Pre this I was on trazadone for awhile for sleep. Then it began to not work. Anyhow a few years later my pain doctor suggested to try that. So you may want to talk to your doctor about it.
I wonder though if a med like ativan or klonopin would help you better since it is used to relax with anxiety

The klonopin I take when I have my ketamine infusions so I dont want to take that regularly because then when I had my ketamine I would have to take double or triple for it to do its job... (says my dr)

The valium my dentist wanted me to take it because of the muscle spasms in my jaw that happen at night that cause me to clench, grind, and break night guards, and she is scared that I am going to start breaking my teeth if my jaw doesnt relax somehow.

I have tried ativan, and xanax and it literally does nothing. I have to take WAY too much of it for it to work. Maybe I just dont have the anxiety part... or maybe I do... I have no idea. I know I do at times, but the main reason I am on it is to relax my jaw from preventing me from cracking my teeth.. LOL (that would be BAD) I have already ground down 1/4 of my teeth and chipped over half of them... so prevention is key.

The valium is helping me sleep except, I am not staying asleep all night long.
Also, I read online it said DO not take longer than 4 months... err.... I must talk to my doctor!!!

THanks for your help!!!

Danielle: I definately am going to talk to my doctor (thanks for bringing that up)about going that route to see if it might help my jaw... the valium has helped so much i have to find something that is comperable to this. I have been living with horrible jaw pain but like I cant open my jaw in the morning without forcing it open and it cracking, and finally its been 2 weeks WITHOUT THAT! I feel healed of my jaw... now if only my rsd... lol.

I have been on so many meds for sleep and anxiety. Right now is the worst ever I have slept and this has been months where I don't sleep at night anymore and just nap during the day. For myself it is the pain and anxiety and then cycle.
For you I think it is good idea to talk to your doctor about a med similar to valium. Or maybe it can be used on a bad night? Have you tried Lunesta? I think that is the one that is supposed to enter blood stream slower to keep you asleep?
I hope you can find what works for you and feel better too

Yeah I tend to nap during the day and I am not able to get sleep at night though, its just tossing and turning and painful. It so is like a vicious cycle... over and over again, we need to do something to break it.
Well, I have been on remeron for sleep at night. he doesnt like perscribing "sleep" medication but other medications that cause sleep that take down pain so its dual acting.
I have not tried Lunesta. Have you?

Do I just give up on sleep LOL

Hi well for me Lunesta did not help but you it may. I know many of my doctors also don't like using meds just for sleep. Lunesta or Ambien with a they were ok with and thought that a combo of anxiety med and that may help with sleep though it did not for me. You may want to ask about that. I have tried everything for sleep. I have tried not napping during the day but then I am up 24/7. I have tried multiple meds,relaxation techniques,biofeedback etc. I am not sure anymore what is left to try. The pain,anxiety,lack of sleep,etc is a bad cycle that is for sure.
I hope you find what works for you.

Daniella:
your story sounds just like mine...

The valium was working when i posted this a few days ago, but now, not so much for sleep.

I try not to nap as well, but then I am up all night... I try to nap to get some rest then its worse at night...

I dont even know where to go from here. I have been put on Remeron and I am asleep but I dont get sleep, and I dont fall asleep until 5 am and dont wake up until 2 in the afternoon no matter the time that I take it, nap or not. And I get horrible side effects from Remeron, I live in a fog and feel like it causes me more pain when I take it.

Lets hope for the best. Hope you get rest!

I am a little confused with the last response. Does Remeron work for sleep but you have bad side effects? How long have you been on it and is it the right dose? Have you thought of seeing a sleep doctor? For me I am not because I don't even fall asleep so it is not that I have sleep apnea. Some people though a sleep doctor may help. I am not sure if you see a psychiatrist but sometimes they can also help with sleep issues.
Hope you get rest too

The remeron makes me fall asleep, But it increases my pain by 100% and and I have been on different dosages for over about 1 year trying it... And I can not function the next day because I am in alot of pain and in such a brain fog. And while I am "asleep" I am not really asleep, I am awake enough to know whats going on around me and have extreme nightmares and toss and turn and toss and turn and causes me pain like mad. Its worse than not sleep, its like seeing horror movies of your family dying and going through horrific things and you cant wake yourself up but you arent even asleep getting rest..
I haev seen a psychiatrist, and biofeedback for my sleep, but no results. I just sleep the best during the day with naps. I guess I should just start living my life at night time. LOL Anyways... I will figure it out Thanks!

Dear Hannah -

The sleep thing is too important to let slide. First, there is already a tendency of folks who are cut of from the social mainstream to become very late night owls, as a way of taking ownership of their quiet hours along in the still of night. And here I speak from experience.

Secondly, there is an increasing amount of literature showing the sleep interruption/deprivation is associated with the inability to form long-term memories in the first place. So when we get by with 2 or 3 hours here and there, it's as though we're dumping the cache without saving it.

And as to CNS induced spasms, short of miraculous PT, the best med I found for it was (perfectly legal in all 50 states) Marinol, an exact copy of a naturally occurring active cannabis molecule: Delta-9 THC. Beating Baclofen hands down. Unfortunately, as THC molecules go, Delta-9 is not the sharpest knife in the drawer: it takes 45 - 60 minutes to take effect and then can leave you wasted for hours. But this being California, I am aware of a prominent, well-respected and recently semi-retired physician in LA who basically prescribes nothing but "tincture of cannabis" for true chronic pain patients.

I wound up not going to him where my pain doc prescribes Schedule II meds to quite a few people and doesn't need to be on the bad side of the authorities by having patients who can't pass random urine testings. Your doctor may feel otherwise. And I understand that you are not into substances that restrict your consciousness, something that you only take at bight and is largely out of your system by morning might have some appeal, don't you think?

MIke

Thank you for this info. Def. taking this to my next doc. appointment as they are the ones that recommended the mag. I really appreciate the link you pointed me to.

Take care