Hello All,
Any opinions on what meds help you best to aid sleep? Daughter's main probs are pain (obvious-sorry), sheets on skin etc and getting a comfy position. Any other tips greatly appreciated.

Lisa xx

I find amytriptaline is one of the best pills to aid some sort of sleep as well as having pain relieving properties when used long term. On top of this I do like my oral ketamine for during the night if pain is the cause of wakening up. It gives a quick, sharp blast of reduced pain which can be enough to fall back over. Other than that reading with a book light if she has the concentration can help.

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Hugs
Siobhan
xx

Oh dear this is going to sound stupid. I don't actually take anything to get to sleep but I do pace it out. My night routine is designed to get me from one end to the other without screaming agony.

I take an antihistamine (Benedryl or Piriton) first because I suffer with hayfever and sneeze all bloody night but I'm also allergic to dust mights which doesn't help. However, a lot of allergy tablets cause drowsiness so can help get you off in the first instance.

I have 3 alarm clocks which are set at intervals of 1 1/2 hours. I know I can sleep for that long before I'm in agony, I then move about and resettle myself and set the next alarm. My night usually goes from midnight to 6am and by doing the pacing I can get through the night.

I know this sound mental (which I am officially by the way) but sleep is less important than resting. One thing I have learnt on the PM courses is that relaxation and resting is far more important. Cat naps during the day and not forcing yourself to sleep because convention says you have to at night doesn't actually help. I usually cat an hour when I get home from work, this helps.

Pillows and cages to keep the bedding away from legs/arms etc. are also helpful. In the end I got rid of my duvet and went back to blankets and sheets. I have a couple of 5ft long bolster pillows which I lay across so that I can keep my hypersentive areas safe.

I know this is of no use to you what so ever but I thought an insight in the night time activities of an RSDer might be helpful.

Love
Sian

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I found sleeping pills helped a bit but long term I dont think GPs are keen on to give them out.

I find laying on the living floor with one of those memory toppers and Magic radio or a cd playing helps or even just sitting propped up in the arm chair with a big bean bag or few feather pillows and a light sheet over me.

Good Luck

Love Kim xx

Hi ya

Sleep is a real nightmare for me too and I hate feeling sleepy all day as well. I dont think I've had a refreshing nites sleep in 10 years of RSD and blood clots. One thing that does give me lots of good sleep is a full aromatherapy massage when I can afford it. The lady I see is very interesting fully qualified in massage/aromatherapy and homeopathy and an excellent listener so get some free counciling too I guess. I would highly recommend it. If you want to try it I'll ask my lady if she knows any one in your area. Lavender oil is very good for sleep I believe, a couple of drops of oil in a bath or oil burner or maybe bowl of boiling water maybe worth trying.

I have a monitor on a flexible mount by my bed and wireless keyboard etc so i can use PC without having heavy hot laptop on my lap. It helps me use a pc in comfort and while away the time when cant sleep.

Wouldnt life be so much better if we could take a sleep pill with out side effects and an awake pill when we need to be awake....

There is one generic drug used for travel sickness that is reportedly used by many as a sleep aid on flights etc called Loratadine.

Now I say reportedly because this is info given to me by an assistant in boots. I was after a particular anti nausea drug for Mum but they didn't sell it. The assistant recommended Loratadine and gave me the extra info too!

Yes they knocked Mum out but then she can be really sensitive to some drugs. I haven't tried them (though have been tempted tbh) and of course you must ALWAYS check with your Pharmacist or Doctor if you're gonna take any drug over the counter or prescription for any possible interactions.

HTH

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I used to take valium which will make you sleep pretty well if you get the right dose but don't expect to be awake during the day. Alot of people like ami but that didnt make me sleep. It made me tired but not sleep

I agree with the majority on this one - have you tried amitryptyline - it worked for me for a while, but then unfortunately, ceased to be useful. I've been prescribed Lyrica (pregabalin) - was warned it would make me sleepy, but the opposite seems to be happening, am awake and buzzing most of the night. So far, have cleared out my old craft stuff and am currently working on the wardrobes. Doesn't seem to be affecting the pain any, but we'll see!!

Lol

Jax

Have been on Amitryptaline for 3 weeks now and i've seen a big improvement in my sleep and i'm only on low dose 10mg.

Staffy

Glad to hear the Amitriptylene is helping you. This is one of those meds that do more than 1 job.

For sleep and pain management the dose is usually between 10mg and 75mg, for depression its usually 100mg upwards.

Love
Sian

_________________
SHOUT ABOUT RSD DURING RSD/CRPS AWARENESS MONTH - LETS SPREAD THE WORD!

RSD/CRPS AWARENESS MONTH - MAY 2010

I AM A NEUROVORE - I LIVE ON MY NERVES!