Insomnia and parkinson's disease

Fugli's Mom...sorry about your insomnia. I thought I would share some info with you from friends I have with insomnia and Parkinson's, including my Dad. My Dad takes Trazadone, which has been a drug that has been around for some time and is fairly safe with little side effects. Sometimes people complain that they are a little groggy in the morning. Also, I just went to the neuro with Dad and he recommended Melatonin and couldn't say enough about it. He said it's all about establishing the sarcadian rhythm (sp?).
He also recommended medicinal marijuana for my Dad to help with many things for him. One of the main things was sleep though and also his movement/rigidity issues. Until we get the license for the marijuana, Dad takes Xanax before bed, Melatonin, and Trazadone. The Trazadone alone used to work and then suddenly Dad had an onset where he was totally confused, couldn't walk or stand. It has been horrible. We were in the hospital with him for 10 days and then a nursing home for another few weeks. He has never come out of whatever happened to him. We had 4 neuro's look at him. Prior to this confusion episode he was walking and standing, talking...I swear he must have had a TIA that didn't show up, unless this is just wicked PD progressing quickly and suddenly. I just don't understand it. We looked at meds, brain diseases, vitamins, bleeds, encephalitis. He was going to the gym and talking about his stocks in Dec., now you can't understand him, he can't stand or walk without 2 people? I just am shocked that we are at this stage basically overnight. Anyway, I hope you can find some help with sleep. God Bless you and best wishes. Tedi

We have found that medical cannabis that is high in THC causes my husband (stage 3 PD) an increase in anxiety. CBD, however, helps relax his cramping and restless leg. It is not the whole answer to his insomnia however. He takes 400 mg magnesium glycinate and an occasional melatonin or ativan. Ativan does not seem to help so he only takes that when he is desperate to try something. Lately he has been going through a spell where his anxiety is higher which negatively impacts his ability to sleep. His MD may prescribe seroquel she said in an email but he tried that a few years ago and it made him feel like a zombie. He is having a rough time. Right now I have him sleeping on the massage table in the living room where I massaged him and he feel asleep to that plus a long recording of Eckhart Tolle. He still works at a health food store across the street three 4 hr shifts a week which he likes in some ways because he likes the people he works with. But his fatigue is getting worse in daytime and he tends to want to sleep a lot partially because he is not sleeping at night. Thanks for listening.