Advil and Sleep Apnea

I'm wondering if anyone has ever noticed that they seem to sleep worse if they take Advil or Advil PM before bed.

I'm wondering if there is any documented evidence that Advil or any of the other common drugs out there make sleep apnea worse?

I know my doctor told me not to take things like Ambien or Lunesta if you have sleep apnea because it makes the sleep apnea worse.

Lee

lee_leses wrote:I know my doctor told me not to take things like Ambien or Lunesta if you have sleep apnea because it makes the sleep apnea worse.

Ambien is prescribed often in conjunction with sleep studies and afterwards for various reasons.
My sleep doctor said it did not make OSA worse. I suppose it could possible alter sleep architecture somewhat.

OSA or obstructive sleep apnea is caused from the collapse of tissues blocking the airway either partially or completely. Ambien doesn't do this.
Now medications known to relax the body could cause more of a collapse. Muscle relaxers, opiates, some meds in the Valium family and stuff like that. The "PM" in the over the counter meds to promote sleep is often simply benadryl which is an antihistamine not normally known to increase tissue collapse nearly as much as specific muscle relaxers or opiates.

Now Central sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea where centrals are present, that might be a different story. I have not researched that side of things.

Pugsy wrote:The "PM" in the over the counter meds to promote sleep is often simply benadryl which is an antihistamine not normally known to increase tissue collapse nearly as much as specific muscle relaxers or opiates.

Now Central sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea where centrals are present, that might be a different story. I have not researched that side of things.

I have scoliosis which has progressively resulted in more and more lower back, hip, and leg pain over the years, and the most effective treatment for that pain has been methadone, which I take daily.

I haven't had a good conversation with him yet about this, but my sleep doc thinks my use of methadone may have something to do with my apneas and breathing disorders.

Logic says to stop taking the pain meds and maybe get rid of the apnea. Tough decision, because without the meds, I'm practically worthless because the pain is quite debilitating. I'd gladly trade in my spine for another. I've had other opiates and non-opiates and none works near as well as the methadone. I also think I've had the apnea long before I started the methadone.

Anyhow, we'll have a talk about this next month when I get to see him.

I don't take Advil PM, but I do take 800mg Ibuprofen somewhat regularly for arthritis of the spine, and hip. I haven't had any ill effects at all, as far as sleeping goes. However, I'm sure in the long run these drugs will take their toll on my heart, kidneys, liver, etc. But what are we supposed to do?
I don't know how long the Good Lord is giving me here, but I'd like to minimize the pain, while here, if possible.

Muscle relaxers don't make me have a worse night sleeping directly - however, they make me relax enough that my mask leaks more, which wakes up my wife, which leads directly to being smacked into wakefulness. I find that I sleep better with tense muscles and some Advil than with loose muscles and a grumpy spouse. The data on my card thus far seems to back this up.

ameriken wrote: Logic says to stop taking the pain meds and maybe get rid of the apnea. Tough decision, because without the meds, I'm practically worthless because the pain is quite debilitating.

I broke my wrist. Had to have it surgically repaired June 10. Major pain. Given Percocet and yes I would take 2 at bedtime. I did see a change in response of my APAP to increase pressures much more often and higher than normal but certainly not enough to worry about. I slept well overall. Maybe slight increase in AHI from my normal 1 to 2 without Percocet to AHI of 2 to 3 with Percocet.

So for me not a huge impact and with using APAP the events are still dealt with just fine.

So.....maybe opiate use can be handled in certain situations.

You are right..gotta get some sleep and have good quality of life.

But of course best to discuss with doctor especially since you require ASV. I have plain vanilla OSA.

sluzynski wrote:Muscle relaxers don't make me have a worse night sleeping directly - however, they make me relax enough that my mask leaks more, which wakes up my wife, which leads directly to being smacked into wakefulness. I find that I sleep better with tense muscles and some Advil than with loose muscles and a grumpy spouse. The data on my card thus far seems to back this up.

Try putting on your mask, turning on full pressure and making a conscious effort to relax your face and make it leak. Then adjust the mask to stop the leak. I find I tend to tense up my face to fit the mask when I put it on and then it leaks when I relax.

Sounds like a good idea but i can't put mine at 'full pressure'
i wanted to when the guy was here to test masks and he couldn't do it
it's to be a auto bipap but guess i don't have access to it right?

I wondered if analgesics could cause a problem too. I was on Tramadol during my sleep study, despite having read about a double blind study that indicated that Tramadol reduces stage 4 sleep and increases stage 2. I wondered if it would interfere but the tech didn't think so. I wouldn't have been able to sleep at all without it, would have been in pain all night long.

EDIT: Found the article. 8 people is not a fool proof test but it is interesting anyway. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/di ... aid=463701

Judy in CA wrote:Sounds like a good idea but i can't put mine at 'full pressure'
i wanted to when the guy was here to test masks and he couldn't do it
it's to be a auto bipap but guess i don't have access to it right?

Judy, your machine can be set on full power... but it will take being able to get into the settings to be able to do it.

That's what the DME field director was trying to do
got a verbal from dr office but 'powers that be' wouldn't accept that' and said he had to wait for it to go into the system and it wouldn't be done until the next day
guess i'll just have to make another trip to Dr office where RT could do it but i'd have to take all maskes etc.
Such a hassell

Don't some analgesics have caffiene in them? I know Excedrin does. If I drink ANY caffeinated beverage after dinner I toss and turn all night.......I do the same if I have any sugar or too much of it with dessert .

nanwilson wrote:Don't some analgesics have caffiene in them? I know Excedrin does. If I drink ANY caffeinated beverage after dinner I toss and turn all night.......I do the same if I have any sugar or too much of it with dessert .

Only Aspirin products (like the mentioned Excedrin) contain caffeine because it has been shown to boost the effect of the Aspirin itself. Advil (Ibuprofen), Aleve (Naproxen Sodium), and Tylenol (Acetaminophen) gain no benefit from combining with caffeine that I am aware of.

It is possible that some prescription analgesics could benefit from caffeine but it's not be tested. There probably hasn't been a lot of adequate testing with Aspirin either (but don't quote me on that, I don't know for sure).