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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Sleeping Pills
        
(Message started by: theimage on Nov 18^th, 2006, 10:24am)

Title: Sleeping Pills
Post by theimage on Nov 18^th, 2006, 10:24am

Has anyone tried sleeping pills for getting a CH free good nights sleep? I was wondering if it might help. I'm getting fed up of waking up at 3am now. It seems to be the pattern this time around?

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by thebbz on Nov 18^th, 2006, 12:17pm

Check into Melatonin.
Helps alot of people regulate sleep.
jb

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Nov 18^th, 2006, 12:47pm

Yes, Melatonin and Benadryl cocktail.
I swear by this cocktail.

B$

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by chewy on Nov 18^th, 2006, 12:49pm

Sleeping pills knock me right out.

Until the beast comes a knocking.

Then instaed of just pacing I'm walking into things as well.

Try Melatonin

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by theimage on Nov 18^th, 2006, 2:44pm

What is Melatolin?

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by thebbz on Nov 18^th, 2006, 2:59pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin[url]http://www.melatonin.com/[/url]
enjoy
jb

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by BB on Nov 18^th, 2006, 4:18pm

Normal sleeping pills dont work for CH. CH is caused by a cascade of neurotransmittors going haywire and followed by massive vasodilatation of blood vessels in the brain, normal sleeping pills wont be able to combat that!

Annette

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by LeLimey on Nov 19^th, 2006, 7:42am

Melatonin isn't available in the UK thanks to bloody Brussels but it isn't illegal to buy or use don't worry. Its just Brussels being complete arses as usual about "heath supplements" this time ::)

You can order it online from www.vitacost.com

I've used them and they are a reputable site.

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by kcopelin on Nov 19^th, 2006, 1:06pm

I will never forget my very first cycle...they prescribed Seconal to knock my butt out-OMG-woke up screaming, fell out of bed, couldn't walk tried to get a glass of water and dropped the glass-what a mess!
I use melatonin and benadryl now-
PFDAN,
kathy

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by ShaneM on Nov 19^th, 2006, 7:43pm

Melatonin is absolutley wonderful stuff. I have tried other sleep aides (Ambien, for example) and they always come with some sort of side effects. Melatonin has never given me any. If you can get it, use it. Even if it doesn't get rid of the night time beast it may calm him down a bit. In mid cycle I have found that it at least did that. Cheers!

Shane ;;D

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Nov 19^th, 2006, 9:39pm

on 11/19/06 at 19:43:06, ShaneM wrote:

I have tried others as well, and aside from the fact they dont work so well, the side effects suck.
The thing i like about the benadryl is that it reduces the tearing of the eye and also the stuffed up nose. That's kind of nice :-/

BTW, its important (for me) to take the sleep aids on an empty stomach, and about 30 to 45 minutes before lying down.

PF wishes
BMonee

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by Linda_Howell on Nov 19^th, 2006, 10:00pm

I just cannot imagine getting hit and doing what I need to do like gettijng the stat-dose pen ready, turning on the 02....and being a walking zombie while doing it. Nope , no way. Not like the sleeping pill would allow me to sleep through a hit or anyting like that.

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by stacy3675 on Nov 19^th, 2006, 11:34pm

how many mg of melatonin are you all taking ?

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by Bill_G. on Nov 20^th, 2006, 12:04am

For me 9mg does the job others might be different but it will not hurt to experiment a little

PFDAN
Bill

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by stacy3675 on Nov 20^th, 2006, 12:07am

I am just asking because the bottle say 1 tablet which is three mg and nothing so I was wondering if it was the norma or if more was needed.

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by kcopelin on Nov 20^th, 2006, 8:06am

I take 12 mg melatonin and 50 mg benadryl. about 45 minutes before bed. Word of caution-I wouldn't take this during the daytime-it'll really screw up your sleep cycle.
PFDAN
kathy

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by CynthiaB on Nov 20^th, 2006, 3:43pm

Before I knew what these attacks were, I tried doubling my sleeping pill dose to sleep through the night. What a mistake.

When the devil came knocking on my head I was agitated and uncoordinated. It would have been funny if it hadn't been.

Benadryl 50 does help with the runny nose, and I've been taking it for years so I'm not too somnolent to pace when I need to pace.

I don't think that a substance exists that will keep us knocked out through an attack.

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by Tak on Nov 20^th, 2006, 5:50pm

Personally I can't take melatonin. For some reason it seems to trigger a CH. My pain management doctor gave me some samples of Lunesta. Aside from it tasting like you are chewing on aluminum foil it keeps me asleep all night long.

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Nov 21^st, 2006, 1:04am

I only take 6 to 7.5mg of melatonin with 50mg of benadryl. In high cycle, i bump it up to 9mg of melatonin.

PF wishes
BMonee

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by ShaneM on Nov 21^st, 2006, 4:15pm

I had to go up to 12mg of Melatonin before it worked really well.

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by CynthiaB on Nov 21^st, 2006, 6:34pm

Tak, be patient with the Lunesta.

The "Lunasty" taste subsides gradually and for most people completely goes away. I never taste it anymore. Except when I break a pill in half and it gets caught in the back of my throat. I don't advocate doing this. It is quite vile. If you want to break it in half, put it in a piece of weiner or something.

Another hint. Lunesta isn't absorbed well in the presence of fat. A bowl of ice cream before bed and you may as well just eat $3 instead of taking the Lunesta.

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by johnd7 on Nov 21^st, 2006, 10:35pm

Thought I have never taken it during a cycle, I used to take Valerian Root to get a good nights sleep with no groggy feeling etc. Come to think of it, maybe I will try some now that I am in a cycle.

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by marlinsfan on Nov 22^nd, 2006, 11:03am

on 11/21/06 at 22:35:04, johnd7 wrote:

Thought I have never taken it during a cycle, I used to take Valerian Root to get a good nights sleep with no groggy feeling etc. Come to think of it, maybe I will try some now that I am in a cycle.

Valerian root has worked for me during cycle. I prefer melatonin, though. But if that's not available in the UK, this may be a good alternative. I buy the valerian root in liquid form from Whole Foods supermarket. I put 30-40 drops into a glass of water and then chug it (tastes nasty!).

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by johnd7 on Nov 22^nd, 2006, 1:14pm

So I wonder if there is any danger in taking Kudzu and Valerian Root? Mixing my own concoctions starts making me a little nervous.

Title: Re: Sleeping Pills
Post by taraann on Nov 22^nd, 2006, 1:37pm

Just gotta add that for some.....(me included) benedry does the opposite it's meant for. I get so completly anxious that I just want to jump outta my own skin. The doc told me that some ppl experience that as a side affect, worth the try but if you get the same anxiety don't get freaked out, it just means it's not meant for you..... I wish it worked for me personally.