Sleep aid & Apap?

I was prescribed a sleep aid, but am leary on that type of med.. Has anyone else used a sleep-aid before? Did it help?

Thanks

I take a 25mg OTC sleep aid that my doctors and pharmacy assure me isn't addictive or habit-forming. I've taken prescription sleeping meds in the past and even the lowest doses make my so groggy the next day I can't function.

I find the OTC med is just enough to let me sleep soundly, but wake up without the fog.

What med were you prescribed? Did you do any online research on its side-effects etc.?

xena

Ambien 5mg, which I understand is a very low dosage to start out with & I did actually do the search for side effects, & that is what I am afraid of. I put a call into the dr but nothing as of yet.

I have used Ambien 10 mg (and sometimes cut it in half) on occasion for nearly 2 years now. Never had any of those ugly side effects though some people have had them.

The reason I began taking it was because I have a lot of back pain issues and the least little tossing and turning would cause me so much pain I would wake up each time. My normal pain med actually makes me a bit hyper so I can't take it at night or else I am up cleaning house at 2 AM. The Ambien helped me sleep just a little deeper so that I didn't wake with each little toss and turn. I took it fairly regularly for about 6 months at first. Now maybe 2 a week. I never had a problem with it. Doesn't mean you won't but many people take it without issues. Just be aware and watch yourself.
I think some of those side effects are more pronounced with the elderly.

Thank you, I will keep watch on how I feel. All I know for the moment is that I need what people call Sleep

Hi. I'm a total newb coming to this forum for first time advice, so please take the following with a grain of salt, but my doctor did specifically told me sleep aids are counter-indicated for someone with OSA because they relax your muscles and make your airway more prone to colapse, therefore creating more "events" per hour.
However, once under therapy with the right pressure, the possitive airflow will prevent the collapse in the first place and you won't experience that adverse effect. In sumary: with xpap=good, without=bad.
Armando

kaiya2465 wrote:All I know for the moment is that I need what people call Sleep

Understood. I always felt it was a personal decision between patient and doctor regarding the addition of sleep aid.
Given your history I sure understand and well worth a trial. We simply have to get some sleep to have any hope of feeling better.

BTW Ambien will not make OSA worse. It is often prescribed to take when doing a sleep study for this reason. It won't hurt the sleep architecture and it won't make the tissues in the airway collapse any more than it would have without it.
Now some meds will make OSA worse.. mostly opiates and muscles relaxers and those are to be avoided if possible though I will mention that last June I broke my wrist..bad enough to need surgical intervention..hurt bad. I was prescribed Percocet for pain. I watched my software reports closely and I noticed a 1 to 1.5 increase in my normal AHI numbers. Not nearly as big of an increase as I expected and I took those babies at bedtime.. So in some situations it is better to have maybe a little more AHI and get some sleep. I still never got over 3.5 AHI while on the Percocet which is a high powered opiate.

Oh my heavens do I need sleep! Why do I have to be such a scaredy cat?..lol I also was going to ask the dr. if I would be able to raise the pressure up 1-2 notches. Still waiting on the dr. call.

try Melatonin, it's over the counter, inexpensive, and it works

I tried that at 6mg after asking the dr 1st. Needless to say it did not work for me, but like you I would say try that 1st, because it is naturally in your body. Thanks much.

kaiya2465 wrote:Why do I have to be such a scaredy cat?

This is why I think the Ambien is a good option for you. I think it will also help with the nerves a bit which also will help with the asthma....and once you feel less apprehensive about it all..you will be less anxious.

BTW even Melatonin has some ugly side effects.. For me it was vertigo..bad vertigo...bouncing off the walls like a drunk person. Started about 30 minutes after I tried it and lasted about 4 hours after I woke up. It is a known side effect and I only took one of the lowest dose possible.

Just watch yourself closely. Educate yourself as to possible side effects to anything you might take. You will be fine.

I am used to feeling drunk all the time, even though I wish I wasn't. I had a severe TBI in 2000 & that is what I got from it..Vertigo. To top it all off my Primary put me on Lyrica for my Fibro which in turn makes it even worse...Lol.

I think that is partially why I turned to the forum so maybe I can get some help from actual users of Cpap etc. Maybe you people can help keep me sane

kaiya2465 wrote:Maybe you people can help keep me sane

It does help to have people to talk to that know what you are saying. Often the docs don't hear us..
I forgot about your Fibromyalgia yeah, for sure something to help you sleep a little deeper so the pain isn't so bothersome.

My doc gave me a teensy tiny dose of amitriptyline at bedtime only. I found it does quite well and lasts longer than the Ambien does and with a small dose I don't have morning hangover with it. Don't know what all you have tried but if not...might consider talking to doctor about it. I take it when I don't take the Ambien and it is the main reason I rarely take the Ambien any more. I don't take them both at the same time.

If I didn't take something to help me sleep through the pain I would wake up 20 to 30 times a night.. All the best AHI numbers in the world won't let me feel so good with that number of awakenings. I had to get some unfragmented sleep.

Yes it sure does help to have other people to talk to...Thank you I might ask the dr about that med, I really don't want to keep feeling drunk, I hate it. The only things I have tried were melatonin & now the ambien I will try tonight.

I have fibro and OSA (and diabetes, and depression, and. . .). I have been taking an anti-depressant at night. Mine is called doxepin. It is one of the more "sedative" anti-d's, and it makes me drowsy. I took it both nights at the sleep lab because I wanted the result with the meds -- I only cat-nap without them. Now, 4 weeks in, I am sleeping through the night, and even beginning to see some new energy & less fibro fog.

So, grab your courage, keep in touch with your doc, keep in touch here, and keep working to find what is best for you. We are all different, so what works for some might not work for you. You will find the right combination.