Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 10 Location: Grayslake, IL
Insomnia Posted: 10-16-03 03:56am
I've had the extreme fatigue on and off
for years, but I find I have waves of
insomnia that can last several days to a
week or two at a time. I've taken
tylenolpm each evening ( with rhuemy
approval) and it worked for over 2 years,
but it doesn't seem to anymore. I'm not
on prednisone anymore( since 4-02), but do
take plaquenil ( 4 lupus), plavix(4
antiphospholipid antibody syndrome), aceon
(2 keep blood pressure in check), dhea( 4
memory), calcium, multi-vitamin, baby
aspirin and celebrex( 4 pain). This wad
has really helped to stabilize my lupus +,
but the sleeping thing is a real
bother.....Any ideas?
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sharon
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 191
Not Sleeping! Posted: 10-16-03 07:06am
I take dilantin and a muscle relaxer at
bedtime and I still have trouble sleeping!
falling asleep is
not the issue with me, it's staying
asleep! Would love some answers!!
Sharon
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Jenn
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 78 Location: Canada
Tbds2000 Posted: 10-16-03 07:46am
Hey,
i just wanted to let you know that lupus
patients shouldn't take celebrex. It is a
sulpha drug and they can cause lupus
flares. My surgeon tried to put me on it
but my gp said no.
As for the sleeping. I can sleep where
ever and when ever I want. This is not a
good thing either. I find myself falling
asleep at work or driving. I don't drive
after dark anymore. Even if i'm in pain
my fatigue takes over and I sleep. I
usually need about 10 hours a night to
function for most of the next day.
Cheers,
jenn
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szeeba
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 8 Location: Philadelphia
Posted: 10-16-03 08:13am
~szeeba~
Last edited by szeeba on 10-28-03 10:58am; edited 1 time in total
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LadyBrannon
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 506 Location: TX
Posted: 10-16-03 12:14pm
Unfortunately, and it is well documented,
that lupus patients
1) have bouts of insomnia
2) they can be *very* hard to treat.
I know when my lupus is causing the
insomnia...Almost nothing works (and to be
honest, I usually end up in the hospital
after the 3rd or 4th day)
i do, however, have cyclobenzaprene
(flexeril). I know jenn and I have
discussed this before. It is a muscle
relaxer and is *not* addictive like so
many sleeping pills. You could ask you
doctor about it and see what he/she
thinks. My doctor has set it up for me to
take one *every* night, because I have
really bad insomnia. In fact, she used to
call me the "vampire." lol!
Here is to happy sleeping!
Hugs,
ladybrannon
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szeeba
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 8 Location: Philadelphia
Ladybrannon Posted: 10-16-03 14:59pm
Is the flexeril sedating? I know that
when I need a sleeping aid, it has to be
very sedating for me in order for it to
work.
I think that ambien is not meant to be
taken every night. Maybe it's
more useful as a once in a while thing?
I don't know.
Thanks!
~szeeba~
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Jenn
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 78 Location: Canada
Szeeba Posted: 10-16-03 15:07pm
Hey there,
the flexeril is a muscle relaxer. The
idea is to relax your body and help you
sleep. It also makes you fairly drowsy.
On the warning label it tells you not to
drive or anything while under the
influence of it. I know a lot of people
who can't take more than one a day because
then they can't function. It's worth a
try. Any medication you are on for long
term, your body will get used to so I try
not to take mine if I can manage without
it.
smiles,
jenn
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LadyBrannon
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 506 Location: TX
Szeeba Posted: 10-16-03 16:54pm
Jenn, as you can see, takes it, as well.
It is technically a muscle relaxer, but
works wonders. And she is very correct; I
could not imagine *anyone* being able to
drive...Even on 10mg.
I have used it for about 6 months (pretty
much every night) and am just now feeling
a tolerance to the 10mg...
First it relaxes you and then it does
cause serious drowsiness. I also tend to
get in a *hot* bath/hot tub when I take
it. It is also a well known fact that
raising your body temperature (slightly)
about an hour before bedtime will increase
the drowsy effect and help you sleep.
I hope this helps!
hugs,
ladybrannon
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sharon
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 191
Flexeril Posted: 10-16-03 18:41pm
That's what I take. My gp gave it to me
for back muscle spa.
I was taking it three times daily. I
wanted to sleep all day but not at
night!
My rh. Doc told me to take just one at
night along with my sz. Med, dilantin.
I can fall asleep easy, but I don't stay
asleep. I'm not sure what else to
try!!
Sharon
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LadyBrannon
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 506 Location: TX
Posted: 10-16-03 18:56pm
Have you tried the bath trick?
Just a thought...I do them in the middle
of the night when I wake up.
Hugs,
ladybrannon
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JFS
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Montréal
Insomnia Posted: 10-29-04 10:15am
This message is for canadians:
i'm looking for the documentary in search
of sleep (cbc in june 2004). If anyone
have it, please write to me. I'm ready to
pay a couple of dollars.
I have taken flexeril for 5 or 6 years off
and on when insomnia and muscle pain are a
problem for me, I take 10 mg every night.
When it gets worse, I take 20 mg a night.
When it gets so bad I can only sleep for
2 or 3 hours, and then wake up and stare
up at the ceiling for 3 or 4 hours, I will
take 1 in the middle of the night like
ladybrannon. My dr told me to take them
during the day when I was having a lot of
muscle pain and spasm, I fell asleep at
work and was afraid to drive home. I
drank several cups of coffee and turned my
air condioning on high!
I, also, use heat to help relax my
muscles, but I use a heating pad on my
back for about a half hour after I take my
meds in bed. This way you don't have to
get up once you have started to get
drowsy.
I concur about the celebrex being bad
for lupus patients. When I was put on it
I lost half my hair and was not well.
falling asleep is
not the issue with me, it's staying
asleep! Would love some answers!!
