Safe mild sedative to help with adjustment?

[ellen1159]

It seems that even when I get the leaks mostly under control, the headgear is not bothering me, the humidification is okay and I can breathe through my nose, and I've finally found a comfortable head position on my pillow, I still can't close the deal and fall asleep. One night last week I forced myself to wear my mask for four consecutive hours during the night and during that time I did doze off but only perhaps for a half hour or so, the rest of the time I was awake trying to get comfortable. Sometime I felt like I'm dropping off and then my mouth opens and whoosh! I'm alert again. I slept for a few hours without the mask on but I was a zombie all the next day, really a mess.

I'm seeing my sleep doc tomorrow and will discuss this with him . I am sensitive to medication and am still recovering from an horrendous experience of serotonin syndrome caused by starting two SSRI's at the same time 8 days ago.

Are there mild sedatives that won't worsen apnea? What about antihistamines? Therapist I'm seeing suggested Ativan but it has a warning about telling your doctor if you have breathing problems. Have any of you used some kind of sedative to help you fall asleep, at least in the beginning of using your mask? Thanks.

I still have to find the right mask. Quattro FX leaks way too much and so does Amara Full Face mask but just around my mouth. Wisp nasal mask feels too small and stuffy with the high pressures (15-25) I'm prescribed. I've had my mask three months tomorrow and I still don't have a single night of compliance.

[ellen1159]

Meant to write, I've had my machine three months tomorrow...

[Beachmeezer]

I finally used Ambien to get me through adjustment issues. It isn't for everyone but worked for me.

[ughwhatname]

It seems that even when I get the leaks mostly under control, the headgear is not bothering me, the humidification is okay and I can breathe through my nose, and I've finally found a comfortable head position on my pillow, I still can't close the deal and fall asleep. One night last week I forced myself to wear my mask for four consecutive hours during the night and during that time I did doze off but only perhaps for a half hour or so, the rest of the time I was awake trying to get comfortable. Sometime I felt like I'm dropping off and then my mouth opens and whoosh! I'm alert again. I slept for a few hours without the mask on but I was a zombie all the next day, really a mess.

I'm seeing my sleep doc tomorrow and will discuss this with him . I am sensitive to medication and am still recovering from an horrendous experience of serotonin syndrome caused by starting two SSRI's at the same time 8 days ago.

Are there mild sedatives that won't worsen apnea? What about antihistamines? Therapist I'm seeing suggested Ativan but it has a warning about telling your doctor if you have breathing problems. Have any of you used some kind of sedative to help you fall asleep, at least in the beginning of using your mask? Thanks.

I still have to find the right mask. Quattro FX leaks way too much and so does Amara Full Face mask but just around my mouth. Wisp nasal mask feels too small and stuffy with the high pressures (15-25) I'm prescribed. I've had my mask three months tomorrow and I still don't have a single night of compliance.

I'm pretty sensitive to those types of things, so if I need a little help, I just take one (half dosage) tablet of Tylenol PM.

[STL Mark]

Your doctor would certainly need to determine conflicts with other drugs for anything prescribed. For me, Xanax which is an anti-anxiety medication provides comfort during dental visits (which I hate) and sleep studies. It is an addictive drug but when taken short term in prescribed dosages it works well for me. It also had a sedative effect that will easily put you to sleep so not the thing to take if you are about to operate a motor vehicle.

[49er]

Hi Ellen,

I don't have any feasible med or non med suggestions for sleep but Sheffey's thread on the neck collar made me just realize that I should you if you have considered using it to lower your pressure with a great AHI? It definitely achieves that goal for me although it unfortunately, it doesn't help with staying asleep on the machine.

But it works for Sheffey. Anyway, take a look at the thread if you haven't done so already.

Good luck with your sleep doctor appointment today and please let us know what happens.

49er

[ChicagoGranny]

Our culture usually takes a "drugs first" approach.

Why not first exercise/diet/good sleep hygiene?

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22slee ... =firefox-a

[Sheffey]

ellen1159

I occasionally use Diphenhydramine HCl 25 mg (generic Benadryl). One tablet gives me four hours of sleep and two tablets give me six hours of sleep. I suggest you start with one tablet.

If you use them for more than a few days in a row the effect diminishes eventually to nothing.

Diphenhydramine HCl is the ingredient in Tylenol PM that brings on sleep. A pet peeve of mine is people (millions of them) using Tylenol PM for sleep. They are needlessly taking in acetaminophen which is toxic to the liver.

Note: For about 10% of the population, Diphenhydramine HCl will have the reverse effect - promotes wakefulness. You will not know until you try it.