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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Sleep???'s
        
(Message started by: Pfunk on Dec 29^th, 2006, 1:16pm)

Title: Sleep???'s
Post by Pfunk on Dec 29^th, 2006, 1:16pm

Just wondering? I know that alot of us have issues with sleep, especially during cycle or due to the cycle. I'm having soome serious issues right now because I can't go to sleep aany nights without something to help me. Even the melatonin, which helped last year does not seem to be working this time.
Are there any sleep aids or other meds that may be helpful here? The doc gave me xanax and it seems to help me a little bit but I don't want to become completely dependent on this as I know it can be addictive.

Pfunk

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by E-Double on Dec 29^th, 2006, 1:20pm

look into Roseram.

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by brewcrew on Dec 29^th, 2006, 1:35pm

You might want to consider combining the melatonin with Benadryl (hint: get the generic - much cheaper).

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by Redd715 on Dec 29^th, 2006, 1:48pm

What Brewcrew said. I don't know how much Melatonin you normally take, but my blend was 9mg Melatonin, and 50mg benadryl. Adjust as needed.

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by Pfunk on Dec 29^th, 2006, 2:29pm

on 12/29/06 at 13:35:21, brewcrew wrote:

You might want to consider combining the melatonin with Benadryl (hint: get the generic - much cheaper).

Thanks alot for this. Benadryl seems like a decent option as it also helps with sinus issues which trouble me down here. The weather down here messes with me as it is 35 at night and 75 during the day. Doesn't really seem like Xmas when it is 75 degrees on Christmas day(more like the beginning of spring).

Pfunk

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by brewcrew on Dec 29^th, 2006, 2:44pm

I never did the melatonin thing, but next cycle I'm going to try it. 50 mg of benadryl always helps me when I am in cycle.

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by Pfunk on Jan 2^nd, 2007, 1:31am

on 12/29/06 at 14:44:34, brewcrew wrote:

I never did the melatonin thing, but next cycle I'm going to try it. 50 mg of benadryl always helps me when I am in cycle.

Inkow that the melatonin helped me alot last year and the only explanation I have for it not to this time is since I have so much other tings going on with me rightnow like the fluid retention from the verapamil(which I refuse to stop taking since I KNOW it helps me) and right now I seem to be getting sinus infections like it's goin out of style. Doc said he would put me on another diuretic that works along with calcium channel blockers so I can once again up the doseage of the verapamil.

Pfunk 8)

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by georgej on Jan 2^nd, 2007, 1:48am

Ditto the melatonin (I take 9 mg in cycle--I'm 6'2", and 180) and 50 mg. benadryl. The combination seems to be more helpful than melatonin alone. I've taken 4 mg. chlorpheneramine maleate instead of benadryl, and it seems to work as well. It really seemed to reduce the number of nighttime hits I got when I was in cycle last time.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by TxBasslady on Jan 2^nd, 2007, 3:05am

The Melatonin works well.

I had sleep issues too, and the only way I could sleep was propped up either on the sofa, or in the recliner.

There were times when I didn't sleep...but believe me, I paid for it later.

CH definitely has a mind of it's own.

Lots of luck to you...best wishes for a pf 2007.

Jean

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by barry_sword on Jan 2^nd, 2007, 6:36am

Hi, my nero prescibed Lorazapam 1mg for me because the Prednisone kept me wide awake so I found 1/2 a pill did just fine. Not on it now that my Prednisone taper is done and Verapanil 240 daily as a preventive is working so far but do not need any sleep aid with this med.

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by birdman on Jan 2^nd, 2007, 12:35pm

Not to steal the thread, but I have had success with melatonin(3-9mg's) and am wondering if there is a dependency issue with it? The bottle I have said to take for two months and then take a week off. Helps because I also have anxiety/panic attacks which have kept me up at night. Someone also mentioned lorazapam ( I believe the generic for ativan). Is there a dependency issue with that med too?

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by brewcrew on Jan 2^nd, 2007, 2:38pm

Any of those anti-anxiety drugs will cause a dependance - more like you will build up a tolerance to them, so you will need more as time goes on to get the same effect. Not sure about building up a tolerance to melatonin, though.

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by burnt-toast on Jan 3^rd, 2007, 8:01am

Sleep problems with CH, you're kidding, right? ;;D

9mg Melatonin, walks in the evenings, drinking some herbal tea (make sure it doesn't contain caffein) and forcing myself to keep to as normal a sleep schedule as possible has helped me in the last few months.

This nightmare still gets it's shots in and disrupts truely normal sleep. I can't say that I don't still dred the prospect of sleeping but I am sleeping better between attacks.

Best Wishes,

Tom

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by Pfunk on Jan 4^th, 2007, 12:43am

I too dread even the thought of going to sleep some nights. My issue is that I am getting ready to start back for the first of my last two semesters in college. Took me much longer than anticipated b/c of this monster but I refuse to let it win. It has been a life long dream of mine to teach kids and coach whatever sport team they will allow me to teach. Ihad to take an 11 year break b/c of the monster and I went back two years ago. My grades have been better than ever in my life but hte bastard showed back up right in the middle of it. This time, I'm not letting him win. Classes start back Monday and I am doing my best to get control of this sleep problem. I have to be in the classroom by 7:45 every morning and gettting to sleep at 4:35 just doesn't cut it. My professors are very understanding of my "situation"(I hate saying it that way) so I have been able to turn in alot of my assignments late if I have to. But, I really don't want anyone to give me special treatment. That way noone can say, "They let him coast because he's sick." Sorry to go on so long on this but it really does feel better talk about it with others who have been or are in the same situations. Much luv! PFDANS to all.

Pfunk 8) 8)

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by E-Double on Jan 4^th, 2007, 4:24am

MEALTONIN!!!
I replied earlier with roseram b/c I made the assumption that you had tried everything else.

Melatonin was a lifesaver for me!!!
It completely wiped out my night floggings for well over a yr.
I then stopped and the night attacks staed away for the most part despite coming during the day.
These days I will get a wake up call once in a wile but have found that I do not need to take it anymore (for now) nor will I since I have a little one to take care of.
It never left me with any side effects nor groggy once I got used to it.
Only in the very beginning did it leave me disoriented when the dose wasn't high enough and I got breakthrough.
My magic # was 9mg 30-45 minutes prior to attempting sleep.

I know what you are going through. I had these during college and grad school and will have them as I further my education when time and $$ allows.

Good for you!
Persist!!! they will not interfere!

E

Title: Re: Sleep???'s
Post by Kevin_M on Jan 4^th, 2007, 7:30am

on 12/29/06 at 13:16:22, Pfunk wrote:

I can't go to sleep aany nights

Even the melatonin, which helped last year does not seem to be working this time.

Melatonin has never done anything preventing CH with me but I've used it for sleep at times, however, I don't take it when I'm plain tired and falling asleep comes naturally.
There are definitely evenings though that I just KNOW I'm not going to fall asleep, and melatonin will not do it for me either, just CANNOT shut the mind down. But I've always had those nights throughout life from time to time, aging alot helps to make it not often now though. ;)

on 01/04/07 at 04:24:10, E-Double wrote:

It never left me with any side effects nor groggy once I got used to it.

This is true with use for me too after the first few times.

I hope the suggestions help, xanax doesn't seem a good idea at all for sleep use.