find a sleeping pill that worked-I would take it.
But they seem to do the opposite to me.
Make me sleepy right away, then I have to pee, then I'm wide awake.
2 Gravols and I only slept for 4 hours. Ridiculous!
Posted by mlg (Member # 35383) on :
I agree with the above post. I went to top notch LLMD. They said all 100% of their Lyme patients had sleep problems. Treat the root cause of infection (parasites/Lyme+co) but in the mean time take sleeping pill. Immune system goes up with sleep.
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
Don't mess with my ambien. It is the one drug I will fight you for!
I have had insomnia, since I was 14. All night every night insomnia. Watch every hour roll by insomnia. I would go 4 nights in a row, finally sleep, then it would start all over again.
A few years ago I was given a refillable prescription and I have never looked back. Mood, pain, brain, all much better.
Certainly to be respected. I will never go above my dose. If it doesn't work I stop for a few nights and then it works again.
At this point, quality of life is worth the risk for me.
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
ALL drugs have a long list of side effects that can harm you.
If you don't get sleep under control during treatment you will NOT get better. Read the Burrascano guidelines.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
Ambien can cause psychological problems like aggression. I just got 15 pills because I have to go on a trip and I never sleep well away from home. I would hate to become dependent upon it again.
Years ago, before lyme, a doctor gave it to me saying I could take it the rest of my life with no problem Within two weeks I was having outbursts of rage. My horse bucked me off and my dog growled at me. That is when I decided to look up side effects.
It was horrible getting off of it. Worst insomnia ever.
Even Dr. OZ says sleeping pills are bad for you because they interrupt your sleep cycle. You don't get REM sleep.
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
Maybe the bad stuff is true. I just know I am a nicer person, can do my job better, when I sleep. And I don't sleep without help. Nothing else helps me. I've tried it all. I don't know if I had Lyme when I was 14.... But I remember not sleeping, and I don't mean a hard time falling asleep or waking up early, but watching every hour click by since a very young age.
The risk is worth it for me.
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
Worth it to me too, because they DON'T affect me that way!
We are ALL different as to how we will react to medication.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
Im the only one who uses vistaril i guess. I get rem sleep, dont need to pee and am not groggy in morning
I like old drugs as opposed to new cuz they know the side effects-no surprises
Please tell me if u know something bad about vistaril. The generic doesnt work for me
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
I concur with Lunesta. Melatonin hits me for an hour or so & then I filter it out as if I took nothing. I felt weird with Valaria root & some other pill they pushed on me.
Lunesta does not force a sleep on me & does not make me feel like I am going to stop breathing. It lullabies me to sleep & it feels as if I am naturally tired. I also do not get groggy and feel hung over or worst after waking.
Initially it worked for 7-10 hrs of sleep. Now I am lucky if I can get 4-5 hours when I take 1/2 pill. Time to take the full pill.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
Don't throw them all into the same category, Sott. And if it wasn't 4 the Xtra sleep some of these pills afford to Lyme victims here, we'd be in much worse shape.
Posted by Littlesprout (Member # 7406) on :
With Lunesta I was having chest pains, one of the side effects so stop taking it the next day
Posted by crazyhavanese (Member # 42617) on :
Ever since my first Lyme symptoms in 2007 I could not fall asleep. I have been on Ambien since then.
Do I like the fact that I am completely dependent on a drug to fall asleep?-no but I am thankful that they work for me (usually).
I cannot even take a nap without taking anything. It is crazy because I can be so tired but just can't settle down. So I usually don't nap or sometimes a Xanax will help me.
It bothers me when people who don't need sleeping aids tend to look down on those of us who do.
At this point I think I am physically addicted to the ambien.
Has anyone tried to go off sleeping pills?
Posted by Marz (Member # 3446) on :
I'm wondering if whatever lyme & co do to our brains (and for me I think it's bartonella)is similar to an epileptic's need for an anti-seizure med.
I occasionally cut my pill down a little hoping to taper off.
I am rarely if ever sleepy and right now it's a necessary evil.