A friend has developed insomnia and wants to stop her medicine, any suggestion for other treatment?
365675
I went through a similar cycle with no help from anywhere.  Drugs left me zonked the next day too.  Eventually I found relief through my own little techniques.  Stress doesn't help mind you.  She has to find a pattern that suits her.  The trick is that when your head hits the pillow it can't say "OK go to sleep, go to sleep this time".  The n the cycle has already begun.  I drink a warm malted milk and then always force my imagination to go somewhere.  For me the start is always very science fiction, but that is just me.  Before you know it the mind can wonder on its own and zzzzzzzz.....  Just advise mind you, insomnia is different for everyone and there are different types.  The other main variety is waking up 3 hours into sleep and then being stuck awake.
287034
You may have insomnia, go to a doctor.
746362
I have a friend who found herself in the same situation and she tried someone's suggestion of something called Gelstat.  It's a homeopathic sublingual with ginger and feverfew.  She tried it and it worked for her better than the presciption medication she was taking (Zomig.)  You take it when you begin to get a migraine and she used one dose, and was pain free in less than two hours, where her migraines normally last for 3 days and she has to keep taking the Zomig every 12 hours for that 3 days.  Here's the link: http://www.gelstat.com/newmigrainehome.asp \n\nThe company that makes Imitrex (GlaxoSmithKline) does have some prescription drug assistance so you could go here to check that out: http://www.gskforyou.com/10_programs_under.htm\n\nGood luck!
890891
Sleeping problems seem to be closely related to ADHD. Many children, adolescents or adults have problems to calm down in the evening and fall asleep or report disturbed sleeping patterns or nightmares.\n\nPsychostimulant medication can cause insomnia in some patients. Usually these problems stop after a while (allow 2 weeks to cope) However there is a significant group of patients that will even benefit from low dose psychostimulant in the afternoon or before bedtime to calm down!\n\nTo find out whether the psychostimulant medication is responsible for the sleeping problem you could try to administer the medication earlier and to reduce or avoid medication after 2 pm.\n\nIf you administer sustained release medication (e.g. Concerta) with a very long duration you might consider to change the tablet or dose.\n\nSometimes comedication with sedating antihistamine medication or Clonidine can be helpful.\n\nHowever, it is important to establish sleeping routines and stick to defined times to go to bed. Try to reduce TV times or too much computer games in the late afternoon or evening because this can be a source of overstimulation of the brain.
96460
Well, first of all it's probably a agood idea to get checked by a doctor to rule out anything else that could be causing your insomnia and may need to be treated. Your doctor may prescribe a sleep aid. But if you'd like to keep it more natural try taking 5-HTP shortly before bedtime. If that doesn't help L-tryptophan is stronger, take it shortly before bedtime, also. These supplements can possibly be found in your grocery store. If not there, then at your local natural foods store or health food supply. They are safe and do not cause any side effects. \nThe other part of relieving insomnia is to use your bedroom for sleep only. No reading, watching tv, etc in bed. This helps your body & sub-contious mind to associate your bed with sleep, which makes it easier to actually fall asleep there. Be sure to make your bed and bedroom as condusive to sleep as possible. i.e.: no noises, lights, or other disturbances; comfortable bed & bedding; comfortable temp...most people prefer a slightly cool temp for sleeping. You can also use lavendar essential oil, it's great aromatherapy for sleep. (essential oils affect our body chemistry)& lavendar helps your body & mind to relax.
336345
Try a different medication.
216916
Have her talk to her school counselor.  Have her see a therapist.  Or maybe just talk to her and find out whats wrong.  IN any case somebody needs to talk to her calm her down, and help dissolve her fits.  OH you could also try sedatives, or medication.  IS she dangerous when she does this?  I dunno, maybe she just needs a hug and an "I love you, everybody loves you."
1020921
Most important is to get your DM controlled\n\ntreatments include:  \n- gabapentin (off-label, works for some not all, only way to know if it works for you is to give it a try.  Brand Name is Neurontin)\n- Lyrica: a new-ish controlled substance similar to gabapentin\n- Cymbalta, an SSRI with approval by the FDA for use for diabetic peripehreal neuropathic pain.  In my practice experience (in an endocrinology office) about 80% or more of the patients I have prescribed Cymbalta for have had some benefit, many significantly\n- amitriptyline, another old, off-label use.  usually given at bedtime to help relieve nighttime pain that interferes with sleep (drowsiness!)\n- percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS), no experience with,  look it up\n- see a neurologist to determine if that is what the condition is; might be something else.  if it is DPN, neurologist can help with treatment.\n\nHope this helps!
809526
I feel for your friend- But,I have the same problem.I'm a 37yr.old female.And I have Insomnia really bad.I've had a sleep study done.But,nothing I've tried has helped.I've tried- Reading,Simply Sleep,Tylenol P.M.,Ambien,Lunesta,and even a natural med from the pharmacy.Nothing has helped me yet.Sometimes I'm up for 2-days straight.It sucks.So,If you find out something please let me know if you don't mind.My E-Mail is: jac9blond@yahoo.com I wish i could help.
994762
First of all, does your friend WANT to quit? If not, nothing you do short of locking him up, will make a difference. \n\nIt he does want to stop, the pain of his withdrawal depends how heavily addicted he is, how much quantity he's using and also what method (smoking chasing injecting?) Milder withdrawal is like having the flu .. body aches, feverish, restless, agitated, runny nose, itchy skin. The worse it gets the nastier it gets. Be prepared for someone who might try to attack you if you stop them going out to score, or who tries to hurt themself or just ANYTHING to stop the craziness in their head and body. And don't trust anything they say, and be aware that they'll lie even if they say they really want to stop, they'll probably hide a little stuff "just in case". Don't let their friends visit them unless you're sure the friends aren't using too, cos they might bring them stuff. They'll need some strong painkillers and tablets probably won't be enough, so you really do need to have a doctor.  Frankly I think if you can't afford drug treatment or professional help and no follow-up with psychiatric help, you'll probably have to go through this more than once, cos they'll just end up going back on it if they don't get to the core of their problem. Surely there must be SOME places that aren't necessarily drug treatment facilities but at least some doctor or voluntary or religious organisation that would help? This is a really tough thing to do and having professional help would make it a bit less of a nightmare for you. \n\nJust writing about this brings up such bad memories .. I'm so sorry you have to go through this. Try and read as much as you can on the subject, you can probably get a lot of info on the net.
268160
See a doctor.Insomnia can be a symptom of physical disorders, although for most of us it's the result of tension, stress and anxiety and of course the more anxious we get about our insomnia, the worse it gets. If your doctor pronounces you a "healthy" insomniac, he might suggest some of the techniques provided here. Or she might prescribe drugs to help you get to sleep. \nTake a warm bath.It's a great way to relax your body. Don't overdo it, however. You merely want to relax your body, not exhaust it. Too long in hot water and your body is drained of vitality.Use bath salts, or throw in Epsom salts and baking soda,one cup of each. These will relax you and also help remove toxins from your body. \nGet a massage.Have your spouse (or whoever) give you a massage just before going to sleep. If you can convince them to give you a full body massage, great. If not, even a short backrub and/or a face and scalp massage can be a big help. Have them make the massage strokes slow, gentle, yet firm, to work the tension out of your muscles and soothe you to sleep.\nListen to music.Play some soft, soothing music that will lull you to sleep. There are even cassettes and records designed for that very purpose. Some are specially composed music, others simply have sounds of waves rhythmically breaking, or the steady pattern of a heartbeat. \nDrink warm milk.A glass of warm milk 15 minutes before going to bed will soothe your nervous system. Milk contains calcium, which works directly on jagged nerves to make them (and you) relax.\nDrink herb tea.If you don't like milk or are avoiding dairy products try a cup of hot camomile, catnip, anise or fennel tea. All contain natural ingredients which will help you sleep. Most health food stores will also have special blends of herb tea designed to soothe you and help you get to sleep.\nEat a bedtime snack.A small, low protein, high carbohydrate bedtime snack, such as juice and cookies, eaten about an hour before bedtime, can help you fall asleep sooner. (Pizza does not qualify.)\nAvoid Caffeine, Alcohol and Tobacco.It should be obvious, but some people forget that coffee is not the only drink containing caffeine. Tea (black, not herbal), chocolate and cola drinks are also high in caffeine.Alcohol may feel like it's soothing you, but all it's doing is stupefying you. Research has shown that alcohol upsets sleep, preventing a deep rest. Same with tobacco. Avoid them all. \nSleep in a well-ventilated room.Fresh air (it's hard in the wintertime) and a room temperature between 60-65 degrees will give you the best sleeping conditions. Any warmer and you'll toss and turn from the discomfort of being too warm. Keep the thermostat down and do your temperature-adjusting inside the bed with more or fewer blankets.\nSleep on a good firm bed.A firm bed will give your entire body the support it needs to really relax. It's better for your spine, too.\nSleep on your back.It's the best position for relaxing, and allows all your internal organs to rest properly. If you must sleep on your side, do it on your right side, not your left. Sleeping on the left side causes your lungs, stomach and liver to press against your heart, causing stress on an organ that most of us find quite useful.Neverever sleep on your stomach. It causes pressure on all your internal organs including your lungs, which results in shallow breathing. It can also, as you've no doubt discovered, cause a stiff neck and upper back problems.\nGet some physical exercise during the day.People with "mental" jobs, like office workers, have far more trouble with insomnia than do people who work physically hard all day. Even 15 minutes a day of exercise (at least half an hour before going to bed so your body will have a chance to slow down) will give your body the activity and oxygen it needs to help you relax more and sleep better.\nKeep regular bedtime hours.Your body likes regular routines, whether
466785
Wow, that's awful.\n\nI haven't had too much trouble with insomnia, but the few times I have, tylenol pm (over the counter) helped me wind down enough to sleep.\n\nAfter four days, I'm sure you've already tried the standards: milk ( contains natural stuff that helps you sleep..doesn't have to be warm - yuk!), a nice glass of wine, warm bath, etc.  \n\nGood luck, man.  Hope you don't get this because you've finally been able to sleep.
836801
There are many natural treatments for insomnia that should be considered before resorting to medications. \nTryptophan, melatonin, 5-HTP, Valerian, and St. John’s Wort may help with sleep. In difficult cases, use of these in combination have been successful.\n\nValerian is sometimes used as a treatment for anxiety. However, it is more commonly recommended as an aid for occasional insomnia. \n\nKava is probably better for anxiety but is sometimes recommended at higher doses to treat insomnia as well.\n\nMake sure that something you are currently taking is not causing the problem. Substances such as panax ginseng, hydrocortisone taken late in the day, caffeine, and too much alcohol, cocaine or sedatives can cause insomnia.\n\nOther suggestions\n\n Poor sleepers do not clear caffeine from their systems as rapidly as normal sleepers. Even one cup of coffee at breakfast only was enough to keep them awake at night. A two week trial of no caffeine may be beneficial.\nSleep in complete darkness. A recent study indicated that even dim artificial light may disrupt sleep and melatonin production.\nDon't nap. Sleep disturbances may encourage napping during the day, which can make it harder to fall asleep at a normal hour. Avoiding naps can promote sleep at an earlier hour.\nTry taking your watch off and any clocks out of the room. This simple technique has worked for a surprising number of people.\nReading for 45-60 minutes.\nAerobic exercise 3-5 times per week.\nMany with FMS need a water bed, sometimes even with an egg-crate pad. Some need a hard bed. Find out what works for you. Go to a store and try some.\nIf hypoglycemia is a problem, some are helped by a snack before going to bed.\nGo to bed only when you are sleepy but get up at the same time each morning.\nIf medication is necessary, find out which works for you. Don’t give up - good sleep is worth the search.\nVitamin B12 can help with fatigue, insomnia, depression, and the anxiety of getting older, especially if low stomach acid is suspected. Shots may be required for large doses.\nMild acting agents like homeopathic preparations, chamomile tea, a long relaxing bath, or a touch of sea salt on the tongue with a glass of water can be tried.
46636
her Dr.'s prescription is the best bet. you can try putting a humidifier in her room to help her breathe better when she's sleeping. and feed her chicken soup or hot liquids if she can't hold food down. she still needs her energy. hope she gets better really soon.
598996
Endometriosis is a very painful condition that does require the use of stronger pain relievers at time.  It sounds as if you have been questioning an addiction or over usage of her pain pills for a while now and truth is, although sometimes pain medication is required, unless she is under extreme pain she shouldn't be using the precribed pain medication as her only treatment and it shouldn't be needed on a daily basis.  I endured years of endometriosis and if the endometriosis is so severe as to require so many pain pills ... it may be best to seek another alternative treatment.\n\nAs with any assumptions, it is wrong to assume that she is giving false information to her physicians unless of course you have positive proof of this.  Yet, with an addiction to prescribed pain medications it is very possible that one will exaggerate the intensity of their pain and/condition to further their cravings for the drug.  She also may be taking prescriptions that have conflicting effects which could be causing her drowsiness as well as many other problems.  Speak to her openly and if you feel you are certain she has an addiction, try speaking to a family member who may be able to assist you in helping her if that is what course needs to be taken.  If she is abusing the rx's...she needs help but if she isn't, she needs your friendship and comfort more than anything.  Good Luck...\n\n The fact that she has had an existing problem popping pills would definately set an alarm off on me also dear.  Go with your instincts as you know her and obviously care deeply on her behalf.)
794026
I took Lunesta and found that it didn't work at all for me.  I had a metal taste in my mouth and it simply didn't allow me to sleep.  Ambien is addicitve and causes amnesia.  There is a new drug out called Rozerem.  It is non-addictive and it works to increase your bodies own melatonin in your brain.  You can stop it at any time.  I find it helpful in getting back to sleep once I have woken up.  Also, if you can get some soft meditation or ocean sounds on an ipod or any other headphone system that may remove "mind chatter" if the casue of your sleelessness if anxiety.  good luck.  I have had sleep problems for over a decade.  Get a handle on it quickly or it will get away from you and make you sick in other ways from pure exhaustion.\nBest wishes.
1175680
Passion Flower\n\nHere is a really good all natural insomnia treatment. Mix a few passion flower blooms with 1 cup of boiling water and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Strain the mixture, sweeten it with honey if desired, and drink it right before going to bed.\n\nAlternatively, take 6000 mg of dried passion flower in capsule form.\n\nAniseed\n\nMix 1 teaspoon of aniseed with 1 cup of water and brew it for about 20 minutes. Strain and sweeten to taste.\n\nKava Kava\n\nHere's a proven herbal insomnia treatment. Kava kava not only relaxes muscles, but also has an impact on the brain's emotion centers.\n\nTake two 500 mg capsules about one hour before bedtime.\n\nLettuce\n\nCooked lettuce has fantastic relaxant properties, and lettuce tea is known to be a quick-acting sedative.\n\nMix 1 cup of shreaded lettuce with 1 cup of boiling water and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Strain the mixture and drink it before going to bed.\n\nSome people claim this to be the most effective natural insomnia treatment known as well as one of the best relaxants.\n\nValerian\n\nValerian is known to be very effective for inducing sleep.\n\nMix 2 teaspoons of dried valerian root with 1 cup of boiling water. Strain and drink. If the taste is too strong for you, instead you can take 300 mg of a standardized extract, or 1 teaspoon of tincture.\n\nWarm Milk\n\nTryptophan is a chemical compound that is effective for inducing sleep.\n\nWhile tryptophan exists in a natural form in the milk, it is the warming of the milk that activates the tryptophan.\n\nTo reap maximum results from this natural insomnia treatment, mix 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of honey with 1 cup of warm milk. Drink 30 minutes before bedtime.\n\nFeverfew\n\nMix 2 tablespoons of feverfew flowers with 2 cups of boiling water. Strain and drink.\n\nLemon Balm\n\nBecause lemon balm contains high amounts of terpenes, chemicals that have natural sedative properties, it is well known as being a very effective herbal insomnia treatment.\n\nMix 3 teaspoons of dried herb with 1 cup of boiling water. Strain and drink before bedtime.\n\nBee Balm\n\nSome people guarantee that you will get results from this herbal insomnia treatment. Mix 2 tablespoons of bee balm with 2 cups of boiling water. Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes. Strain the mixture and drink.\n\nCamomile\n\nThe chemical compound found in camomile known as apigenin is a very effective sedative. Make a tea and drink shortly before bedtime.\n\nLemon Balm And Valerian\n\nHere's an all natural insomnia treatment that will give you the results you are looking for.\n\nStudies have shown that taking 160 mg of valerian extract and 80 mg of lemon balm extract have brought on sleep as effectively as one standard dose of drugs in the Valium family.\n\nHerbal Sedative Tea\n\nSupposedly used as a natural sedative, this herbal insomnia treatment may work wonders for you.\n\nTake 1 tablespoon of bee balm, 1 tablespoon of hops, 1 tablespoon of peppermint, 1 tablespoon of chamomile, and 1 tablespoon of crushed fennel seed and mix all together real good.\n\nNow take 1 tablespoon of this mixture and add it to 1 cup of boiling water and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Strain the mixture and drink it about 30 minutes before bedtime.\n\nPennyroyal\n\nAnother herbal insomnia treatment that has been around for decades is pennyroyal. Mix 1 teaspoon of pennyroyal herb with 1 cup of boiling water and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Strain it and sweeten to taste. \n\nPeppermint Mix\n\nMix 1 tablespoon of sage, 2 tablespoons of peppermint, and 1 tablespoon of rosemary. Take 1 teaspoon of this mixture and add it to 1 cup of boiling water.\n\nCover it and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Strain the mixture and sweeten to taste with honey. this mixture has been used for a long time to sooth the nerves, act as a relaxant, and provide a natural form of insomnia treatment.