Using sleeping aids to get used to CPAP first time

I just went in for my first test with the CPAP machine at my sleep clinic last night. I had tried the CPAP about 12 years ago during my first go-round with sleep apnea. At that time, perhaps my sleep apnea wasn't so bad because I decided after an hour in the test that I didn't want to have anything to do with it again.

But my insomnia has gotten worse and now that I'm in my mid-50s I decided to do something about it. I have moderate sleep apnea and have a prescription to Tamazapam which I like to use sparingly so I don't get dependent on them. Anyways, after about an hour into the test, I told the attendant that I would need to take my sleeping pill after all (I wanted to see if I could do without). Six hours later I woke up and as the sleeping pill wore off, I found that I had more energy than I can remember and felt great. I'm still amazed at how much of a difference it made. The attendant mentioned that I had gotten several good periods of "deep sleep," and this makes me wonder how long I've been going without such deep sleep. My guess is that while the Tamazapam knocks me out, it doesn't bring me the "deep sleep" that makes the difference.

I asked the attendant if some people use their sleeping pills to help adjust to CPAP for the first time and she mentioned that some do and are able to slowly wean themselves off the sleeping aid to eventually use the CPAP without it. Does anyone on this board have any experience doing it this way and would they be willing to share their experiences?

Thanks, and I have to say, if I can get over the hurdle of getting used to this monstrosity, I am really looking forward to a better, more energetic (and less cranky!) 2015!

Hi novatom,

Welcome to the board.

Well, I also used Temazepam during my bipap titration study and to make a long story short, had the energy the next day to drive to my favorite grocery store that I hadn't been to in many months. But like you, I have been reluctant to depend on it which may have been to my detriment as my insomnia has worsened considerably.

Anyway, after taking it to get back to sleep when I used it previously on a PRN basis, I took it before getting to bed initially and didn't have as much energy as after my sleep study. But I do feel the fog wearing off and am starting to get some things done.

To answer your question, obviously, if you can do without meds, that is best. And practicing good sleep hygiene never hurts although I had one of my best nights on the pap machine when I violated every sleep hygiene rule.

All jokes aside, there is also reality in which meds are needed. Some lemon balm I ordered is coming in today and I might give that a shot. Or I may take the Temazepam again tonight so I can hopefully have two good nights in a row and then try lemon balm the next day.

Finally, make sure there aren't any underlying causes that could be causing insomnia. In my case, I feel ENT issues may be interfering with ability to stay asleep on the machine so I am definitely going to look into that. Even if it isn't an issue, improving nasal potency to optimize pap therapy is still a positive.

Hope that helps. Essentially, you have to decide what is best for your own situation to be able to use the pap machine.

novatom wrote:I just went in for my first test with the CPAP machine at my sleep clinic last night. I had tried the CPAP about 12 years ago during my first go-round with sleep apnea. At that time, perhaps my sleep apnea wasn't so bad because I decided after an hour in the test that I didn't want to have anything to do with it again.

But my insomnia has gotten worse and now that I'm in my mid-50s I decided to do something about it. I have moderate sleep apnea and have a prescription to Tamazapam which I like to use sparingly so I don't get dependent on them. Anyways, after about an hour into the test, I told the attendant that I would need to take my sleeping pill after all (I wanted to see if I could do without). Six hours later I woke up and as the sleeping pill wore off, I found that I had more energy than I can remember and felt great. I'm still amazed at how much of a difference it made. The attendant mentioned that I had gotten several good periods of "deep sleep," and this makes me wonder how long I've been going without such deep sleep. My guess is that while the Tamazapam knocks me out, it doesn't bring me the "deep sleep" that makes the difference.

I asked the attendant if some people use their sleeping pills to help adjust to CPAP for the first time and she mentioned that some do and are able to slowly wean themselves off the sleeping aid to eventually use the CPAP without it. Does anyone on this board have any experience doing it this way and would they be willing to share their experiences?

Thanks, and I have to say, if I can get over the hurdle of getting used to this monstrosity, I am really looking forward to a better, more energetic (and less cranky!) 2015!

Just a friendly tip, if you use the term "monstrosity" to describe your machine, it will prolong the discomfort you feel.
If you use a little "positive self talk", like giving it a comical or affectionate nickname, you will set the stage for feeling more "normal" using it. I know it sounds silly, but that is how the brain works.
(Even an abnormal one, like mine).
There is a thread on machine nicknames you can read for ideas/impressions.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=57380&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... +nicknames

There was another discussion a while back about using a desintizing schedule . Something
along the lines of just wearing the mask for a while every day without the machine even
conected till you are used to it. Then a few days with the machine and mask while you
watch tv for an hour or so. Then try an hour at night with the mask and so forth. I was
one of the very lucky ones it took me probably about 5 min. to get comfortable with my full
face mask.

I use ibuprofen PM almost nightly. The past couple months I've been taking 1 and that seems to be working well enough.

I do you Ambien about 1x a month when I just can't fall asleep.

Might not be the greatest solution, but it works for me.

FWIW, my sleep doctor at Mayo Clinic prescribed me a 30-day supply of Ambien to use solely for purposes of helping to adjust to CPAP. He also prescribed sleep hygiene, and insisted that the prescription was solely to help with adjusting and would not be refilled. He stated that he doesn't want his OSA patients regularly taking sleeping pills, except for getting used to CPAP, and then only with a strict time limit. (I should add that this was several years ago.)

BTW, I agree with chunkyfrog's comment about developing a positive view toward your machine -- at this point I find mine comforting and that helps with sleeping, after all.

I have a different take on using negative language as that can be a sign that something needs attention. For example, novatom, when you called the machine a monstrosity, are you referring perhaps to the mask you wore? Many people for example feel that way with full face masks and feel alot better switching to nasal/nasal pillow masks.

Forgive me novatom if what I said is totally irrelevant but I did want to mention this since getting the right mask is key to successful pap therapy.

49er