I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Psim on November 09, 2007, 10:14:29 AM

Title: sleeping meds question
Post by: Psim on November 09, 2007, 10:14:29 AM
I've been having some trouble sleeping -- not that bad compared to alot of people here though! I asked my GP for something to help me sleep and she prescribed Xanax, 1/8 to 1/2 mg, to take up to 3x a week.

Does this make sense in your experience? Should I wait and ask my neph about it? I'm scared to take pills that are even a bit addictive, and also scared to take pills that you get habituated to... I don't want to get habituated to sleeping pills now when my sleeping problems are relatively mild compared to what I might be facing later.

I took 1/8 and it didn't do anything. Then I took 1/4 and it worked well.
Before I was taking half a gravol. Am I better off just sticking to that?
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: Romona on November 09, 2007, 01:52:14 PM
It wouldn't hurt to call your nephrologist and ask him what he thinks.  :waving;
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: paris on November 09, 2007, 02:03:13 PM
Always a good idea to ask your neph.  Your sleep is very important --hope you get a good 8 hours soon!
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: goofynina on November 09, 2007, 03:56:40 PM
I take Lasix for my Neuropathy and that usually puts me out  :thumbup; but i have also taken benadryl pills (sometimes they work, sometimes they dont)  :thumbdown;
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: okarol on November 09, 2007, 04:20:49 PM
If I take one Tylenol PM (which has the same thing as Benadryl, but with acetaminophen too) it usually knocks me out. But I can't do it back-to-back nights because it doesn't seem to work, so I skip a night.

There's are more threads about sleep:

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=4939.0 Medication for sleep

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=548.0 Can't SLEEP!!




Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: Psim on November 10, 2007, 10:33:38 AM
Thanks for the advice, gang. And thanks for the further threads -- I'll go check them out. It's amazing to have a place to ask "dumb questions".
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: Zach on November 10, 2007, 10:40:36 AM
And there's always Jack Daniels.
 8)
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: angellady07 on November 10, 2007, 12:06:40 PM
I recently began taking Benadryl for sleep. It works wonders for me.
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: George Jung on November 10, 2007, 12:57:49 PM
The best sleep I have gotton, more than any med I have tried (and I have tried a few), is after a couple of hours at the gym.
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: Krisna on November 11, 2007, 05:43:32 PM
I took Halcyon for a long time but it doesn't work anymore, but my doctor put me on bp meds that make me drowsy and also a muscle relaxer to help with my back which also makes me drowsy.  I do take Benadryl a lot but Benadryl is used in hospitals to stop adverse reactions to medication.  I once received 250 mg IV for a bad reaction I'd have to a muscle relaxer.  (Not the one I have now).
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: Black on November 11, 2007, 06:03:18 PM
Mike and I have taken Lyrica for different reasons, but both found it to be a good sleeping pill as well.  If you have restless legs or peripheral neuropathy, ask your neph if you can take it.
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: goofynina on November 11, 2007, 09:10:35 PM
DOH!!! Thank you Black,  Lyrica is what i take, i think i said Lasix, whatever that is for, lol, yes, i drift off to sleep nicely with my Lyrica,  but then i notice the next day my feet and legs are even more numb.  :banghead;
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: KR Cincy on November 12, 2007, 07:11:26 AM
I've learned not to take any Rx without checking it out with my neph first...I just feel better if I do.

I have Atavan (a small dose) which is an anti-anxiety drug and it can do great things to help me sleep and I don't feel icky in the morning. If I'm really having trouble and have a full night of sleep possible, I also have some Ambien.
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: Ken Shelmerdine on November 12, 2007, 08:11:02 AM
I take Zopiclone but I think my system has become used to the dosage because it takes me about 1 hr and a half on average to get to sleep. There is a strong painkiller drug which I take ocasionally to really knock me out called Tramadol. Don't use them too often though because they are very addictive and can send you a bit loopy. :urcrazy;
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: paddbear0000 on November 12, 2007, 08:46:58 AM
DOH!!! Thank you Black,  Lyrica is what i take, i think i said Lasix, whatever that is for, lol, yes, i drift off to sleep nicely with my Lyrica,  but then i notice the next day my feet and legs are even more numb.  :banghead;

Lasix is used to make you pee!   ;D
Title: Re: sleeping meds question
Post by: Romona on November 12, 2007, 09:10:23 AM
Before my transplant I took Ativan. Now I have been diagnosed will narcolepsy they are trying to find something to keep me awake. I found a study that narcolepsy maybe tied to immune function. My immune function certainly has changed.   :urcrazy;