sleep - Page 2

Bev · 09-06-2007, 08:08 PM

Hi,

I did Ambien the night before the 4 ACs. Anxiety. They said if 1 doesn't work after 15 minutes, take another. It worked.

2years out, there are times when my mind whirs, but after 2 days I'm too tired to stay awake.

I never felt the need to stay on it, so I wouldn't worry about dependence. I didn't have crumbs in my bed either.
So do something. If the first drug doesn't work, try another. You do need your sleep. BB

BonnieR · 09-07-2007, 07:43 AM

The only problem that might arise from taking a second pill at night, it you take the sleeper regularly, is that the prescription might run out. And they can be sticklers about renewing it. So it would be better to get the "CR" formula which provides better sleep coverage. At least for me.

juanita · 09-07-2007, 05:19 PM

I am not doing any treatments right now, ended my year of herceptin a year ago. My old pcp who gave me ambien while I was still doing treatments thought it was probably hormonal changes because it started after chemopause. I've had to be off of it for about 6 months, so I know it's not withdrawls. I have actually had just 1-2 hours of sleep and not really felt too bad the next day. And even the next night it is still hard to get to sleep. When I knew i was going to lose my perscription to it I saved some of what I have for EMERGENCIES! I have a new pcp and when I go back I'll talk to him.

Margerie · 09-07-2007, 08:57 PM

I starting having incredibly bad insomnia when I started Taxol/herceptin. Not a wink of sleep all night- it was awful. It remained consistent when I went on just Herceptin. I tried a few of the sleeping pills- yucky side effects. Started taking melatonin, GABA and benadryl. Works well 9 nights out of ten. Once I tackled the insomnia- my afternoon fatigue has gone away.

doh2pa · 09-08-2007, 01:40 PM

While I was on TCH I took Ambien for 6 months straight. I was worried about dependency but desperately needed sleep. After 3 months, I started to sleep less with it so switched to Ambien CR. When I was done with my treatment I gradually got off it. It took about 2 weeks as I cycled down but was well worth the 6 months of sleep I got from it. Don't be afraid to take something and there are lots pf options out there so if one doesn't work, try something else. Sleep is key for your body to regenerate and for your immune system to keep up the fight. Good luck!

SoCalGal · 09-09-2007, 10:07 AM

Interesting that none of us sleep very well. For me, I've never been a "good sleeper". Night owl, hard time falling asleep. Since chemo I've used Ativan at night. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

According to my integrative oncology MD at UCLA, woman with cancer lack MELATONIN. He'd like to see me on 21 mg a night and states that dose has been proven to "put cancer cells to sleep". That's 7 pills a night at 3 mg each. He also states that studies have shown that woman who work nights have a higher rate of cancer. I have not challenged him or researched his statements, but it's interesting to see the sudden exchange on sleep.

The drawback to melatonin is vivid dreams which are supposed to stop after a couple of weeks.

Ironically, I cannot tolerate melatonin - oh well - I do make an effort to sleep every night now!

Could being a poor sleeper be another contributing factor?
Flori

SoCalGal · 09-09-2007, 10:09 AM

Just want to clarify that one thing

tousled1 · 09-09-2007, 10:46 AM

Since being diagnosed I've had terrible sleep problems. My primary care physican presribed Ambien for me -- didn't work. I now take Ambien CR and I also have rozerm to take. If I wake up after only an hour or 2 then I take the Rozeram.

AlaskaAngel · 09-09-2007, 05:24 PM

Flori,

I posted a professional review about the current info on melantonin in the articles section if you want to get more of an idea of what your onc was talking about. There seems to be some more recent serious interest in the use of melatonin for cancer, and the article does a pretty good job of explaining it.

The thing I have always liked about melatonin at a low dose is that I feel clear-headed and relaxed and fresh the next day. I have never tried taking more than 1 or 2 mg a night, and possibly to get the hoped-for anti-cancer results it might require a higher dose. Right now I'm taking just 0.25 mg. (It is hard to break them little buggers into quarters, though!)

AlaskaAngel

PinkGirl · 09-09-2007, 06:04 PM

Hi all,
Maybe that's why I gained so much weight. I must have been eating in my sleep!!!

MCS · 09-10-2007, 09:24 PM

Dear ladies,

I've always had a sleeping problem. Even before dx. My father and his mother and his sister did too. I guess runs in genes.
Anyway, with all the anx over this illness, treatment etc, the sleepness got worse.

So I'm on ambien. 5mg or half a pill every night. I really can't sleep without it. the onc syas when are you going to get off this and I don't know how to answer. i also need the ativan every once in awhile to deal with stuff. IN my next visit with onc I'll aks if he can just keep renewing the ambien because my gp is stingy tight with meds, I literally have to beg for anything.

I have not had any sleep walking or anything with the ambien. But let me tell you ,my hubby sleeps like a rock, even through earthquakes so if I slept walked, he would not know

Sweet dreams

Maria ( mcs)