[wtrpk]

Help..if I had 2 hrs of sleep last night that was a lot. I woke at 2:30 and took a benedryl but it didn't even work.

The anxiety got so bad...my head was throbbing, ears ringing, nose tingling ..I was a mess. My whole body started throbbing.

Anyone use ambien or lunesta w success? Waiting on my dr to call

[Tengboche]

I found that amitryptaline at night and gabapentin helps, that is the only way I can sleep. Its been a year and a half for me and I can still only sleep with medication.

Good luck!

[wtrpk]

Talked to dr and he wants me back on ativan...it was workking for a while ..and if I need for anxiety I can take half during the day.

[Mark in Idaho]

aireyden,

Are you consuming any caffeine during the day?

Also, when you can't get to sleep, what sensations do you feel?

How does you anxiety manifest?

Do you have any relaxation techniques?

What is your routine like starting at 5 or 6:00 until you try to go to sleep?

Have you tried taking magnesium before trying to sleep? Some insomnia is due to magnesium deficiency. 500 mgs works for my wife about an hour before bed. The neurological chemical imbalances from PCS can leave your sleep mechanism a mess. Magnesium cannot be taken if you are taking gabapentin.

Developing a successful sleep hygiene is imperative for me.

Last night was a bad night for me. I finally got to sleep about 4:30 AM.

My wife tried taking a baby aspirin before bed last night and slept better through the early morning. The theory is that dehydration causes blood to thicken during the night resulting in sluggish perfusion of the brain. It also results in higher waking blood pressure. The aspirin thins the blood so it flows better throughout the night.

Good neurological blood flow is very important to good sleep.

Hope you do better tonight.

My best to you.

[wtrpk]

Dr is putting me back on ativan..worked like a charm last night 10:30 to 6:30. I feel beter this morn

My anxiety manifests while laying there feeling my head throbbing and I guess bottom line is I'm scared. Then all the thoughts start... Hence why I can't fall asleep. I am a worrier by nature ..that's just me. I worry when will it get better if at all. For crying out loud I get dizzy fuzzy feeling in my head just having conversations w people. My ears tingle when I do things like typing on my blackberry doing wash etc.


I try to take deep breaths when in bed

I'm trying to tire myself out w some exercise on my spin bike most days too

My routine after dinner is ...get boys to take a shower. Then I take a long hot shower
Give them a snack bed and then I have a cup of tea (decaf...chamomillle) and occasionally try to watch a little tv (until my head feels weird)

Any sugesstions? Oh no caffiene all day

[carmell]

Originally Posted by aireyden

Dr is putting me back on ativan..worked like a charm last night 10:30 to 6:30. I feel beter this morn

My anxiety manifests while laying there feeling my head throbbing and I guess bottom line is I'm scared. Then all the thoughts start... Hence why I can't fall asleep. I am a worrier by nature ..that's just me. I worry when will it get better if at all. For crying out loud I get dizzy fuzzy feeling in my head just having conversations w people. My ears tingle when I do things like typing on my blackberry doing wash etc.


I try to take deep breaths when in bed

I'm trying to tire myself out w some exercise on my spin bike most days too

My routine after dinner is ...get boys to take a shower. Then I take a long hot shower
Give them a snack bed and then I have a cup of tea (decaf...chamomillle) and occasionally try to watch a little tv (until my head feels weird)

Any sugesstions? Oh no caffiene all day

DO NOT continue with the Ativan!!! It is addictive (a narcotic) and the withdrawl is hell. Believe me, I have never been on heroin, but this withdrawl is said to be even worse. Use Zyprexa (used for Bipolar I). It will give you 11-12 hours of sleep a night. It is non-addicting and has minimal withdrawal. I have been on both. I seriously caution you with Ativan!

Carmell

[July63]

I use Ambien with a Trazadone kicker. When I get to bed I do sleep, but I usually do not get into bed unless I am sleepy. I think Ambien works, but I read it is short-term (like only to be used for 30 days or so). I have been on it for a while and I think it doesn't work as well as it used to.

[Joe M]

I have had a TBI & the consequences have been devastating. As you all know, we are the group of people who really NEED meds to get a full nights rest!

Personally, here are my results:

Ambien 10mg: works good for me thus far (thank you God), and it's been working for a good month or two.

Lunesta 5mg: works good but waking up is morbid, unadulterated torture. I sleep FOREVER on that stuff! YES, I SLEEP FINE ... but waking up is not good.

You may have different results. I know that some people with a TBI have great results from Lunesta.

I certain of this: Each person is different & you've gotta have a doc that will be okay with letting you try just about everything. I assure you ... don't give up because your med is out there!

[MarileeG]

I couldn't agree more w. Joe M - sleep is hard and without the right medicine it's impossible.

I had sleep probs before my accident. since my accident it has been harder.

I have a combo of things that work for me, though I have to admit it is still a battle! I am using Lunesta 3mg + amitryptilline 30 mg + Gabapentin 900 mg. Mark may reply with a caution on Lunesta + Gabapentin. I inquired with my pharmacist and she could not find an cautions on it. But, do be aware it may be an issue.

As Joe says, if you have a good dr. that is open to trying different options that is probably the best way forward.

I have never taken ativan but do know about trying to get off of other prescriptions that have withdrawals associated and it was a horrible experience. I have gotten a lot of help by asking my pharmacist questions. They are often easier to reach, have more time for my medication questions and have lots of knowledge.

I hope you are better soon and I hope for restful nights for you. I know what a difference that makes.... Take care.

[Hazzell]

Originally Posted by MarileeG

I couldn't agree more w. Joe M - sleep is hard and without the right medicine it's impossible.

I had sleep probs before my accident. since my accident it has been harder.

I have a combo of things that work for me, though I have to admit it is still a battle! I am using Lunesta 3mg + amitryptilline 30 mg + Gabapentin 900 mg. Mark may reply with a caution on Lunesta + Gabapentin. I inquired with my pharmacist and she could not find an cautions on it. But, do be aware it may be an issue.

As Joe says, if you have a good dr. that is open to trying different options that is probably the best way forward.

I have never taken ativan but do know about trying to get off of other prescriptions that have withdrawals associated and it was a horrible experience. I have gotten a lot of help by asking my pharmacist questions. They are often easier to reach, have more time for my medication questions and have lots of knowledge.

I hope you are better soon and I hope for restful nights for you. I know what a difference that makes.... Take care.

Hi,
I also have a lot of trouble sleeping! For a while I was taking sonata (20mg) and ativan but have recently discontinued both because I realized that it was intensifying the blood lowering effect of another med I started at night, Low Dose Naltrexone, and that it seemed to be making me more tired and brain foggy during the day.

So...now I'm having a lot of difficulty sleeping- I think the Naltrexone is making that worse but I'm hoping it'll get better soon. I also take lots of Magnesium Citrate and some 5-htp at night too. I'm slowly increasing the 5-htp to see if that helps. I'm also using some relaxation techniques.

Previously, I've tried other meds and supplemants but they either didn't work or had bad side effects (for me).

I hope everyone gets a good night sleep!
-Hazzell