Need a Safe Sleep Aid - please help

[Dignan]

Hey all,

Keppra has messed with my ability to sleep well for a long time, but it is getting worse. Lately, I'm not sleeping deeply at all and not for more than 2 hours before waking straight up and not being able to go back to sleep. It's bad enough not sleep, but I'm also looking for work and would prefer not to look exhausted and sound incoherent if I get an interview.

I'll be tired and then be fully functional all day and I've had no seizures, but I'm exhausted and really need help. I have a doc appointment early next month and I'm trying to make it till then.

I've read about Melatonin, and I've heard that it works for some and can cause seizures in others, so I'm not sure whether to take it. Also, I heard it might mess with hormones some, and since that has been one of my issues, I really don't want to mess with that if I don't have to do so.

Does anyone know of any kind of sleep aid that is safe for people with E? I'm getting desperate, as this whole week has been pretty bad sleep wise, and I feel like I have to do something.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Intothatendlessblue]

Dignan,

You really should talk to your doctor. I take melatonin to help me sleep and I haven't had any issues with it, but you're right in thinking that it's different for each person. If you speak to your doctor about this concern they may be able to give you a better perspective on what would work best for you.

 

[Dignan]

Honestly, my doc isn't much help, and it being the weekend he wouldn't call back anyway.

Does anyone have any home remedies that aid sleep? I'm at the point where I really need to get some rest and I'm worried that tonight and tomorrow night won't be much better before I can contact the doc on Monday.

 

[Intothatendlessblue]

That being the case try Camomile tea. It's very good for relaxing the body and encouraging sleep.

 

[LW6279]

Camomile tea or warm milk with honey!

 

[Dignan]

Thanks for the tips! I went to the vitamin store and talked to people down there and they gave me some herbal stuff that is a homeopathic liquid melt that you place on your tongue. They said it was made of "flower essences"?? I also picked up some Tylenol PM just in case.

I didn't need any of it last night, as I was so exhausted that I actually slept for once. Tonight will be the test though, as usually when I sleep one night it is near impossible to sleep well the next night..

 

[Nakamova]

Tylenol PM can be risky for people with seizures. Make sure you don't exceed the specified dose.

Antihistamines, which are the main active ingredient in over-the-counter sleeping aids, lower seizure threshold and should therefore be avoided, although the magnitude of this risk is not known. In one series, overdosage with diphenhydramine (the ingredient in Tylenol PM) was the third leading cause of seizures.

(from http://professionals.epilepsy.com/wi/print_section.php?section=drugs)

 

[Dignan]

The sleep ingredient on the bottle says diphenhydramine. The pharmacist said she thought this would be okay. She said sudafed and pseudoephedrine was more the problem.

That being said, I wont take it unless I'm just not able to sleep at all.

 

[valeriedl]

Tylenol PM can be risky for people with seizures. Make sure you don't exceed the specified dose.
(from http://professionals.epilepsy.com/wi/print_section.php?section=drugs)

I'll take that sometimes if I can't fall asleep. All of my drs have recmonded Tylenol if I have any problems with pain. Even my neuro suggested that for my headaches after my seizures.

I had back surgery recently and the surgeon gave me pain meds to take after. I thought he said that I could take tylenol with it after a few hours if the meds weren't working too well. Once I did and ended up getting very sick throwing up. When I looked at the paperwork he gave me he wrote "Don't take tylenol with this med". So read over the paperwork that comes with the med to see what's ok to take with and what's not. Everyone's different and I don't know how it would react with certian meds you take so I'd check with your dr also to be sure about it.

Don't drink any type of caffene for at least 4 hours before you go to bed. That can have effects for me. I'll get a glass of soda or coffee late in the evening not realizing I'm doing it and it could cause problems. I think even alchol can do it too.

Sometimes if I have trouble falling asleep I'll count myself to sleep. I'll start at one and work up to 100 then do it all over again till I'm asleep. I don't know if it's because I'm concentrating on the numbers and blocking everything else out of my head that does it? It sounds stupid but it seems to work for me.

 

[Matthew74]

This is late, but in case someone finds it...

It only takes 1/2 or even 1/4 mg of melatonin to get me to sleep. You may have to get a prescription for 1mg pills, but it's real cheap, like a few dollars. The doses they sell in the store give me bad dreams, and I wake up in a few hours. Just a little tells your body it's time to sleep.

 

[lindsayschu2]

The one that works for me with no seizure issues is doxylamine succinate--Unisom. Unisom has two formulas--one is the same as benedryl, but the little blue tablet form is doxylamine. I've had no issues and my doc okayed it, but I'd check with yours. It is super effective, more than any prescription drug and I only take half, but like most, if you take it nightly it starts to lose effectiveness, so I only use it occasionally. It also makes you groggy the next day and sometimes makes you sleep too long. It is a type of antihistamine--so take note. I've had seizure issues with most other antihistamines but not doxy, even at my most unstable, but that's my experience.

 

[Nakamova]

It only takes 1/2 or even 1/4 mg of melatonin to get me to sleep.

Some people find their seizures (particularly nocturnal seizures) worsen with melatonin, so proceed with caution, even with small doses.

See http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/melatonin-cautionary-tale-24793/

 

[AlohaBird]

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I have been using these as I transition off of meds (tapering down) for my nocturnal seizures. They seem to be very helpful. They don't knock you out or leave you groggy the next day. They are just sort of a gentle relaxer that eases you off to sleep.