Topic: Ambien vs. Lunesta
- Posted on: Sep 17, 2007 08:55 am, edited Sep 17, 2007 08:55 AM by LottaQuilts
Posts: 208
This is so funny for me to write. I've always been the "anti-drug" person. But at this point, I've got so many chemicals running through my body, I figure..... what the hell?
On my third day of Lexapro for depression and tolerating it well. A bit of drowsiness in the morning seems to have gone away as well as a slight headache. So I think I'll be staying on this med. No benefits yet, but I understand it takes a few weeks.
Until then, I'm also taking Xanax (usually a 1/2 pill during the day, a whole one before bed) to help with panic attacks.
What I can't do is sleep. I'm working on 4-5 hours of interrupted sleep. Sleep an hour, wake up and panic for an hour.... that kind of thing.
I'm also going to start having to take Decadron once a week before my Taxol treatments starting on Wednesday which I KNOW will mess up my sleep.
So.... long story short, I'm going to call my onc. and ask for a sleeping pill.
Ambien and Lunesta seem to be the most popular. Any suggestions?
Abbi
| Posts 31 - 42 (42 total) | |
|---|---|
|
LottaQuilts… Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 208 |
Oct 3, 2007 08:36 am, edited Oct 3, 2007 08:36 AM
by LottaQuilts
LottaQuilts wrote:
I have a tx tomorrow. Although I'm not scheduled to see a Dr, I need to talk to one. The Restoril is only giving me about 5 hours or so. W/O it I get zero. I'm sooooo tired which is making my depression even worse. Plus, what the heck do you do at 3:00 a.m.? My therapist said NEVER to get out of bed and read, watch TV etc..... it trains your body to believe that it's time to be awake. So I just lie there and get all anxious and depressed. I'm really down low right now. I'd like to see if we can try an Ambien CR. I hear that'll give me 7 hours or so. I go to bed around 10:00 and get up at 5:00.... so a good 7 hours would be all I'd need. dx 3/15/07, lump. 5/15, 1.4 cm; ER+; 1 of 3 nodes+; A/Cx4; Taxol x12; 3rd gen survivor but BRCA neg (go figure)
|
|
Harley44 Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,181 |
Oct 3, 2007 09:46 am
Harley44 wrote:
Oh, Abbi, I am so sorry you are still having trouble sleeping! Being tired from not sleeping really does make the depression even worse! I still wake up throughout the night, but since I'm not working, I guess I'll manage. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow, and hoping they will give you the Ambien CR... I hear that is a good med. to help you get uninterrupted sleep. BTW, have you stopped taking the Decadron? Hugs, Harley |
|
LottaQuilts… Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 208 |
Oct 4, 2007 03:36 pm, edited Oct 4, 2007 03:36 PM
by LottaQuilts
LottaQuilts wrote:
Just adding an update since I seem to be the poster child for insomnia here. Just got back from Taxol 3/12. Talked to my favorite doctor. She said they like to prescribe the Restoril because.... get this.... it is NOT something you have to worry about becoming dependent on. It's just kinda in and out of your body in a few hours.... sorta like Benedryl. She said I can take it every day, all through treatments if I'd like. The problems with Ambien and Lunesta and the like is that they have a half-life (stay in your system a bit) so you really can only take them for a few days. My sleep problems aren't going to go away in a few days. The answer to how to get it to work better...... try taking 2 tablets (30 mg) instead of one. So I'm going to give that a try. She just reminded me not to judge results on tonight's sleep since they give me Decadron in my premeds today. I'm not taking the Decadron the night before anymore (thank goodness for that), just as one of the premeds. Last night I slept really well. I added a Xanax with my Restoril and was out from 10:30 or so until the alarm went off...... felt fabulous! She said she wouldn't recommend that... save the Xanax for the day if I need it. The Xanax you CAN become dependent on. dx 3/15/07, lump. 5/15, 1.4 cm; ER+; 1 of 3 nodes+; A/Cx4; Taxol x12; 3rd gen survivor but BRCA neg (go figure)
|
|
Harley44 Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,181 |
Oct 4, 2007 07:33 pm
Harley44 wrote:
Abbi, Glad you were able to sleep last night. How are we supposed to know all this about the drugs they give us?? I wouldn't have known that you could become dependent on Xanax! I'm glad that you found another solution to the insomnia problem... just taking two pills instead of one. My Ambien label reads that I sould take 1 or 2, but I know that you can become dependent on it, so I just take 1/2, unless I'm REALLY having trouble falling asleep. Thanks for the update! Hope your sleeping troubles are over soon. Harley |
|
shrink Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 929 |
Oct 4, 2007 08:52 pm
shrink wrote:
I think those light boxes work only for those who have been diagnosed with SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Also, I heard that one should not take Melatonin, or any OTC meds during chemo unless you check with your oncologist. |
|
gracejon Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,477 |
Oct 7, 2007 09:25 pm
gracejon wrote:
Abbi, I could not sleep after decadron regardless of what sleeping pill I took. I also used Sonata to sleep. It didn't last as long as Ambien but I did feel very rested when I woke up. regardless nothing worked with decadron so oncology stopped giving me decadron except IV with the actual chemo. |
|
Harley44 Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,181 |
Oct 8, 2007 12:01 pm
Harley44 wrote:
Abbi How are you doing with taking two pills?? I haven't seen posts for awhile, and I'm just wondering... I have been trying to take benadryl when I also have sinus issues... Hugs, Harley |
|
Harley44 Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,181 |
Oct 8, 2007 12:01 pm
Harley44 wrote:
Abbi How are you doing with taking two pills?? I haven't seen posts for awhile, and I'm just wondering... I have been trying to take benadryl when I also have sinus issues... Hugs, Harley |
|
LottaQuilts… Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 208 |
Oct 9, 2007 09:15 am, edited Oct 9, 2007 09:15 AM
by LottaQuilts
LottaQuilts wrote:
Seems to be doing fine. I take my two pills and crawl into bed usually about 10:00. Funny, I don't ever feel "drowsy", I just sometime drift off and wake around 5:00 when DH gets up. It's wonderful to have those 7 hours of peaceful escape. Even though my onc. says they're not addictive, I'm sure I couldn't sleep a wink w/o them, but at this point, I don't care. I'm just happy to be getting some zzzzzzzs. Thinking of you today, Harley. It's your last tx isn't it! How wonderful THAT must be! Abbi dx 3/15/07, lump. 5/15, 1.4 cm; ER+; 1 of 3 nodes+; A/Cx4; Taxol x12; 3rd gen survivor but BRCA neg (go figure)
|
|
Harley44 Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,181 |
Oct 9, 2007 04:51 pm
Harley44 wrote:
Abbi, I am SO glad to be finished my txs! They had trouble today getting blood... Then they had trouble getting the IV in... they couldn't find a useable vein! Then she slowed down the IV drip, so we could keep a watch on things, to watch for any problems that may arise. It seemed to go well... It was just s...l....o....w!!! At least I didn't have any reactions to the chemo. But, it's over now.... YIPPEE! I am kind of dizzy from the Ativan. We are going out to dinner with some friends from the coffee shop. I am going to get a bottle of champagne, and we will toast our friends, and me, too! I really think I NEED that champagne after the day I've had! Glad to hear that you are sleeping well, and all through the night! Maybe I should be taking what you are taking! With my luck, they wouldn't give me enough pills to last a week, if I double them up! Hugs, Harley |
|
oldgram1 Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 50 |
Feb 24, 2008 08:50 pm
oldgram1 wrote:
Just a word of caution when taking Ambien. My Dr. prescribed it when I lost my husband. It worked great but I started doing some really squirrely things and not remembering doing them - like driving, calling people, falling asleep when talking to people. It got real scary and family was concerned so I don't take them any longer. I've went back on Zoloft since being diagnosed with breast cancer and that seems to relax me and I can usually sleep okay. Gail |
|
Sharon67 Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 145 |
Feb 24, 2008 09:15 pm
Sharon67 wrote:
Greeting Sleepless Ladies, I am new to this site and I feel for you ladies and your endless sleepless nights. My DH is a dr. and when he has patients that have trouble sleeping if often will tell them to take 2 Tylenol PM, the meds in the pm part is the same amount as in Benedryl Meds. This is also what I take at night to help me sleep since I had my exchange surgery 2 weeks ago. I personally have tried so many sleeping aids, that I feel for you ladies. I suffered panic attacks for years and I have been on Paxil for the last 8 years. When dx with bc 6 months ago, I added Xxanax to help me get through the tough times of the double mast. The best advice I could offer you ladies is as hard as it seems, try to take a nice bath before bed, and even take a book with you to try and relax your mind. When you go to bed, try not to read or watch tv, take your meds just before your bath so when you get out, your more relaxed. Good Luck, sharon |
