Hello, and boy do I like this site!

I've been experiencing insomnia lately. Part of it is from the crazy muscle spasms I get in my abdomen. A few weeks ago I didn't fall asleep at all, and ended up just going into work at 3:30 AM and working till 4:00. That was hard. Last night I got three hours or so of sleep, and worked a full day, doing a presentation too. I've tried every herbal tea, but that just makes me pee more. I've tried melatonin, but on that my sleep doesn't get too deep, and I wake easily in the middle of the night. Last night I took three Klonopin, and that did nothing. Tylenol PM doesn't work either. What the heck do I do? I work with the mentally ill, and I have to be very alert at work. I've even counted sheep, which is a joke! That doesn't work either. Any tips?

On the bright side, I now have abs of steel, with absolutely no effort on my part. I could break a rock on those things! But I'd happily trade them for a good night's rest! Oh, I've also tried Flexeril and Soma for the spasms. They help a little, but not enough to help me sleep.

Thanks for any advice!

April

April,

Have you tried Baclofen?

Unfortunately, your insomnia is tied into the spasms (I think) and until you can get them under control your not going to get much sleep. Talk to your neuro and see what other meds or combo of meds you can try to help with the spasms.

sorry you're going thru this april.
i have insomnia issues too and know how you feel.

i agree with snoop. it sounds like it's time to call your dr. pcp or neuro. whoever will help you the most.

i have a lot of muscle problems and have just tried soma. it seems to help a bit. unfortunately you sometimes have to keep trying different meds til you find something that works for you.

all the suggestions i would have made for sleep you've already tried. that's why i think you need to check with your dr.

let us know.

If the insomnia is caused from thoughts spinning around in your head, I have a drug free tip that I learned from my mother which which will unfortunately drive your husband crazy! Talk radio! Set the sleep timer on 30 minutes or an hour and . I've turned many people onto this and it works like a charm for most of them. But as Snoopy said, it could well be the spasms (or maybe both?)

me too!

I am normally a campion sleeper. I can lay down, say I am going to sleep, and simply drift off. Since changing the mannitol in copaxone, I am a light sleeper, and tend to be drifty instead of a deep sleeper. its really bugging me! I dont feel rested, and I am easily on edge. I am on baclofen, and have a bottle of xanax at my disposal, but dont wish to spend the next day hung over, or thick headed. I just want my old routine back!

I have been using yoga breathing, and relaxation exercises, and that has been helpful. draw in breath, move tummy, count to 5. hold for 5, and then slowly let out for a count of 10. Make sure your room isnt too warm, or too cold. Shut off all those lights, like the LED from the TV, or the glowing alarm clock. Even if you have to use a sleep mask to do it.

Hopefully we will be drifting off soon...zzzzz

Same Dej however, I've had 3 excellent sleeps in a row since I quit Copaxone. Almost immediately I began sleeping better.

I used to do my shots at 2pm.. then I switched to 10pm when I went back to work. Well, bad idea. I'd have almost been better off staying at 2pm and taking them with me TO work.

I think the later hour in my case made the difference because I had no sleep issues really until November 08 (when I changed injection hours).

April, have you switched any of your medications? I know you used to take klonopin on occasion, can't recall what else you were taking.

I asked for a sleep study and the results were suprising. I use a C-PAP at night, even use it when I take a nap and it really helps me.

I agree, talk with your doctors to develop something that will work for you.

I had the same problems, insomnia and muscle spasms.

Meds adjustments have helped a lot. For the insomnia, I take two 0.5 mg of Klonopin right before bedtime. That's giving me at least eight hours of good sleep with no dopiness in the morning. However, it took about three or four days to start working.

I was having very bad muscle spasms in the middle of the night, located at the top of my right leg and down the inner part of my thigh that nothing would help except getting up and walking around awhile. My doc put me on 20 mg of Baclofen in the pm, and I haven't had that nightly pain since. I love my Baclofen!

Spasms are usually a problem for me when I get lazy on my stretching exercise routine. For some reason they help with the spasticity, which helps with the spasms.

I use self-hypnosis (taught to me by a psychiatrist), and yoga deep breathing techniques. Both of those will put me to sleep fairly easily, but don't always keep me asleep.

For two years (prior to LDN), I resorted to two puffs of marijuana every night. I was able to sleep MUCH better once I got on LDN, so I didn't need it any more. Just as well, cause I really don't like the "high".

Have you tried calling some of the drug assistance programs, to try and get your Avonex subsidized? I hate to see you off a drug that seemed to be doing you well . . . over money constraints. $3000 is a LOT, on a budget though!

If you are not going to be on Avonex for a while though, you may want to consider LDN as a "filler". It doesn't help everyone, but there are many people who it does . . . so it's worth a shot in the meantime.

You really do need your sleep at night, April, especially if you need to work. I find that sleep deprivation (and infection) are two things that cause me considerable difficulty. Keep trying different things until you find something that works, so that you don't burn yourself out.

Cherie

I have terrible spasms in my legs and back, and it wakes me up occasionally. My neuro prescribed baclofen, and has been increasing the dosage as the spasms have gotten worse. It seems to help reduce them.
Call the doc. Good luck!