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Hubby had ull removed over 1 year ago with lung cancer, found brain met last July, had 3 weeks wbr for that and then Gamma Knife last week. Has had problems getting a good nights sleep for a good many years but seems to be worse now. Does anyone take sleep med that they feel helps them? He has used Lunesta most recently but it does not help anymore.
Cancer Tylenol Counseling Klonopin Soma Alprazolam Anxiety Tarceva Ambien Xanax Stress Advil Dexamethasone Lunesta Ativan Decadron Pain Memory Insomnia Valium Lung cancer Lorazepam
Have had a continual problem waking at about 12:30am and again at 3:30am (or thereabouts). In both cases, could not get back to sleep, sometime for hours.
On a vacation to see friends was told about "Malatonin" an over the counter natural source for sleeplessness. Gives an improvement.
Secondly, got a mild prescription for "Alprazolam (Xanax) 0.25mg".
I still wake up maybe twice a night, but then go right back to sleep. If a problem at, like, 3am, I take the "Alprazolam". . . But rarely have to do that.
My onc told me to take Non-asprin pm. If I take two, I am sleepy all the next day, so I only take one and it helps. I do take it about 1 hour before I plan on going to sleep.
Barb
I have been an insomniac for 5 years now, disabled due to complications from this and I did ask the dr. if this chronic condition could have contributed in the dx of lung CA which he said yes. When I got this condition I did tons of research and also went to an incomniac specialist. I take 3 mg. of lunesta with 1 mg of Ativan and I can sleep pretty good. I do wake up but do not stay away from 11:30 to 4 a.m. Insomnia can cause all kinds of problems. I could have tried Melatonin but decided not to. I had a few people say that they were still drugged out the next morning so I didn't try it.
I tried the melatonin in the drug store, it does help but it didn't keep working and I did get a stomach upset a little bit with it, so don't really use it much now. I had one night the other night where I didn't get up once at all until 8:30 am. I went to bed around 2 am. This was a first in I can't remember how many years! But back to being awake again now at 3 am, and 3:30 am, I finally go to sleep around 4 am.
I take ativan 0,5 mg in the am and the pm for anxiety attacks.
I have had trouble sleeping for years, and probably tried all the over the counter stuff. They just don't work for me, consequently, I rarely take naps, and watch everything I eat after 6 pm. Anything with caffeine after mid afternoon is a big no no. All it would take to keep me awake for at least half a night would be 1 small cup of coffee. Anything that is chocolate or sugar in the evening is also a no no. If I slip up, then it's "Hello Ceiling" until the wee hours of the morning.
I did try Ambien for a short while and found that I felt too groggy the next morning. Take a look at what hubby is eating in the evening. Maybe staying away from simple things would help a little. It doesn't cure my insomnia but it helps.
Love to all,
Marylou
I was given Soma 350mg 1/2 to 1 tablet at Hs for leg cramps just prior to cancer DX.I only take if needed.I too an insomniac.But sometimes you can't sleep really because of muscle aches pains etc.It is a muscle relaxant,not a narcotic.However if you have random drug screens at work let them know you take it.It apparently can be mistaken for something else on drug screens.I will sleep soundly for 6 hours then for days after seem to continue to rest better even though I only took the one dose.No idea why it works without drowsiness.AndiB
I have used Ativan (1mg) at times. It is a central nervous system depressant and is used for managing anxiety and mild nausea, too. My mother had sleep problems without any successful treatment for years before her diagnosis with NSCLC Stage IIIb in Feb07 has continued to struggle with sleep. She found an OTC drug called Quietude sometimes helps, probably available at the local natural food store or online. Occasionally, she uses Ativan, though her oncologist advises using it every other day to avoid saturation of the seratonin (or dopamine?) receptors, which causes it to stop working for a few days until they "de-clog". I take it nightly for several weeks straight when I am having a hard time with sleep and mostly find it works for me, without significant grogginess the next day, though I do think it interferes slightly with short term memory.
Best wishes to you and your husband,
Jennifer
i was given ambiens 10 mg it really helps me sum say it makes them groggy the next morning but for me it was fine i recently stopped taking them because i started to fall asleep on my own and stay asleep the whole nite thru but once in awhile if i feel its guna be one of those sleepless nites i do take one and it helps really well.
Like lvfinn, I will fall asleep, then wake up at 12:30 and again at 3:00 or so and will be awake for a long time. The Alprolazan (Xanax) helps. I take a small dose (.25 mg) at bedtime or I wouldn't fall asleep at all! It can be addictive, but most of us aren't too worried about that, just be careful not to continue increasing the dose.
Sometimes something as simple as a Tylenol PM will work, too.
I tried Ambien, but it made me sick, who knows why. I take 150 mg. of Tarceva everyday and will for the rest of my life.
Hi there
My husband, friend of mine and I take over the counter equate pain releiver pm It works for us and you can get at walmart and it is very cheap. We take it at 10 and go to bed at 10:30 works very well give it a try.
Judy
Hi hope things are good with your hubby.
It is crazy I take a .05 ativan every nite about an hour before I go to bed.
I have been taking it for three years.
They say it is addictive ,but here I am one lung gone 68 years old Chemo destroyed most every cell in my body an I don't think I am going to worry about becoming addicted to any pain killers or sleep aids.
And wow I never had much of a brain any way.
God bless you and your husband prayers to both of you.
Greg
Hi There: When I was undergoing chemo I had a very difficult time sleeping. Don't know whether it was all the chemicals or a combination of all the chemicals and being worried out of my mind! My Onc gave me a prescription for Lunesta. It helped somewhat, but not that much.
Post-treatment my sleep is sporadic, meaning I never sleep more than 5 hours. I usually get up after 5 hours, wander around, check out the computer and go back for a nap - sometimes also later in day. I've accepted that this is the way I am and, since I am now retired, I can accommodate this pattern.
If, however, at night when I normally get tired I am particularly energized I take Sleepytime Tea or another Camomile tea of some sort. This calms me down and I am able to rest.
I also have to be careful to not confuse "being hungry" with really being tired. I have the tendancy to do this sometime and have to watch myself with that.
Blessings!
Brooklynda
When someone develops metastatic disease to the brain, it causes swelling in the brain. The way your doctors combat that brain swelling is by prescribing a medication known as dexamethasone (also called Decadron). Since your husband had metastatic disease to the brain, there is a very good chance that his doctors may have started him on Decadron. Unfortunately, Decadron does not let people sleep. This is especially true if one takes the Decadron dose after 12 noon, it just will not let someone sleep. If your husband in on Decadron, ask your oncologist if it is ok if he takes all of his Decadron doses early in the morning. That way, he will be better able to sleep at night. Hope this helps.
Decadron can really interfere eith sleeping... least that's what they tell me :) It always knocked me right out. hahaha
I have been a horrible insomniac and tried everything. Then I found a NATURAL way to sleep:
L-Tryptophan
It is non-addictive and there are no KNOWN safety issues with it. It is an amino acid that increases the serotonin levels in our brains. Serotonin levels decrease as we age.
I take it with melatonin each night... and in the daytime, I also take Theanine, which is a calming ingredient found in green tea and also an amino acid.
Theanin and melatonin both have anti-cancer benefits.
Boy has it worked. I now sleep well for the first time in YEARS!!!
When I first started taking it, I took too much and dreamed in techni-color... Now I just take 500 mgs of the L-Tryptophan before bed with 10 - 20 mgs melatonin and can get away with only taking it a few times a week. I guess it builds up over time in your body.
This is much safer than prescription medicine - cheaper too and you can get it at any vitamin store.
God bless,
Ellen
I gave up on supplements for sleep and my doctor gave me a prescription for Ambien CR. It doesn't make me drowsy in the morning and keeps me asleep for about 7 hours. Falling asleep wasn't a problem for me, it was staying asleep. Some people are more sensitive to medication than I am. I don't sedate easily. You have to be careful so you don't become dependent on it, so I may take it 2 x's a week. My problem is staying asleep for more than 2 hours at a time. On my own, I fall asleep about 1:00 AM, wake up every two hours and up for the day by 6:00AM or earlier. With Ambien CR I sleep thru til about 7:00 and wake up refreshed.
My Ambien story is almost identical to cmbrne's above. But I do take it nightly, and am probably hooked. But I've been on it over a year and haven't needed to increase the dose. My PC says it's ok to stay on it as long as it helps.
If your husband just had Gamma Knife, is he also on steriods? My sleeping problems started with the steroids - they totally kept me up all night. That's when I started the Ambien, and even in the beginning, as long as I was on steroids, I only got about 3 hours of sleep a night. Once off the steroids I've been able to get a full night's sleep.
There is a new book out called "I Can Make You Sleep" (not sure of the author, but it's in the major bookstores and Amazon). I'm going to get it because it sounds like it's full of great tips on getting and staying asleep. I would like to wean myself off of Ambien, just because I'd rather take nothing if I don't have to.
there is nothing worse than when you cannot sleep it makes it a long night, try Zopiclone 5.5mg l take 1 a night trouble is l have had them so long l need to change
Thank you all for your suggestions. The doc is trying Lorazepam on him now. Seems to help some. He may be extra tired from having had so much radiation in the last 2 months. Which could have compouned a problem with sleeping through the night that he has had since his early twentys. He has pretty much lost his appetite too, says nothing much tastes right to him. I have him drinking 2 ensures, 2 propels, and eating something twice a day. I am not sure what else to do for him.
I had chroic insomnia before my husband's dx, but now it is out of control. between researching and trying to come to grips with his side effects from chemo, educating myself, and just pressure from my own career, I spend many, many, many nights without sleep, and experience semi paralying anxiety on an almost daily basis. In my fight to remain positive for my husband, and also take care of myself and get proper rest so I can be at my best not only for him but so that I can also perform, it is very challenging. The hospital where he is finding care (Hackensack, a great hospital) has yet to discuss either pain management for him or relief for the caregiver. :-) He is stage 4 nsclc dx 3/3/09 and it recently mets to abdominal wall (same cancer according to biopsy) so he is experiencing extreme gastric discomformt 24/7. My anxiety prevents me from sleeping as well as occasionally trying to confront our future is pretty overwheming and, agan, causes me as his spouse much anxiety. I am looking for resources who are empathetic or sympathetic to this situation so my husband's pain might be managed, and also I could experience some relief. Are there any doctors local to the Hackensack, NJ area who are sympathetic and would help us? I just need to be able to rest so I can function and carry on with daily business, while also having emotional strength to be here for my husband. Ambien has been working for me, but I would rather not pressure my gynecologist, who has written it for me in the past. Under the circumstances, I think it is time to visit a doctor who understands the constant underlying anxiety for both patient and the caregiver. Any help or suggestions are deeply appreciate. the ambien is down to one week! :-)
My husbands regular md put him on the lunesta, when that wasn't working, switched him tp alprolazam. Now he is having some nausea. Could that be from rad(gamma) or alprolazam? what should i do about the nausea?
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