[baba222]

Hello,
If you have the SFN, how do you sleep through the night without taking prescription medication?
Any suggestions?

[Kitt]

I never sleep thru the night. I turn many times in the night. Barometric pressure bothers me a lot. My wrists crack when there is weather coming.

[dogwalker]

Originally Posted by baba222

Hello,
If you have the SFN, how do you sleep through the night without taking prescription medication?
Any suggestions?

I used to find melatonin effective (until I found out my neuropathy is autoimmune related and I shouldn't use it). I also use magnesium lotion when leg pains disrupt my sleep, and I think it helps to make me drowsy as well as helping with the pain. This is on top of using low doses of amitriptyline and muscle relaxer nightly, though.

[Susanne C.]

I am on prescription pain medication, but still was grinding my teeth at night and waking up many times because of the pain. Ibuprofen PM makes a big difference, I wake up much less and the grinding has stopped. With my pain meds it seems like a ridiculously small addition, ( like giving a pig a strawberry is the line I remember from All Creatures Great and Small) but it has helped.

[KnowNothingJon]

Baba,

I take meds during the day and at night, though I wake up regardless. I will vouch for melatonin helping me to a degree, but a good night is three wake ups- two roll arounds one get up.

I get what I can most nights. Every few days I get exhausted enough that I find a glorious run of 6 in a row. Sadly, it usually marks the begining or end of that previous cycle.

I wish you luck.

[Aussie99]

Originally Posted by dogwalker

I used to find melatonin effective (until I found out my neuropathy is autoimmune related and I shouldn't use it). I also use magnesium lotion when leg pains disrupt my sleep, and I think it helps to make me drowsy as well as helping with the pain. This is on top of using low doses of amitriptyline and muscle relaxer nightly, though.

Can I ask how you found out melatonin is contraindicated with autoimmune PN? I've never heard that before. Thank you!

[mrsD]

I learned recently that melatonin can mess up glucose levels (increase them). So I stopped taking it.

While it worked well in the beginning for me, I actually sleep better now without it. In a pinch I may take 25mg of OTC benadryl but not often.

If your B12 is at good levels you should be making your own melatonin from serotonin properly.

Another thing to try at night is the magnesium lotion. This is very relaxing and helps with muscle tension.

[dogwalker]

Originally Posted by Aussie99

Can I ask how you found out melatonin is contraindicated with autoimmune PN? I've never heard that before. Thank you!

This is from the Johns Hopkins Lupus Center website:
Melatonin and melatonin-containing supplements should be avoided in people with lupus and other autoimmune disorders because they may stimulate the immune system. In addition, people with these conditions should also avoid the prescription sleep aid Rozerem (ramelteon), because it mimics melatonin in the body. It is important that you understand the necessity of avoiding both melatonin and Rozerem, since sleep aids are often used to help people with fibromylagia and other conditions to attain normal sleep patterns.

They also mention garlic, alfalfa sprouts, and echinacea as stimulating the immune system.

Not sure if I can post links but if so this is it:
http://www.hopkinslupus.org/lupus-in...rmation/avoid/

[hopeful]

Originally Posted by zkrp01

Hi Baba, I get around 5 hrs/ night and as my pain meds have worn off by 11:00pm I have stopped worrying about taking it and am quite ready to get to sleep. Ken in Texas

Originally Posted by dogwalker

This is from the Johns Hopkins Lupus Center website:
Melatonin and melatonin-containing supplements should be avoided in people with lupus and other autoimmune disorders because they may stimulate the immune system. In addition, people with these conditions should also avoid the prescription sleep aid Rozerem (ramelteon), because it mimics melatonin in the body. It is important that you understand the necessity of avoiding both melatonin and Rozerem, since sleep aids are often used to help people with fibromylagia and other conditions to attain normal sleep patterns.

They also mention garlic, alfalfa sprouts, and echinacea as stimulating the immune system.

Not sure if I can post links but if so this is it:
http://www.hopkinslupus.org/lupus-in...rmation/avoid/

This is very interesting. This is what my PCP recommends to me all the time. It just never really worked real well for me.

Thanks for the info!

[zkrp01]

Hi Baba, I get around 5 hrs/ night and as my pain meds have worn off by 11:00pm I have stopped worrying about taking it and am quite ready to get to sleep. Ken in Texas