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Author Topic: Advice about insomnia  (Read 7232 times)

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Offline xyahka

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Advice about insomnia
« on: June 10, 2007, 11:24:55 pm »
Hi, i have a very good friend of mine who is having troubles with some side effects of his meds. As he cannot write in English and has not found reliable sources of information over the internet he asked me to post to you over here to get some suggestions.

He is under kaletra nowadays about 6 months and so far doing quite ok. Except for something that bother him a lot, insomnia. He has been on meds to sleep since long time ago but now Dr adviced him to stop it to avoid developing addiction, the thing is that right now he is sleeping only 2 hours per day and it is affecting him. He was told not to try any natural way of dealing with it (herbal meds, or herbal teas) because it would interfere with his meds (oppinion of Ecuadorian Dr.)

I saw him today and he looks tired... i wonder if any of you can give me some advice about it so i can pass it to him.

thanks a lot.

Juan Carlos
« Last Edit: June 10, 2007, 11:59:47 pm by xyahka »
13/03/07 1er diagnóstico /Peso: 79kg
19/04/07 CD4: 494 /CViral: ?? /Peso: 80kg
19/07/07 CD4: 659 /CViral: ?? /Peso: 79.5kg
06/03/08 CD4: 573 (después de meses muy deprimido) /CViral: ?? /Peso: 79kg
17/09/08 CD4: ?? /CViral: ?? /Peso: 84Kg
06/02/09 CD4: ?? /CViral: ?? /Peso: 85Kg /HCV: Neg /HBV: Neg.
07/03/09 CD4: ?? /CViral: ?? /Peso: 87Kg / Gym 3días/semana y Natación 2días/semana.
12/05/09 CD4: 470 /Cviral: ?? /Peso: 87Kg.
08/07/09 CD4: ? /CViral: ? /Peso: 77Kg.
09/12/09 CD4: 510 /CViral: ? /Peso: 78kg. No medicinas aún
10/01/10 CD4: ? /CViral: ? /Peso: 76Kg.
15/05/10 CD4: 320 /CViral: ? /Peso: 76Kg.
01/02/11 CD4: 291 /CViral: ? /Peso: 78kg.
05/05/11 CD4: 366 /CViral: ? /Peso: 78kg.
27/07/11 CD4: 255 /CViral: 138000 /Peso: 78kg.

Disfrutando y aceptando una nueva vida...

Offline Miss Philicia

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Re: Advice about insomnia
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2007, 11:31:50 pm »
I found the sedating effects of Remeron (aka Mirtazapine) to be useful when I was on Kaletra.  It's actually an antidepressant but it's one that also makes you sleepy -- does he have issues falling asleep or staying asleep?  Of course, if he has no depression issues it may not be useful but if he does he'll kill two birds with one stone and there was no long term addiction to this for me.  Anyway, I don't find the doctor's issues with addiction that persuasive for someone with HIV that NEEDS their sleep.

I will assume that he's eliminated or minimized any caffeine intake already.
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline xyahka

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Re: Advice about insomnia
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2007, 11:48:23 pm »
He has problems staying asleep. He is very cautious with his food so no cafeine consume i think. He has told me he sometimes gets depressed but he does lot of meditation and stuff like that. I think he is not depressed just... he needs to sleep and he feels frustrated he cannot do it.

thanks for your advise.

Juan Carlos
« Last Edit: June 10, 2007, 11:52:40 pm by xyahka »
13/03/07 1er diagnóstico /Peso: 79kg
19/04/07 CD4: 494 /CViral: ?? /Peso: 80kg
19/07/07 CD4: 659 /CViral: ?? /Peso: 79.5kg
06/03/08 CD4: 573 (después de meses muy deprimido) /CViral: ?? /Peso: 79kg
17/09/08 CD4: ?? /CViral: ?? /Peso: 84Kg
06/02/09 CD4: ?? /CViral: ?? /Peso: 85Kg /HCV: Neg /HBV: Neg.
07/03/09 CD4: ?? /CViral: ?? /Peso: 87Kg / Gym 3días/semana y Natación 2días/semana.
12/05/09 CD4: 470 /Cviral: ?? /Peso: 87Kg.
08/07/09 CD4: ? /CViral: ? /Peso: 77Kg.
09/12/09 CD4: 510 /CViral: ? /Peso: 78kg. No medicinas aún
10/01/10 CD4: ? /CViral: ? /Peso: 76Kg.
15/05/10 CD4: 320 /CViral: ? /Peso: 76Kg.
01/02/11 CD4: 291 /CViral: ? /Peso: 78kg.
05/05/11 CD4: 366 /CViral: ? /Peso: 78kg.
27/07/11 CD4: 255 /CViral: 138000 /Peso: 78kg.

Disfrutando y aceptando una nueva vida...

Offline xyahka

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Re: Advice about insomnia
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2007, 11:55:10 pm »
He falls asleep normally and then wake up 2 hours later and then he cannot falls asleep again
« Last Edit: June 10, 2007, 11:57:39 pm by xyahka »
13/03/07 1er diagnóstico /Peso: 79kg
19/04/07 CD4: 494 /CViral: ?? /Peso: 80kg
19/07/07 CD4: 659 /CViral: ?? /Peso: 79.5kg
06/03/08 CD4: 573 (después de meses muy deprimido) /CViral: ?? /Peso: 79kg
17/09/08 CD4: ?? /CViral: ?? /Peso: 84Kg
06/02/09 CD4: ?? /CViral: ?? /Peso: 85Kg /HCV: Neg /HBV: Neg.
07/03/09 CD4: ?? /CViral: ?? /Peso: 87Kg / Gym 3días/semana y Natación 2días/semana.
12/05/09 CD4: 470 /Cviral: ?? /Peso: 87Kg.
08/07/09 CD4: ? /CViral: ? /Peso: 77Kg.
09/12/09 CD4: 510 /CViral: ? /Peso: 78kg. No medicinas aún
10/01/10 CD4: ? /CViral: ? /Peso: 76Kg.
15/05/10 CD4: 320 /CViral: ? /Peso: 76Kg.
01/02/11 CD4: 291 /CViral: ? /Peso: 78kg.
05/05/11 CD4: 366 /CViral: ? /Peso: 78kg.
27/07/11 CD4: 255 /CViral: 138000 /Peso: 78kg.

Disfrutando y aceptando una nueva vida...

Offline tinydaniell

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Re: Advice about insomnia
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2007, 02:55:21 am »
well i am on kaletra and i have had some troubles sleeping to help with it i go a natural route and have warm milk with honey and if that dont work decaf hot earl grey with honey or cammiolel tea

Offline bmancanfly

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Re: Advice about insomnia
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2007, 09:00:45 am »
I have the same sleep issue, not being able to stay asleep, with mild depression.  I have used Trazodone for many years, which has been very helpful.  It is a very mild antidepressant that helps you sleep.  It's been around for a long time (so side effects are well known, unlike some new meds) and also it is off patent so it is very cheap.

Good luck.
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt."

 Bertrand Russell

Offline pozattitude

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    • to find out more about me....
Re: Advice about insomnia
« Reply #6 on: June 11, 2007, 06:00:25 pm »
cannabis is a wonderful aid
POSITIVE PEDALERS... We are a group of people living with HIV/AIDS, eliminating stigma through our positive public example.

Offline jjmcm

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Re: Advice about insomnia
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2007, 08:48:08 pm »
Juan, I never had significant insomnia till I started Kaletra and Fuzeon in 2005.   While I had infrequently used sleep medications in the past that are known to cause dependency, I tried Ambien CR, Lunesta, and Rozerem.  Rozerem made me feel horrible.  Ambien would not keep me down for more than two hours and made me extremely nauseous in the morning.  Lunesta (2mg) keeps me down for about 5 hours per night and occasionally a little more.  I tried going off of it a couple of months ago for a week and slept no more than two hours per night.

I recommend it to your friend as the best solution I have found.

Offline BriGuyNY,NY

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Re: Advice about insomnia
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2007, 07:53:05 pm »
Hi all...just added to the AmbienCR post and listed some natural alternatives...agree with the warm milk...take a look for some other suggestions.  keep us posted of any good results.
The strongest warrior, is the one who conquers himself....Aztec warrior

Dripping water hollows out a stone...Ovid

Offline mrtallguy

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Re: Advice about insomnia
« Reply #9 on: June 19, 2007, 09:14:25 pm »
Hey Juan,
You are a great friend to help out your buddy like this....and this is the right place to do it!  I have had problems staying asleep for the past 6 years.  I am at the point where I switch between 3 different drugs so that I do not develop a dependency on any one of them....just all 3!!  There are some nights when I am very tired and I fall asleep....when I wake up 3 hours later I take 5mg of ambien...I chew it (bad taste) and drink water so it will hit my system right away...and I usually fall back asleep for another 3 hours.  Occasionally I will take 10mg of Ambien when I go to bed and I get 6-7 hours of sleep.  I also take Seroquel a couple nights per week...my doctor prescribed 25mg, however that is too strong so I cut the tablet in half which is good since the 30 pills is now equal to 60 doses (cuts the cost in half)  I take these a couple nights per week also.  The last one is Elavil....I take 25mg once per week when I go to bed since it leaves me groggy in the morning so I never take this one if I work the next day.  Hope this helps your friend!

Be Well!
Craig
I AM DETERMINED TO SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY!
--ACIM

Offline Oh501sguy

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Re: Advice about insomnia
« Reply #10 on: June 19, 2007, 09:38:07 pm »
What I wouldn't give for a deep hard.... 8-10 hours of sound solid sleep.  I haven't had that in years :(
Maybe that's why I'm a bitch until I've had a couple cups of coffee in the morning at work. 





Offline atxpozguy

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  • POZ+ 32 year milestone reached for Austin man
Re: Advice about insomnia
« Reply #11 on: June 20, 2007, 12:59:29 am »
I feel for you having problems "staying" asleep as I had that same problem. What I have found that works is a 50mg Seroquel and 5mg Ambien, which keeps me asleep for a minimum of 8 hours everynight.
I tried the AmbienCR when it came out and was not at all impressed with the morning headaches.

Some of these doctors telling you to stop taking a med because you might become addicted is hogwash, would you rather be in pain or not able to sleep.

I have determined that the generic to Ambien is actually stronger than the brand Ambien, that's just my opinion because I have used both.
32 years poz LTS with no expiration date

Diagnosed HIV 1982
Diagnosed AIDS 2001

As of June 2015, VL <20 CD 435 26%

Currently taking a daily total of 17 meds while only two meds for AIDS, the rest for other body organs effected by years of retrovirals. Diagnosed with Lung Cancer 2012, COPD Stage 4 2015, IBS 2013, Chronic Cystitis, Chronic Renal Failure, Hearing Loss, Depression and everyday comes with different health episodes which has sent me to the Er via EMS on a regular basis.  My quality of life has been impacted dramatically.

Offline mrtallguy

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Re: Advice about insomnia
« Reply #12 on: June 20, 2007, 06:42:47 am »
I feel for you having problems "staying" asleep as I had that same problem. What I have found that works is a 50mg Seroquel and 5mg Ambien, which keeps me asleep for a minimum of 8 hours everynight.

Another sleep meds chemist in the crowd!  Too funny....last night I took 12.5mg Seroquel and 5mg Ambien and that gave me 8 hours of sleep....I thought I was the only "chemist" when it comes to this stuff.  It's great to know that I am in good company!  I'm a little groggy this morning but nothing that a hot cup of coffee won't cure.

Be Well!

Craig

PS....Thanx for the info on the generic Ambien...will have to try that!
« Last Edit: June 20, 2007, 06:44:55 am by mrtallguy »
I AM DETERMINED TO SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY!
--ACIM

 


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