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Re: The effect of drugs on sleep quality and architecture

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:07 pm
by sickwithapnea17
Does restoril really increase stage 3/4 sleep? I am getting 0% stage 3/4
sominex seems to be very bad and could worsen sa

Re: The effect of drugs on sleep quality and architecture

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:02 am
by Mary Z
sickwithapnea17, where did you read that Restoril may increase stage 3/4 sleep? Out of curiosity how do you know you are not getting any stage 3/4 sleep? Are you using a zeo? Also sominex is just plain benadryl that some people take for allergies and allergic reactions. It is also present in many of the PM pain relievers.
If Restoril did increase the deeper stages of sleep it would not be a good long term solution.

Oh, I see you already posted where you read it- "I read on that med thread here that restoril might increase stage 3/4 sleep? anyone know anything about this? I am getting 0% S3/4 and am still having congnitive problems
ambien seems to help me and somin ex seems to be terrible, succinate stuff that leaves me groggy "

The only way to know our sleep stages is with something that records them like a zeo or eeg. So if you were hooked up to one of these and took restoril you could tell us. Of course you would have to experiment over a period of time.

Re: The effect of drugs on sleep quality and architecture

Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 5:09 pm
by sickwithapnea17
EEG, pdf
notice that ambien seems to give deeper sleepiness than OTC sominex? but now 10mg isn't as effective for me
see says here that ambien is non benza so it won't suppress stage 3/4- seems to help me. anyone try GABA or restoril?
I wonder if my asthma is made worse by swollen tonsils

Re: The effect of drugs on sleep quality and architecture

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 7:32 am
by TheDreamer
Hmmm, I hadn't thought to look to see if there were anything other drugs (than xyrem) that improve stage 3/4 sleep (first study I had low amounts of both...low stage 3, no stage 4...summary keeps saying this suggests sleep apnea, but in second study it noted that I had 0 AHI on CPAP...and from that the doc lowered my pressure...even though tech said she increased my pressure to smooth out my sleep. I was on 7.5, sleep lab only does whole pressures...so they had me on 7 at the start, and ended the night at 8. Doc said result is that I lower to 7 .... which was the original pressure 2 years earlier, but had gotten raised to 7.5 after 3 months.) I've only heard of Xyrem from other people, and some mention that their docs will prescribe it off-label for their Idiopathic Hypersomnia....which is what they say I have. (even though there were a couple of borderline SOREMs in my MSLT.) My doc says I don't have Narcolepsy w/Cataplexy so there's nothing he can give me to improve my sleep (which said to me that the only drug he knows for the problem is Xyrem...) doc doesn't seem to know that there can be Narcolepsy without full on Cataplexy. Wish somebody would offer me a job that'll take me to a new (bigger?) city....or I hit a major powerball.

I've been taking Lunesta long term....I started on Ambien, but I built tolerance to it quickly. So far the Lunesta keeps working (I've read that long term use seems better than other Z drugs)...there are nights where it doesn't work, but other nights where it still works. But, while it helps me stay asleep at night (most nights)....it doesn't do much in making me feel rested in the morning....

I have heard that melatonin as pretty much only thing that's safe for long term use. (in the context of herbal/OTC sleep aids...) I've also read that lower doses are more effective than larger doses of melatonin. Probably some kind of defense mechanism in the body that detects too much melatonin and triggers a counter response.

Though I've been meaning to see about getting blu-blockers to wear in the evening...to see if the too much blue light from artificial sources is suppressing the normal melatonin cycle at night....(I did change bulb in bedroom to warm white..but I prefer real white lighting in general)

The Dreamer

Re: The effect of drugs on sleep quality and architecture

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 7:35 am
by sickwithapnea17
I set my bipap st bpm on 12 and I wonder if BPM or TI (1.5) is too high then it can wake you or cause you to have low stage 3/4?