posted
Hi everyone.. Haven't been on for awhile, have been sliding back real hard lately, and alot do to not sleeping as well as use to.
I'm currently using Restoril as my sleep med (after trying Ambien, lunesta, trazadone and even xanax...) Restoril used to work within 15 mins...then got longer and longer to kick in. Now it's about an hour or more, and now after waking, have more grogginess and brain fog that doesn't let up.
Read an website (www.benzo.org.uk) on benzo's (Restoril, ambien, valium) that said that you can have withdrawal symptoms even while still taking these meds...due to the fact that you've hit the tolerance limit for your system.
Interesting, is the symptoms included: tingling in body, numbness, tinnitus, heart palpitations, neck and muscle stiffness, head fogginess and cognitive problems, digestive problems and rebounding insomnia to just name a few.
I wasn't aware this could happen! How can you really tell if it's lyme stuff (which all those symptoms are as well...) or your body having reactions to long time use of a sleep med?
Has anyone experienced this...and have you had to taper off to go to another sleep med? If so, what did you try and how did you taper off without bad withdrawal symptoms?
I'm having alot of increase in symptoms (especailly pounding/buzzing in ears, heart pressures (not palps), aching muschles and tendons, and more cognitive difficulties and slurred speech and vision probs. Currently I'm taking doxy (working up to 400mg...but GI stuff is still bad).
Appreciate any ideas or thoughts, hugs to all. JavaBeing
Posts: 208 | From Portland, OR USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I've only taken Ambien and it takes about an hour to work. Worse - I think I've been sleepwalking. Tried to go a night without it and spent teh whole night accutely aware of PAIN PAIN PAIN.
-------------------- Pam Live well. Laugh often. Love much. Posts: 53 | From Ohio - south/southeast | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Hi Pam, Welcome to this site...it's a great one. Sorry though that you have to be here.
Yeah, Ambien seems to work really well for people, or not very much for others. For me, I got about 3 hours tops. The sleepwalking thing is a new reaction from what I've been hearing/reading...I wonder if it's the new Ambien (slow release) or just Ambien in general.
A gal that I've talked with has had this problem too, thought she said she had sleep walking issues as a kid though as well.
Sorry to hear about your pain issues...there are sleep meds that help with both...don't think Ambien was one of them from what I recall. Please be careful about the sleepwalking problem...I'd contact your llmd and give them a heads-up regarding this if you haven't already.
Here's to a better night's sleep, Javabeing
Posts: 208 | From Portland, OR USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
As far as I know the sleepwalking has only been happening the last few weeks. Evidently I've gotten up in the middle of the night and done things that I wouldn't have know about except the clues! I pain some bills online and printed out confirmations - all date/time stamped 2 1/2 hours after I went to bed. Another time, me and my hubby decided the trash can wasn't full enough to take to the curb (it was already 1 am) and we went to bed. In the morning, it was out on the curb and Rick didn't take it!
-------------------- Pam Live well. Laugh often. Love much. Posts: 53 | From Ohio - south/southeast | Registered: Oct 2005
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Dont' think it's a herx...was kinda happening before I started the Doxy. Just kept thinking the lyme stuff was getting worse...had a wierd rash that showed up about 2 months back...and dermatologist here said it was "late-stage" lyme related. So, maybe that...but haven't been on any hard core abx for awhile, now just on doxy (does doxy do these time of herxes?).
But have been having alot of flair ups emotionally as well...and noticed that the sleep stuff was diminishing more and more...and we know with no sleep makes for a sometimes beyond grumpy lymie.
But, this webssite (by a group of UK doctors) was for educating people using these sleep meds and the problems of taking them longer than the standard short term or "occasional" use....which would be most of us with sleep issues.
Part of the article stated weaning off the benzo's to go a less addictive sleep med/antidpressent such as amtriplitine or trazaodone or even an SSRI. Again, this wasn't given in terms of lyme patients, just those taking these meds for sleep, anxiety and/or depression.
Though, interesting for us lymies, is that the benzo's (especially Ambien and Ativan) were cited as big no-no's for users of strong abx like Cipro and it's family.
Anyways, hoping that someone has some suggestions...as addictive as Restoril is, if I can find some other alternative without having to worry about some of these symptoms increasing (got enough of my own thank you very much...) it probably could hurt to get off it now...though hard when you need sleep so bad.
Good to talk with ya Tutu...was going to PM you about my visit with Dr. C and run by some questions when I can if you have some spare time.
Thanks, glad to hear you are doing so much better! JavaBeing
Posts: 208 | From Portland, OR USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Hey! Woo or Pam is ok. Woo's a nickname that mu huuby calls me.
-------------------- Pam Live well. Laugh often. Love much. Posts: 53 | From Ohio - south/southeast | Registered: Oct 2005
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
Javabeing!!
Pocono and I (former IV rocephin buddies) were wondering about you!!!! Sorry to hear you are having worse symptoms.
As I got better (on the IV rocephin) I started sleeping really, really well. It was delightful. When I had to quit, my sleep issues came crashing back.
I have not resorted to sleeping meds. I have seen how treating the lyme helps me with the sleep issues, so I'm just intent on treating the lyme.
How I try to help my sleep issues....I have a heated mattress pad that I turn on an hour or two before I get in bed (that reminds me, I have to go turn it on!! ) This makes for a warm bed. I do turn it off when I get in. But, the warmth relaxes me.
I try to have a positive thought in my mind to go to sleep with. The one I used the other night came from the bible "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strentgh. They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." Since I currently can't run or walk without feeling weak, I thought that was something positive for me to meditate on. It beats concentrating on how bad I feel.
When I wake up in the middle of the night, I repeat whatever positive thought I went to sleep with. Sometimes I pray. I try not to look at the clock, for that just aggravates me.
If I find myself awake, I just remind myself that if I lay calmly, that I am getting 80% of the rest that I would be getting if I were asleep during that time.
I also try not to move if I wake up. Something as simple as turning my head from one side to another wakes me up more and makes it harder to go to sleep.
Good luck sleeping!
Your sleepless buddy too, Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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Pocono Lyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5939
posted
Hey Buddy,
As Timaca stated, we have been concerned about you. Glad to see you but would rather see you under Success Stories.
I can't add anything about the sleeplessness as I'm pretty sleepless as well. I pretty much do as Timaca does. Rest is rest. Although I would much prefer to sleep really deep and wake up when this nightmare is over.
Curious that you mentioned Doxy. I also had Doxy added to the mix. My symptoms flared as did yours prior to starting the Doxy.
Experiencing many of the same symptoms as you but they started before the Doxy and then magnified with the addition of the Doxy. Including the emotional stuff. I've been very down lately.
Hang in there buddy. Some day we're gonna make it to the success stories post. Your Buddy, Sleepless in Hooterville One thing that has worked for me at times was to eat a substantial meal prior to bed.
9 But he said to me, �My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.� Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ�s power may rest on me. Posts: 1445 | From Poconos, PA | Registered: Jul 2004
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Yes, doxy can be causing a herx. It's not any different than the other abx.![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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