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Insomnia and long term treatment. Need any suggestion or input

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Posted 8/11/2012 6:28 PM (GMT -6)
Insomnia is one of my worst symptoms at times and I've tried everything from hypnosis to acupuncture to amino acids/natural remedies to about every prescription out there. I'm currently on Xyrem and it worked wonderfully for a long time. Lately, I wake up after an hour on the first dose. Since I've been battling this for about 20 years, I know that narcotic sleepmeds are not the answer, it isn't temporary. The pro of Xyrem is it can be stopped anytime with no withdrawal. The drawback is, if this isn't working well, what else is there?
I feel like there is something neurologically wrong because it was insomnia that precipitated my cfids. For a couple of months, it was like a switch went and I simply didn't sleep. Then I crashed with severe cfids and sleephas been an issue ever since.

Non narcotic meds that work? Trazdone helped for a while then stopped...

Thanks for any insight, it's just a horrible torture to deal with this illness and not be able to simply sleep and restart the next day...
Posted 8/12/2012 10:23 AM (GMT -6)
Hi I just want to say that I have trouble getting to sleep and I wake up and cant go to sleep.I am taking a natural  product to get to sleep and it works,. it is  Midnight pm ....in this product is

Bromelain , Melatonin, Lemon Balm, Chamomile,Lavender.

I sleep now and it costs $10.00 per box. It has chewable tablets.....so you dont have water to take them.

hugs, Caren

 

Posted 8/15/2012 2:46 AM (GMT -6)
I would definetly see a neurologist and try to get into a sleep study. I have never heard of the sleep med you are on but i do understand about the 20+ years of not sleeping like a normal human being. I was on Temazepam for 10 years, on and off because you have to quit taking every 6 months for 3 months because of tolerance issues. But, like you said it was the only thing that worked for me. I tried all the prescription and over the counter, the herbal pills, teas, everything i could get my hands on and the best thing about the herbal stuff is at least it doesn't give you nightmares or halucinations. I still drink the herbal teas because they both relax me and they aid with digestion(thats a big issue with me). Since the CFS started, sleeping is no longer an issue for me, I sleep all the time. I just started on an herbal supplement for energy using magnesium and malate and it has reactivated the not sleeping somewhat, so I am still looking for a balance. Apparently smaller doses of magnesium can actually make you sleepy, there's a product called Sleep MD that I tried recently and it works pretty well. I hope that helps. Good Searching
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Posted 8/25/2012 3:59 PM (GMT -6)
I think that after being on prescription sleep meds for a long time makes it harder for any kind of herbal medication to work. I was on lunesta for 6 years and within the past 8 months it just stopped working. I was waking up to 6 times a night and sometimes every hour.

I started this week on kavinace and 1/2 klonopin. I haven't slept this well in years. I still wake up feeling somewhat unrefreshed as I have for the past 8 years but I am sleeping almost through the night.
I know this isn't a long term solution because now I am taking klonopin but for now it helps me sleep and in time I will try to get off this as well. I had also tried every over the counter herbal meds I could find and none of them worked.

There is a kavinace pm which I bought but can't take because I am on wellbutrin and apparently there is 5HTP in it and I can't take two things that tend to raise serotonin levels.

I also had a sleep study done and he told me my insomnia was cause by some initial infection which damaged me neurologically. We are not sure if the infection was viral or Lyme which I have been treated for. He said the damage is probably permanent.

I don't think I will ever have great sleep again or ever feel refreshed again but I will keep trying.
Posted 8/31/2012 10:05 AM (GMT -6)
I hate when I get in that no sleep pattern too. Who would think a person who is fighting chronic tiredness would have trouble. I am on trazadone, klonipin, neurotic and the magnesium and I sleep like a baby and thro in the pain pill. I've been on this regimen since Jan. seems like a lot but I am so happy to sleep nights now.
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