HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - insomnia common in patients (after) treated with chemotherapy

Margerie · 11-24-2009, 07:56 AM

I blamed my insomnia on the steroids during chemo. Then I blamed the herceptin. Now I am only on Arimidex and I still have it. I am do not have anxiety or depression. I have never had insomnia in my life prior to bc.

Laurel, I also take 20mg of melatonin and I throw in some Benadryl. I have excellent "sleep hygiene" (no caffeine, no tv in bed, no naps, exercise every day, etc.) but would not be able to sleep a wink without the melatonin.

So I am very glad they are addressing this issue. I don't have any other forced menopause symptoms, but insomnia stinks.

11-24-2009, 07:56 AM	#3
Margerie Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 492	Re: insomnia common in patients (after) treated with chemotherapy I blamed my insomnia on the steroids during chemo. Then I blamed the herceptin. Now I am only on Arimidex and I still have it. I am do not have anxiety or depression. I have never had insomnia in my life prior to bc. Laurel, I also take 20mg of melatonin and I throw in some Benadryl. I have excellent "sleep hygiene" (no caffeine, no tv in bed, no naps, exercise every day, etc.) but would not be able to sleep a wink without the melatonin. So I am very glad they are addressing this issue. I don't have any other forced menopause symptoms, but insomnia stinks. __________________ Are we there yet? Dx 10/05 IDC, multi-focal, triple +, 5 nodes+ MRM, 4 DD A/C, 12 weekly taxol + herceptin rads concurrent with taxol/herceptin finished herceptin 01/08 ooph, Arimidex, bilateral DIEP reconstruction NED Univ. of WA, Seattle vaccine trial '07