posted
Hi. Husband Steve is not sleeping. He's tried Ambien and Xanax--alone and in combination. He's still not sleeping. Babs & Lyme are the most likely culprits. Has anyone tried any other sleep aids such as melantonin? Open to any suggestions.
Thanks!
Posts: 268 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
I switch between Ambien and Elavil (10 mg) and if one doesn't work I may take a 2nd. Usually one is enough, but there have been nights where I did need the 2nd.
Ambien most times doesn't put me to sleep........so I mainly rely on Elavil (or amitriptyline)
Gail
Posts: 562 | From Wellsville, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Thanks for the replies...he's tried Elavil in 100 mg., doesn't work. He ends up getting back up and watching TV all night. This has gone from one extreme to the other! Prior to abx, he was fighting the fatigue sleeping 20 hours a day -- now he's a dynamo wearing ME out for a change and not sleeping! I'm sure it's a "brain thing" due to the bacteria invaders.
Posts: 268 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2003
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lymemomtooo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5396
posted
My daughter's dr has told her that she can take simply sleep or benadryl..Good luck..TV isn't good..Reading a book may be better.
Posts: 2360 | From SE PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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Insomnia is a MAJOR problem with me.I take lorazapam and sometimes 5htp.Lorazapam is addicting but it works and sleep is so important.Does he have dreams and nightmares?
Posts: 308 | From new bedford,Ma. | Registered: Dec 2004
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JillF
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5553
posted
Flexeril to help me fall asleep and Amitriptyline to help me stay asleep.
I have problems falling asleep and then I wake up one - two hours later, wide awake, as if I had slept 8 hrs. I have trouble falling back to sleep once again and then it's morning....
My sister has the same problems and she is taking the same combo.
It has made life so much easier being able to finally get some sleep. I still have my bad nights (once a week or once every other week) but I'm doing SO much better...
posted
I've relied on Benadryl for years but sometimes it perks me up..........bummer. I take prescription tryptophan..........I can only take half the dose but when I do get to sleep it's a much deeper sleep. I've tried almost everything others have suggested...........ask doc about the tryptophan and possible testing for it (I am lacking tryptophan...per testing...and I don't remember the test or what lab did it). Good Luck.
Posts: 575 | From Houston, TX | Registered: Oct 2000
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Restoril...switched over from Ambien and it puts me out until 7-8 hrs. later. don't feel groggy in the a.m. best of luck with this issue. paisley
Posts: 298 | Registered: Nov 2004
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just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
I was taking up to two or more Ambien evry night and still not sleeping. No one will actually believe this but started sucking on a salt tablet at night and did just as well as all the Ambien I WAS taking. Was having trouble again this week and took an Ambien and a saly pill. That did it no problem. BUT next night with salt tablet only (last night) woke up one time right after the next with the worst nightmares. Somebody was always out to get me. Had to fully wake up to cancel one bad dream only to go back to sleep and have an equally worse dream, time after time. All night long. Makes me NOT want to sleep tonight. Maybe will try Ambien and salt again. Or no salt and try that once. Bad dreams are not fun, no rest when you are being chased for your life.
Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
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JillF
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5553
posted
Ambien gave me bad dreams.
And since I was not using Amitriptyline at the time, I wasn't sleeping a full night. So, I would have weird memory problems from taking the Ambien and not getting enough sleep.
[This message has been edited by JillF (edited 02 February 2005).]
posted
I was ambien 10 mg night for 6+ yrs. Didn't help me sleep more than 1 hr. then peeing all night long!
End of Nov. had a sleep study done. I have sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. He took me OFF AMBIEN then.
Since xmas, I have NOT been able to sleep watching tv between 3 - 8 AM!!
Monday night had CPAP done. Took 2 ambien 10 mg and then went on full mask. It went well; felt refreshed when I woke up. Now waiting for results before I get a CPAP machine.
IF POSSIBLE, if you do the sleep study, see IF they can do BOTH study seeing you have APNEA and then immediately put you on a CPAP machine during SAME NIGHT vs. 2 separate nights of sleeping at hospital.
My 1st test was $3,000+ including study, drs. interpretation, and then his EXPLAINING it to hubby and me.
2nd CPAP night is priced at $2300 plus unknown drs. interpretation, and explaining it in future to me ... will be around another $3,000.
I had hoped to get it done in Dec. since I'd met my deductible, but no way! Good luck.
Betty G.
Posts: 1 | From US | Registered: Aug 2015
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posted
Neurontin and/or a tricyclic could also work....especially at KEEPING you asleep. Glad you got the sleep study done, betty! I hope it helps you alot.
Mathias
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5298
posted
I second chainsaw. Lorazapam (.5 mg) worked wonders for me. I slept like the dead.
Posts: 1250 | From New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I saw that snowboarder mentioned Kava Kava, and I recalled reading an article recently in a Consumer Reports special health issue advising against its use.
When I looked online, I found CR, the FDA, and a number of European drug agencies advising against it. They claim it can cause liver toxicity.
Some of the Kava withdrawals from European markets seem to have happened several years ago, but the article I read was current.
Of course, there are other sites that dispute these claims.
I'm no expert, and am not advocating for or against, just wanted to pass this on.
monkeyshines
Posts: 343 | From Northern VA | Registered: Oct 2004
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charlie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25
posted
Once I got thru the heavy treatment stage my sleep returned to normal. At the worst times amitryptilene helped but just made me real sleepy while burning with peripheral neuropathy. Neurontin also helped but many can't tolerate it.
valerian may be OK for some but when I open the bottle it smells just like somebody took a skunk into the outhouse and tried to give it a home permanent. Melatonin is pretty good if temporary.
Beer? forget it it'll make you sleepy then you wake up and have to pee. Charlie
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