So 3 nights in a row i had horrible Insomnia, first night im not sure if i slept at all or if i just laid there for 4 hours but i tried sleeping for 7 hours then the next night i was only able to sleep one hour after laying there for 8 hours same thing the following night ! i always take 10mg of melatonin and so after the first night i increased another 5mg and took 2 benadryl (my sister suggested who is an RN said better then prescribed sleeping aids on your body) and still no luck. I think this may be from the Topamax, Some of the side effects have came back, Tingling, extreme loss of appetite. but even with the loss of sleep normally i get 6 CH a day i have only been getting 2. I just had to post because it is so strange to me and see if anyone had any helpful hints on helping me get some sleep, i should be passing out no problem, Ive worked 72hours this week.

I don't remember Topomax having that kind of side effect when I was taking it. Sleep's a funny thing. It may be that you do need a sleep aid. Check with your doc. blessings. lance

Have you been tested for sleep apnea?

Thanks lance, i had a couple samples of lunesta 3mgs the doctor had given me for when i was on prednisone and i never took them. but gave in last night and look half of one and slept like a baby. Thank god because i haven't been able to really function at work between feeling so drowsy and having the clusters still. Brew, I have never been tested for sleep apnea, but i will bring this up to my doctor when he returns from vacation on 9/4/2012, However i don't snore or breath loud when i sleep, so i have been told. Its just so strange because normally lack of sleep triggers them. i can only think the Topamax is helping CH but causing Insomnia. hm mm

Are you having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Are you napping at all? are you wide awake at night or sleepy and just can't fall asleep? Some of these are important details, take it from someone who has had insomnia. Are you doing other things in your bedroom like playing on your computer or watching tv? Did you try mood music, is there absolute darkness in your room?

Stay PF.
Mike

Mike, Im dead tired i just lay there. I think about nothing most off the time. I dont ever nap, When i do fall asleep except last night thanks to the lunesta (dont want to make a habit of that) it is less then 30 mins at a time. IDK what to do. Thanks, Lydia

lydia nichole wrote on Aug 30^th, 2012 at 11:49am:

Mike, Im dead tired i just lay there.

Lydia...this is normal (only if your HAPPILY MARRIED) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

forgive my sense of humor...on a serious note...this happens to me quite often...perhaps its getting older,this disorder,the meds we take,stress,etc...who knows...wishing you nothing but the best.....Lenny

What my neurologist told me to do when I first brought up the sleeping problems was: "walk!".

Eeeeh....

Ye.

He wanted me to just get out and walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk right before going to bed. So my body would be exhausted, then go to sleep.
It did help a bit. It did improve.

Now I'm in a worse few weeks though. Maybe I've been slacking on the walking... need to ponder that one. ;)

Well... I've got into better shape at least !

Major trouble sleeping and a bad reaction to Ambien (unauthorized sleepwalking!) are what caused me to recently start running. I figured if I can tire my body out a bit, I might sleep better. So far it actually seems to be working. I still wake up with a 3 AM hit, but I'm better rested for it.

Your neuro may just be trying to help, but it sounds like he/she has no clue what to do about a CH attack. Exertion only works for some. Maybe you will be one of those. For me, and for others, exertion actually triggers an attack. Has something to do with raising the body temperature and all that. Try it, but if it doesn't help or makes things worse, know that's part of what so many here experience. blessings. lance

i walk alot, i dont have a car right now so i walk around 3 miles on average a day on days where it is not hot, heat and humidity is a huge trigger for me and here in VA humidity is a big issue! this last week or so it has been great and i have been walking about 4-5 miles a day and i still get the CH but no insomnia anymore, i really think it was the Topamax side effects. i also stopped taking melatonin. during the fall and winter my cycle always calms but never stops goes from 6 a day to about 2-3 CH still sucks but i look forward to it !