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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to sleep
        
(Message started by: LauraLo on Oct 12^th, 2003, 6:19am)

Title: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to sleep
Post by LauraLo on Oct 12^th, 2003, 6:19am

Hi All
I've discovered the site last year when I was in a phase. Since December 2002 I was ch free until now. Meds are just so expensive in South Africa and my medical aid is not good! So I would really appreciate good cheap advice please. In terms of meds, I do take quite a bit: I take ativan 1mg under the tongue at onset to relax and help me cope better. Ativan is a very mild calming agent and dentists sometimes give it to nervous patients too. Then I take indocid, which is an anti-inflammatory - what it does I don't know, but it works. It doesn't prevent the attach, but makes it not be too painful (from 10 without to I'd say 8 with). I take triptans in the form of maxalt wafers under the tongue - those most times abort the attack. Also oxygen tons, I overdose on O2 if its possible - my prescription is 6l for 15 minutes, but I vary it on what I think I need - a huge burst of 10l sometimes, or a steady 5 if the devil doesn't want to f**k off ! And copious amounts of over the counter painkillers that have a drowsing affect, which are unhealthy, I know. Last year I went onto predisone (cortisone) and don't want to again, as it made my weight balloon!

What I also want to know are about the horrendously terrifying bad dreams? Does anybody else get these when in a phase? I mean so real-live scary rubbish! Nigh terrors not mares actually! That is the times I actually manage to sleep. Insomnia is the other most pronounced symptom - any advice here? I would much rather prefer natural/hololistic approach which we all know is silly unhelpful for this devil! So - back to insomnia - over the counter sleeping tabs - I can't afford the ones on script!

Just to mention - smoking has no effect whatsoever - I am one of those constant quiters (hopefully now permanent), and have smoked and have not smoked during the years when in cycle - I stopped smoking 3 months ago now, so was totally nicotene free when this cycle started. Last year I smoked like a chimney when i was in cycle. - Just thought you'd want to know.

Title: Re: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to slee
Post by Opus on Oct 12^th, 2003, 8:01am

Laura,
I have only heard of the nightmares from one other person, they were at the end of a "cycle" when they only had shadows and they were horrible, but they ended in time. If you need help with sleeping try sleeping propped up high, a recliner is best but a lot of pillows will work, this seems to keep the "wake up calls" to a minimum for some.

I have found a natural abortive that I now use as my primary abortive, I have not needed any Imitrex this cycle. PM or email me for more information.

Instead of the over the counters meds try a cup of black coffee after taking your abortive, for me it will will even help Imitrex work better. I also smoke a few after too as they seem to help. As for quitting most say it has no effect unless you quit during a cycle, then your cycle can last a long time.

I hope this helps and let me know if you need anything else.

Opus/Paul

and also

http://www.imgmag.org/images/sunny22/Gifs/Welcome.gif

Title: Re: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to slee
Post by tommyD on Oct 12^th, 2003, 8:26am

Laura -

Some folks find that Dramamine (dimenhydrinate), an over-the-counter motion-sickness medication, can help them sleep because it prevents the REM sleep phase, which is when the Beast likes to wake you up. REM sleep is also when you dream, and this may help here also.

However, people need REM sleep eventually, and there are consequences to trying to avoid it long term.

-tommyD

Title: Re: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to slee
Post by Bob_Johnson on Oct 12^th, 2003, 9:00am

You may have experieced a quick return of the attack when you stop the oxygen; this has been a not uncommon response.

Are you taking a med for prevention? If you can find one that works for you it will reduce you overall costs for meds.

Suggest you check on your price for olanzapine. As an abortive, several of us have had excellent results in 20 minutes with a 5mg dose. In the U.S., it's less expensvie than the triptans.

The pain killers (OTC) may be inexpensive but are neither effective nor good for the liver in high doses over a long time.

Good to get the list of effective meds (button on left), check your prices, and then negotiate with you doc to try them--lest to most expensive--to find what works for you.

Title: Re: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to slee
Post by Mastifflvr28 on Oct 12^th, 2003, 3:33pm

Laura,
Welcome to the board.
I don't know about South Africa's laws or anything like that but you might want to research THIS alternative:

http://www.clusterbusters.com

Good luck,
Mast

Title: Re: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to slee
Post by ave on Oct 12^th, 2003, 3:42pm

Laura, Verapamil (or possibly called Calan) is not very expensive and is a preventavie that has good results (though not for evr4erybody of course).. You need some days to let it start up.

Title: Re: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to slee
Post by Lovely Laura on Oct 13^th, 2003, 12:15am

Good monring everybody

Thank you for all the replies.

Bob - I use oxygen and sometimes the maxalt (triptan) at onset. The maxalt is the very expensive one, so I try go without for as long as possible, which is bad as once the attack is past the point of no return, well then I need to ride it out, I will find out the price of the Olanzapine today, and will see doctor tomorrow morning to see if he will give me a script.

Mast - SA laws on alternative - it is illegal.

Ave - I will at the same time I research the olanzapine, also find out about the verapamil. Can you however tell me what the dosage should be?

L

Title: Re: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to slee
Post by Prense on Oct 13^th, 2003, 8:51am

Dosage varies from person to person. The common range is 120mg-960mg. As previously mentioned, it does take days for it to build up in your system. Start small and move up until hopefully you are PF. You might have a tough time finding docs to prescribe the higher doses of verapamil. It also depends on how verapamil affects your BP. I'm currently at 480mg with very little BP drop.

Chris

Title: Re: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to slee
Post by HypnoticFreddy on Oct 16^th, 2003, 7:48am

You have mentioned drugs like Ativan, which is a benzodiazepine, like Valium, Xanax, Klonopin and about 20 other marketed drugs. These may indeed be helpful for short-term sleep management.

I have recently been put on a drug called Seroqeul. It is an anti-pyschotic, also an anti-depressant, and a mood stablizer. It may also make your toes longer, turn your tounge blue, and cause bad breath. OK, those last side-effects are not mentioned in the drugs description, but I thought I'd throw out a funny. Seems like a lot of pyschotropic medicine is prescribed for multiple syndromes.

Anyways, I took 50 mg for the first time the other night, and within 30 min, KABAM, I was unconscious. I have taken massive doses of many benzos, including the illegal Rophynol (Roofies), and I have NEVER felt anything like this. You may want to ask your doctor about this. Powerful!

-HypnoticFreddy

Title: Re: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to slee
Post by clavers on Oct 16^th, 2003, 8:15am

Laura, I am unusual in that I use DHE injections instead of imitrex. At night if I have a CH and it seems as if that will go on all night I give myself an injection in the muscle of the thigh, straight down into the hardest part of the muscle. I use one cc. It sometimes hurts like hell but it is not as bad as a CH. After that I sleep all night undisturbed. The DHE seems expensive but it comes in packages of 10, so it is cheaper than imitrex, and the effect lasts much longer.

Title: Re: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to slee
Post by Cooked Brain on Oct 28^th, 2003, 5:46pm

verapamil and oxygen should be the cheapest. A menthol nasal inhalor may work as a relief too, might give that a try.

about the verapamil: start off building little by little from 3x40 to 3x120, that is when it should start taking effect, but may need even a higher dose. It takes a couple of days to kick into your system so be patient if it doesn't work right the next day.

PFD&N Laura good luck to you!

Title: Re: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to slee
Post by thomas on Oct 30^th, 2003, 4:10pm

You could try melatonin, It helps some and not others. It's cheap and worth a try. It can help a lot as far as sleep goes. [smiley=sleep.gif]

Title: Re: Questions - Need cheap meds and advice to slee
Post by t_h_b on Nov 4^th, 2003, 12:39am

Ditto on the Melatonin. It may not be available over-the-counter in South Africa. It's very cheap in the U.S. and it's sold in the section with vitamins and supplements.